With an expanded and strengthened FCC 1st XI, Duncan Johnson is hopeful of a more settled and consistent team selection this year for his 2nd XI side.

The goal of consolidation for 2023 achieved, Johnson feels it’s now time to push on, in what is their 2nd year in Thames Valley League Division 3A. Whilst remaining in the league may have been last years aim, the skipper feels he now has more weapons at his disposal, and sees no reason they cannot be in contention at the top end of the table.

Johnson and his fellow ‘2nd XI evergreen seniors’ will look to take on key roles in the squad, whilst allowing the plentiful emerging young talent within the team to feature prominently. There are also some really exciting prospects in the 3rd XI, from all disciplines of the game, and all will be pushing hard to play at a higher level, so competition to play in Johnson’s side could prove healthily fierce. There’s more good news for the 2’s this year, as they will shortly be joined by a new overseas player, with Mark Otley making the trip over from New Zealand, and Gerald Mubiru is now eligible to play league cricket.

It’s Johnson’s aim to play an exciting, adventurous brand of cricket allowing players to play with freedom without fear, mirroring England’s impressive approach to the game in recent times.

Johnson says ‘I feel it’s really important that anyone that plays under my captaincy is given the license to show their talent to the full. We want to be an exciting side to watch and I want all my players to enjoy their cricket and want to play under my leadership. It will be a bold approach and it will be high risk cricket but with the changes that have been seen in the game at the top level it would be remiss of me to go backwards. I owe it to the Club and my side to take the game forward at every opportunity and put pressure on the opposition at every turn’

The start of every new season always brings optimism and the 2’s will be looking to make the gap between the 1’s and the 2’s as small as possible thus putting the Club in a much stronger position moving forward.

Sounds like a great season lies ahead…

Go well 2’s!