Stars to play at Radlett

1:18pm Wednesday 7th January 2009

A host of famous cricket names could play at Radlett’s ground, as the club's Cobden Hill home garners praise.

Middlesex Cricket Club, who are the current 20-20 Cup champions, will play a pre-season warm-up game there against Gloucestershire on April 6.

The fixture could see a number of professional players take to the field, including some with international experience, such as Shaun Udal, the Middlesex captain.

Radlett’s own Gareth Berg could feature too, as the club marks its 125th anniversary.

Admission will be free, also all the games involving Middlesex 2nd XI and MCC Young Cricketers next summer.

The South African professional Shane Burger resumes as Radlett's captain in the Home Counties Premier League. He is supervising winter practice after returning from Johannesburg this month.

Radlett will look to improve on last season's fifth placed finish.

Off the field, Radlett's facilities have been ranked best in the Saracens Herts League, for the second team's home matches in Division Two.

The pitch was graded second, behind Welwyn Garden City.

A club official praised grounsdman Nick Searle’s “amazing achievement.”

Elsehere, officials expressed surprise that the tall cedarwood pavilion was rated a lowly 10th among clubhouses.

Overall, Radlett Cricket Club was ranked a creditable 10th, about halfway.

The fixtures ahead include a selection of exciting ties, including a mouth-watering home match against Sunbury from the Surrey Championship, on April 18.

Sunbury beat Radlett in the Evening Standard Trophy semi final last season, and went on to lose narrowly in the final to Ealing After the warm-up games comes a trip to Henley on May 9.

In the Herts League, the second team travel to play Broxbourne's first team in Division Two on May 2, followed by a home game against Old Albanians.

Radlett's third XI are at home to Holtwhites Trinibis in Division Four, the fourths visit Preston seconds in Division Six and the fifths start with a repeat of the final match of last season, playing Pirton first team at home in Division 11.