With a new year comes new challenges. But it also brings new players, and returning ones, and Rickmansworth are delighted to introduce a few of them so you can say hello and be know who they are.

The first is Junaid Ali who is travelling almost 4000 miles to play for Rickmansworth this year. I first met Junaid at Ricky last Summer and he has determined to travel back and play for us, and sample the delights of an English Summer.

We are also delighted to welcome back to Ricky, the legendary Kamber Hussein who will be taking a leading role in our Elite Coaching program, looking after our improving youngsters, alongside Paul, as well as playing for the 1st team. Welcome home, Kamber. Certainly one of the most talented players to have represented Ricky in the last 10 years, Kam has scored 6 centuries and 8 halves, averaging 48.6 with the bat. In his last season at the club, 2020, he averaged 98 for Ricky with a high score of 164* (watch the video attached to this article). He is most interested in helping to develop our own young talent into players for the future, which is very welcome.

Also bolstering the 1st team is Usman Asghar, who has played in various Premier Leagues over the years and is now looking to make a comeback playing alongside his friend, and our new 1st XI Captain, Azeem.

Another returning player is Simon Jackson who has not represented Ricky for at least 15 years, but whose record of 4921 runs with 3 centuries and 25 half-centuries in the 1st XI see him sitting at no10 on the all-time Ricky players list. Welcome back Jacko.

Alongside Jacko we have another talented player in Andrew Dalgleish (known to his friends as Douggie) who also has a lot of firepower with the bat and has impressed in net sessions. He has been plundering runs in local Cricket for a number of years and is now ready to step up to the plate with one of the Ricky teams.

But we are not done there! Welcome to the club Hamraj Gulamali who represented his University team before having a few runouts in Division 2B of the Saracens League 3 years ago. He admits to being a bit rusty, but that is a decent level and we are sure ‘Harvey’ as he prefers to be known will settle in pretty quickly.

Someone else who has impressed in the nets is Manpreet Mehat, who played in the Warwickshire County League last year, scoring runs and taking wickets. His athleticism will be a huge benefit to whichever Ricky team he ends up playing for. And finally, for now, we are lucky enough to have local legend Chris Pond join us as a bowler. Chris played for many years for Old Fullerians before they folded and he has taken countless wickets in Herts and beyond. A wonderful line and length merchant.

Good luck to all our new recruits – and those returning for more punishment – as 2023 looks to be our most promising season yet with lots of competition across the board.

Make sure you sign up for the pre-season games everyone. And fill in the p[r-season questionnaire https://forms.gle/Be4ySUeV75SJtnhUA