English cricket is looking ahead to 2024 after a disappointing performance at the ODI World Cup, but the sport continues to grow across Dorset despite national setbacks.
After England’s 2019 World Cup triumph, the sport has grown across the county, with some Dorset-based cricket clubs expanding to memberships of up to 500 per club.
Chair of Winton Cricket Club, Brian Dobson, has said that the sport will continue its expansion in the county despite England’s disappointment this year.
“I believe that most of the growth in our club is down to the individuals concerned. It’s great to do well at Cricket, but it isn’t the reason our club is growing.
“It’s down to the impetus that people are putting in and the time to generate it.”
While some fans have been disappointed with England’s performances this month, most remain confident that the dip in form is down to the ending of an era.
Media manager for the Barmy Army Charlie Adolphy said: “I think we are in the middle of another cycle. While this World Cup has been disappointing, we’re in the middle of a transition in 50-over cricket.”
Fan David Cronin also highlighted the age of the current team, saying: “A lot of the players in our squad are over the age of 30, so by the time we have the next World Cup in this format, we’ll hopefully have a new generation of players in the squad who are prepared.”
The new wave of cricketers is something that Dorset is keen to push, and Dobson said that he is proud to see how some of Winton’s former junior players have progressed throughout his time as Chair.
“When I took over running the club in 2014, we were just moving into the Dorset Prem, and we had to have a junior section.
“At that time, I created two teams and to see some of the juniors that were five or six years of age then, now playing in our first team, that’s something that makes me proud and it’s something that we want to continue.”
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