BUCKS CRICKET

Anjika Goyal: A Rising Star in Cricket Umpiring

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000

At just 15 years old, Anjika Goyal from High Wycombe is already making a name for herself in cricket umpiring, having officiated 15 senior Saturday fixtures this season.

After discovering her interest in umpiring through playing cricket, Anjika has quickly developed her knowledge and confidence, taking on the responsibility of officiating senior matches and earning the respect of players and teams along the way.

Her progress has also opened the door to some incredible opportunities.

With ambitions to become the youngest panel umpire in the country, Anjika is already showing what can be achieved by taking opportunities, building confidence and developing a passion for the game.
We caught up with Anjika to find out more about her journey so far, her experience at Lord's and what she hopes to achieve in the years ahead.

What first made you want to get into umpiring?
My journey started when my mum booked me on an introductory course just to see if I'd like it and to help me learn the official rules, since I've always loved playing the game.
Wanting to take it further, I went on to complete an advanced face-to-face course, and most recently, I passed the MCC online course and test.

Had you always been interested in umpiring, or was it something you discovered through playing cricket?
It was something I discovered through playing cricket.

Was there someone or something that inspired or encouraged you to give it a go?
My mum, as she signed me up for the course, which then sparked my interest further.

What do you enjoy most about umpiring?
What I enjoy most about officiating is that every single game is different—it always keeps you on your toes.
Beyond learning the rules, it's helped me build key life skills.

How does it feel to be umpiring competitive matches at your age?
At the start, it was definitely quite nerve-wracking, especially umpiring adult players.
Taking on that level of responsibility every week really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

How do players and teams respond when they see you umpiring their matches?
The vast majority of players and teams have responded really positively and have been encouraging throughout matches.
A great moment for me was during my very first match—the GX team captain was incredibly supportive on the field and gave amazing feedback to the TVL panel afterwards, which boosted my confidence immensely.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far on your umpiring journey?
The biggest challenge has been overcoming assumptions about my age and experience.
Another major challenge is the physical and mental demand of being the only qualified standing umpire for a full 80-over match.
Overcoming this has come down to knowing the MCC Laws inside out, staying calm and professional when questioned, and letting my consistent, fair decision-making earn the players' respect on the field.

You had the opportunity to shadow the officiating team at Lord's this summer.
A huge highlight for me this summer was being given the opportunity to shadow the officiating team at Lord's during The Women's Hundred match between London Spirit and Southern Brave.
It was such an amazing experience!

Shadow the 4th Umpire during the game and learn how all the different umpire roles work behind the scenes.
Walk the pitch before the game to see how the strip is marked out and checked.
Be right there at the toss with captains Sophie Molineux and Charlie Dean, and meet players like Lauren Bell and Katie George who showed us how they pick the match balls.
Sit with the 3rd Umpire to watch how they run DRS reviews, replays, and match timings.
Help with the match transition, staying all the way through to the men’s game that evening to oversee changing the boundary lengths, ball selection, and the second toss.
Eat lunch in the Lord’s dining hall with the women's teams!

It was really cool seeing how every single person has such an important job from pre-match setup all the way to the end of the day.

What would you like to achieve in umpiring over the next five to ten years?
In the future, I would like to be the youngest panel umpire for the country.

Finally, what would you say to a young person who is interested in getting involved in umpiring but might not have the confidence to take that first step?
My advice to anyone thinking about embarking on this journey is to take every single opportunity that comes along!

Chair of the Buckinghamshire Association of Cricket Officials, Yolanda Harris shared high praise: "Anjika shows excellent promise as an umpire.
"She manages to balance her umpiring and playing extremely well, with her mother and brother frequently attending her matches.
"I stood with Anjika in regional girls matches, and was impressed with her maturity and her field craft.
"I am happy to say that the ECB agreed, and she spent a day learning about life as a professional umpire and then watching the men’s match.
"Balancing playing, umpiring and school will be a challenge, as it would for anyone.

Inspired by Anjika’s journey and interested in becoming an umpire yourself?

VACANCY: County Safeguarding Officer

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We're recruiting a County Safeguarding Officer to ensure that cricket across Buckinghamshire remains welcoming, respectful, and enjoyable for everyone, while maintaining confidence that any issues of conduct are addressed fairly, consistently, and transparently.
To review the Job Description for the role, please click Cover Letter
CV

Interviews are scheduled to take place w/c 23rd November in Aylesbury or Milton Keynes.
For further questions on the role, please email: To apply, please submit the following to kimberley.
Application Form – Download it *Please only submit an application if you already have the right to work in the UK, we are unable to provide sponsorship*

Women's and Girls Cricket Networking is BACK!

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:32:51 +0000

Whether you’re launching a new section, growing your women’s and girls’ cricket offering, or looking to share what’s already working at your club, these networking events are for you!
Connect with managers and coaches from across the county, exchange ideas and access support to help develop your programmes.
We’re hosting three networking events this November and December:

North Bucks Girls Teams
Wednesday 11 November | 7pm to 10pm
Bletchley Town CC

South Bucks Girls Teams
Tuesday 17 November | 7pm to 10pm
Chesham CC

Women’s Cricket
Wednesday 2 December | 7pm to 10pm
Wendover CC

Click on the link to sign up today!

Bucks Quartet Sign with Northamptonshire Academy

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Image: Andy Bone, Sports Shots

Bucks Cricket is proud to announce that Daksh S, Matthew P, Veerun A and Jack S have officially signed with the Northamptonshire CCC Academy.

We at Bucks, are immensely proud of Daksh, Matthew, Veerun and Jack being signed by Northants for their Academy.

Congratulations from everyone at Bucks Cricket on this exciting opportunity.

Bucks Cricket Staff Changes - Club Development

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

We hope that you have all had a good season and that you enjoy some downtime before you start preparing for 2027.

Due to some changes at Bucks Cricket, the new central point of contact for clubs is Helen Valvona.

The Club Development team is now:

Tanya Westney: Clubs and Women & Girls Development Officer (South Bucks)

Melissa Wing: Clubs and Women & Girls Development Officer (North Bucks and Milton Keynes)

Joseph Rance: National Programmes, Coach Development and Young Volunteers

Harry Gadsby: Club Junior Competitions, Safeguarding and Grounds Managers

Nick Lee: Conduct and Culture Officer

Nauman Javaid: Milton Keynes Cricket Cities Manager

Helen Valvona: Club Operations Administrator

Emma Boswell-Harris: Head of Participation

All of the team are available to support your Club to develop its plans, volunteers and policies.

Please let us know your Club’s priorities and if you would like one of the team to visit over the winter, please book a visit using this form:

A proud moment for Bucks Cricket as our work in the community is featured by Wisden.
What started as an idea from our MK Cricket City Development Manager to make cricket more accessible to women and girls in Milton Keynes has grown into something special, with more than 100 women now involved in the programme.
Coffee with Cricket is about so much more than playing cricket.
Nauman has created something that belongs to the community.
Read the full feature

England Women's Under 19 Squad:

Maria Andrews (The Blaze)
Amelie Bishop (Essex)
Phoebe Brett (Warwickshire)
Eliza Bristowe (Hampshire)
Flora Davies (The Blaze)
Holly Garton (Yorkshire)
Bryony Gillgrass (Essex)
Genevieve Jeer (Surrey)
Amelia Oliver (Yorkshire)
Shristi Patil (Hampshire)
Prarthana Reddy (Glamorgan)
Faith Teekasingh (The Blaze)
Clara Thacker (Essex)
Skye Thomas (Lancashire)
Venus Weerappuli (Lancashire)

Non-travelling reserves
Ava Clive (Warwickshire)
Ivreen Dhaliwal (Surrey)
Libby Fellows (Yorkshire)
Lucy Randle-Bissell (Yorkshire)
Isobel Thorndike (Glamorgan)

Everyone at Bucks Cricket congratulates Amelie on her call-up and wishes the team the very best of luck!

Bucks Women are inviting Player Applications

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:59:03 +0000

As we continue to build for the future, Bucks Women are keen to hear from talented female cricketers who are interested in representing Buckinghamshire.
If you would like to be considered for Bucks Women, please send the following information to

Bucks Men fall short in NCCA Cluberly Championship Final

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:24:00 +0000

NCCA Cluberly Championship Final Report - Paul Bolton

Image: Roger Byrne

Day One Report

Buckinghamshire captain Conner Haddow continued his love affair with West Bromwich Dartmouth’s Sandwell Park ground but a century from opener Sam Elstone ensured that Devon shared the first day honours in the NCCA Cluberly Championship final.
Slow left-armer Haddow bowled all but seven overs from the golf course end of the ground and took five for 103 from his marathon spell of 34.
Haddow had to work harder for his wickets than 12 months ago when he took a record 16 wickets - nine in the second innings - to help Buckinghamshire defeat Devon by 19 runs.
Twelve months ago there was sharp turn for Haddow from an early stage but this pitch had more pace and runs in it and Elstone, who plays his club cricket for Sidmouth, took his chance to impress.
Elstone may not be the most stylish batter but he has a good temperament and technique that works for him.
The departure of experienced wicketkeeper/batter Matt Thompson, who was caught at short leg reverse sweeping Haddow for 34, triggered a mini collapse in which Devon lost three wickets for 16 runs with Ben Privett thick-edging a drive off Tom Weymes to slip and James Matravers being stumped off Haddow.
Callum Harvey and Sam Read stabilised things with a valuable eighth wicket partnership of 56 but then perished in quick succession to Matt Pardoe’s left-arm spin.
Last man George Daldorph did not last long, caught at slip, and gave Haddow his fifth wicket of the innings and continued his remarkable record at the ground.
Ed Bragg, who plays his club cricket just down the M5 for Halesowen in the Birmingham & District Premier League, took the first wicket of the final when Elliot Hamilton miscued a pull and gave a return catch and Haddow was into the attack within the first hour when he relieved Weymes.
Haddow struck in his third over when he beat Horler’s defensive push and then snared Seb Linnitt, who was bowled sweeping.
Buckinghamshire lost Archie Dodds, caught at second slip for a duck off Daldorph, in the third over of their reply before Billy Dodds and Aaryan Sawant settled things down with a second wicket partnership of 49.
Middlesex and former England Under-19s batter Sawant had an escape when James Matravers fumbled on the deep midwicket boundary rope off Harvey but there was no reprieve for Dodds when he was caught behind cutting the slow left-armer on 27 just before the close.
Sawant ended the day unbeaten on 32 with Buckinghamshire 60 for two.
NCCA CLUBERLY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

First day of four

West Bromwich Dartmouth CC: Devon 290 (Sam Elstone 104, Conner Haddow 5-103), Buckinghamshire 60-2.

Day Two Report

Openers Elliot Hamilton and Sam Elstone gave Devon the advantage with a century partnership on an intriguing second day of the NCCA Cluberly Championship final against Buckinghamshire at West Bromwich Darmouth.
Devon had a first innings lead of just 11 which, in effect, made the match a one innings contest and Hamilton and Elstone extended that to 138 by the close with a commanding partnership of 127.
Elstone picked up where he left off in the first innings, when he made a century, by compiling a patient 55 not out while left-hander Hamilton played a more aggressive innings, striking two sixes and eight fours in his 134-ball 70.
The partnership was broken late in the day when Hamilton edged Conner Haddow to slip and Buckinghamshire’s captain added a second wicket in the final over when nightwatchman Matt Whalley went LBW.
That took Haddow’s wickets haul to 40 in eight innings at West Bromwich Dartmouth although he had to wait until the last ball of his 16th over for the breakthrough today.
Haddow was into the attack as early as the sixth over of Devon’s second innings at the Golf Course End.
There were just 19 runs between these sides 12 months ago when Buckinghamshire won the national title, and there was again little to choose between the sides on a day of tight and competitive cricket.
Five Buckinghamshire batters reached 20 yet no-one made a half-century with Rhys Nicholas and Matt Pardoe both falling for 48 and Middlesex and former England Under-19s batter Aaryan Sawant for 42.
Sawant played fluently and appeared to have laid the foundations for a big score but then edged seamer George Daldorph to wicketkeeper Matt Thompson.
Nicholas and Pardoe then dominated the morning session with an enterprising fourth wicket partnership of 92 in 29 overs but both perished in quick succession either side of lunch.
Nicholas holed out to mid-on from a mistimed pull from an unthreatening delivery from Ben Privett and Pardoe appeared as surprised as anyone when he shaped to turn the first ball of the afternoon session off his legs and was bowled by Callum Harvey.
Josh Lincoln arrived with attacking intent and thumped Harvey for successive sixes – the first into the Birmingham Road traffic – but he then lofted Privett to mid-off and Daksh Sabherwal then miscued to midwicket to give Privett another wicket.
It was left to George Harvey and Ed Bragg to get Buckinghamshire close to Devon’s first innings total in an eighth wicket partnership of 44, before Harvey drove to backward point, Bragg holed out to long on and Haddow was stumped.
NCCA Cluberly Championship Final

Second day of four

West Bromwich Dartmouth CC: Devon 290 (Sam Elstone 104, Conner Haddow 5-103) & 127-2 (Elliot Hamilton 70, Sam Elstone 55 not out), Buckinghamshire 279 (Rhys Nicholas 48, Matt Pardoe 48, Ben Privett 3-32, Callum Harvey 3-80).

Day Three Report

Conner Haddow kept alive Buckinghamshire’s hopes of retaining the NCCA Cluberly Championship with another inspired bowling performance on the third day of a compelling final against Devon at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
Slow left-armer Haddow followed up his five first innings wickets with six for 96 to give him his second consecutive ten wicket match haul in a Championship final.
Having bowled 13 wicketless overs for 38 runs at the start of Devon’s second innings, Haddow took six for 58 in his next 31 overs, all delivered from the Birmingham Road End.
He arrived in the final in excellent form having taken three five wicket hauls for Worcestershire Second XI in the past month including 12 in the match against Glamorgan at Newport.
It all made for a fascinating day’s cricket as Devon were made to graft to extend their overnight 127 for two all out to 244 all out which left Buckinghamshire with a target of 256 in four sessions.
Devon gave slow left-armer Callum Harvey the new ball but it was seamer George Daldorph who made the early breakthrough when he had Archie Dodds well taken by Matt Whalley in the slips.
Bill Dodds and Aaryan Sawant added 36 and seemed to be going along nicely when Sawant was run out at the non-striker’s end.
Dodds almost made it through to the close but he departed in the final over when Elstone held a low catch off Harvey to leave Buckinghamshire needing 200 more with seven wickets intact.
Early morning rain delayed the start for an hour and three quarters but Devon immediately lost Sam Elstone, who was 55 not out overnight, LBW to Ed Bragg’s first ball of the day.
Haddow bowled unchanged while Bragg, Tom Weymes and Matt Pardoe kept things tight at the other end which meant that Devon’s progress was cautious.
Skipper James Horler and Seb Linnitt got them through to lunch without further mishap but Horler departed early in the afternoon session when he nibbled Bragg to wicketkeeper George Harvey.
Haddow then got turn and bounce to snare Ben Privett at slip and James Matravers then sliced a drive to Bragg at point.
Weymes ended Linnitt’s obdurate innings of 28 when Pardoe snaffled a catch at gully and Harvey gave Haddow his tenth wicket of the match when he popped a return catch.
Matt Thompson produced an aggressive cameo of 21 before he was bowled by Pardoe and Haddow, who took 16 wickets in Buckinghamshire’s 19 runs victory over Devon in last year’s final, wrapped things up when Sam Read top-edged to slip.
NCCA Cluberly Championship Final

West Bromwich Dartmouth CC: Devon 290 (Sam Elstone 104, Conner Haddow 5-103) & 244 (Elliot Hamilton 77, Sam Elstone 55, Conner Haddow 6-96), Buckinghamshire 279 (Rhys Nicholas 48, Matt Pardoe 48) & 56-3.

Day Four Report

Devon won their first NCCA Cluberly Championship title since 2011 by beating defending champions by Buckinghamshire by 122 runs on the fourth morning of the final at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
After three days of tight, competitive cricket the end came quickly as Buckinghamshire, who began the day needing 200 more for victory with seven wickets intact, were bowled out for 133 in under two hours.
The win gave Devon their eighth outright Championship title with one shared with Bedfordshire in 2004.
Buckinghamshire’s hopes of retaining their title rested on someone from their remaining top order batters playing an anchor role as Devon opener Sam Elstone had done in each innings.
But they lost three wickets in the first 30 minutes with Rhys Nicholas falling to a sharp catch at second slip by Matt Whalley off Sam Read who then struck the decisive blow when Matt Pardoe, the former Worcestershire left-hander, was LBW for seven pulling a full toss.
Devon captain James Horler then withdrew Read from the attack and brought on seamer George Daldorph at the Golf Course End, a move that paid instant dividends when Daksh Sabherwal was caught behind by Matt Thompson, the sole survivor from the side which beat Cambridgeshire in the 2011 final.
That left Buckinghamshire deep in trouble at 76 for six but their victory hopes were kept flickering by Josh Lincoln and George Harvey who decided that attack was the best form of defence in a seventh wicket partnership of 48.
Lincoln rattled to 33 – which included a six over long-on off Whalley - but then miscued slow left-armer Callum Harvey to Horler at long-off and the last three wickets went down for two runs in successive overs.
Ed Bragg went LBW to slow left-armer Whalley, Harvey was bowled by a beauty from his namesake for 24 and Elstone, who took the Player of the Match Award, pouched the catch at second slip to account for Buckinghamshire captain Conner Haddow which started the victory celebrations.
No Devon bowler was able to match Haddow’s 11 wickets in the match with Harvey’s six wickets – three in each innings – being their best match return.
Buckinghamshire were left to rue dropped catches and the failure of their batters to convert promising starts into potential match-shaping innings.
NCCA CLUBERLY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Last day of four

West Bromwich Dartmouth CC: Devon 290 (Sam Elstone 104, Conner Haddow 5-103) & 244 (Elliot Hamilton 70, Sam Elstone 55), Buckinghamshire 279 (Rhys Nicholas 48, Matt Pardoe 48) & 133.

Bucks Women Finish Season with Emphatic Win

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:02:55 +0000

Image: Luke Stafford

Bucks Women finished their season with an enormous 230-run win over Cambridgeshire on Sunday in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Molly Carter cashed in on the opportunity, racking up an impressive 76 alongside Afra Rose Mohamed and Cara Duggan.
The in-form Tegan Stockdale unfortunately fell early in the innings for just 12.
Afra batted brilliantly before falling four runs short of her half-century, with Charlotte Aylmore claiming her first wicket.
Captain Duggan then took apart the Cambridgeshire bowling attack, finding the ropes 12 times on her way to a sublime maiden century.
Tilly Fellows continued the onslaught of boundaries alongside Duggan, smashing five fours and one maximum before her quickfire half-century was halted after just 31 balls.
Duggan was excellent, and alongside Megs Woodward, Bucks racked up a huge total of 347/4 from their 50 overs.
The home side did not get off to a desirable start, losing two wickets inside the opening 10 overs, with Nina Jerman and Jessica Mccrum dismissed.
Afra and Kertha Kethes were the pick of the Bucks bowlers, taking seven wickets between them for very few runs.
Despite spirited knocks from Kelly Haynes (33) and Millie Rawlins (22) in the middle order, Bucks kept things incredibly tight, conceding just four extras, and made quick work of the lower order.
Kertha and Carys Gerber took the remaining wickets, bowling Cambridgeshire Women out for 117 and sealing a big 230-run victory, while finishing their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign in third place.

Match Preview: Bucks Women v Cambridgeshire (A)

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Bucks Women travel to FP Fenner’s Ground on Sunday (11am) to face Cambridgeshire in their final Metro Bank One Day Cup - Women's League 3, Division 1 match.

Women's Head Coach Ben Ungaretti has named a 12-player squad:

Cara Duggan *

Rosie Burton-Pye

Molly Carter

Tilly Fellows

Carys Gerber

Kerthanaa Ketheswaran

Jesal Kulhar

Eva Lewis

Charlie Mailey

Afra Rose Mohamed

Tegan Stockdale

Megs Woodward

Bucks Men Secure Third Division Title in Four Years

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:14:56 +0000

Report: Michael Knox

Image: Andy Bone, Sports Shots

Bucks Men have a chance to make it three National Counties Cluberly Championship titles in four years following a resounding eight-wicket victory over Cambridgeshire on Tuesday.
This result, plus nearest rivals Suffolk's failure to beat Staffordshire means that Bucks will again play Western Division champions Devon in the Championship final at West Bromwich Dartmouth from September 6-9th.
Bucks, who chose field first, were held up on the first day by excellent half-centuries from Cambridgeshire's Tom Cullen (86) and Will Routledge (76).
Skipper Conner Haddow returned 4-90 in a marathon 33-over spell, while High Wycombe seamer Liam Bulteel, one of three Championship debutants in the Bucks team, was rewarded for an accurate spell with the final wicket.
The Bucks innings followed a similar pattern.
The game swung dramatically Bucks's way in the final session of the second day, when Cambridgeshire sensationally collapsed from 50-3 to 66 all out, losing their last seven wickets for 16 runs in 12.
This left Bucks only 50 for victory.
Following a hard-earned draw between Staffordshire and Suffolk, the result secured a division title for Bucks as Staffs held out at 285/7.

Match Preview: Bucks Men v Cambridgeshire (A)

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Bucks Men will travel to Peterborough Town CC on Sunday (11:00am) to face Cambridgeshire (A) in their final NCCA Cluberly Championship fixture of the season.

Men's Head Coach Jason Harrison has named a 12-player squad:

Conner Haddow*

**Jack Bates

**Liam Bulteel

Archie Dodds

Billy Dodds

Ryan Friend

George Harvey +

Rhys Nicholas

Matt Pardoe

Aum Raykar

Daksh Sabherwal

Tom Weymes