Here, you can find information about:
Our Representative cricket is played under the Dorset Cricket logo, with the three Leopards badge.
Our Men's team compete in the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) competitions, which includes T20, 50 over Trophy and 3-day Championship fixtures.
All white ball cricket is played under the name Dorset Leopards.
More details about the NCCA can be found HERE.
Team Captain: LUKE WEBB
Role: Top order Batter
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2013
OLLIE BRECKON
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2021
BEN CHAFFEY
Role: Middle order Batter / Seam Bowler
Club: Taunton Deane CC
Debut: 2022
BRADLEY CURRIE
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Sussex CCC
Debut: 2016
LUCAS DEL BIANCO
Role: Top order Batter / Wicketkeeper
Club: East Grinstead CC
Debut: 2023
ALEX ECKLAND
Role: Top order Batter / Wicketkeeper
Club: Bridgwater CC
Debut: 2017
JOSEPH ECKLAND
Role: Wicketkeeper / Top order Batter
Club: Hampshire CCC
Debut: 2022
ED ELLIS
Role: Wicketkeeper / Middle order Batter
Club: St Cross Symondians CC
Debut: 2017
BEN FLETCHER
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Wollaton CC
Debut: 2021
FINN GORDON
Role: Top order Batter / Off-Spin Bowler
Club: Hampshire Academy
Debut: 2023
JACOB GORDON
Role: Top order Batter / Off-Spin Bowler
Club: Weybridge CC
Debut: 2021
JOE HUNS
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Bashley (Rydal) CC
Debut: 2022
MATTHEW KING
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2022
ROB PACK
Role: Left Arm Spin Bowler
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2017
TOBY PATTEMORE
Role: Seam Bowler
Club: Taunton St Andrews CC
Debut: 2023
DAVID SCOTT
Role: Top order Batter / Off-spin bowler
Club: Wimbledon CC
Debut: 2022
CONNOR SMITH
Role: Left Arm Spin Bowler
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2022
WILL TRIPCONY
Role: Top order Batter
Club: Bashley (Rydal) CC
Debut: 2022
GREG WILLOWS
Role: Top order Batter
Club: Sileby Town CC
Debut:2021
SIMON WOODRUFF
Role: Seam Bowler / Middle order Batter
Club: Bournemouth CC
Debut: 2017
SAM YOUNG
Role: Top order Batter
Club: Bath CC
Debut: 2019
Our Women's team compete in the ECB Women's competitions, which includes T20 and 50 over Trophy fixtures.
All fixtures, results and tables
Fixtures - HERE
Results - HERE
Tables
ECB T20 - HERE
ECB 50 over - HERE
County Disability History
In 1989, two twin brothers Dick and Fred Wildgoose pioneered Disability Cricket for players with medium to high levels of physical and learning disabilities in Oswestry, Shropshire.
In 1994, they formed the charity the ‘Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities’ (CFPD) to run high profile matches and give disabled cricketers the same opportunities to progress as their non-disabled counterparts. They felt that matches at high profile county cricket grounds would spread the word more effectively. March 1995 saw the first CFPD England v Wales match at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
It was in 1995 when a Dorset mum to a young man with a disability called James Rose saw an article in a newspaper about disabled cricket with the contact details for Dick & Fred Wildgoose. Dick & Fred organised an open day at Dorchester Cricket Recreation Ground advertising in local newspapers and word of mouth.
Gordon Pickersgill, father of current Dorset Disability Cricket Club Manager Mark, helped on the day as Mark and James went to school together and they both attended the open day. In September of 1995, Dick & Fred asked Gordon if he could bring some players to Chelmsford Cricket Ground in Essex to take part in a CFPD South East v South West indoor match. Both Mark and James played.
In 1996 the same Dorset group were invited to watch the CFPD England team face Wales in an indoor tournament at Lords Cricket Ground. A year later, James Rose was invited to play for the CFPD England team.
In 1996, Gordon formed the ‘South West Cricket for People with Disabilities’ Cricket Club.
In 1998, the name was changed and the ‘Dorset Cricket for People with Disabilities’ Cricket Club was born.
The ‘British Association for Cricketers with a Disabilities’ (BACD) was formed and Richard Hill (now ECB (Disabilities Competitions Manager) along with a Committee ran a County Competition. This running of the National County Competition programme was taken over by the ECB in 2018.
December 2002 marked the first CFPD International Tour and Dorset players Michael Chant and Mark Pickersgill were asked to join the team for a tour of India. The aim was to demonstrate what the more disabled could do during the interval of the main games.
Gordon Pickersgill continued running the club with the help of his wife Jeanette, his daughter Marie and his son Mark, who also played and captained the team, until poor health meant he had to stand down in 2014. Gordon sadly passed away in 2015 but his legacy lives on in disability cricket in Dorset today and Mark continues to serve on the Club Committee.
In 2021, the Club name was officially changed to the ‘Dorset Disability Cricket Club’.
MARK PICKERSGILL
Team Manager, County Disability
ECB S9s
ECB D40 Pursuit
Visually Impaired cricket is played with a size 3 football that consists of ball bearings within the inside that act as a deterrent to hear the ball, which enables it to be hit. Also it is played with larger stumps than normal cricket stumps.
For more information on how the VI game is played please visit the Blind Cricket England and Wales Website by clicking here
Team Captain/Coach Contact Name: Steve Bailey
Contact Email: shaddowb3@btinternet.com
Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW)
Dorset 50+ history
In 1985 and sponsored by “Dunlop” Lord’s launched a Counties Veterans Cricket Competition for the Over 50’s which today is known as the England Cricket Board (ECB) Competition. Dorset had no problem putting out a side and, in that season, played one match against Gloucestershire which was subsequently lost.
1986 saw two fixtures taking place against Wiltshire and Wales respectively and sadly, both ended in defeat. Not to be deterred and with the competition becoming more popular with the addition of more counties 1987 saw Dorset register their first victory which was against Hampshire at Blandford. With this maiden victory under their belt the Dorset 50+ side went from strength to strength.
1989 saw a change in sponsors to “The Perry Contracts Hire” and the Southern Counties Group consisted of sides from Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wales and Wiltshire. This was a highly competitive group which saw the Dorset side win 3 and lose 3.
As the years have gone by the ECB competition has gone from strength to strength and currently consists of 5 groups of 8 Counties across the Country -The ECB team play in a Group with Channel Islands, Cornwall, Devon, Isle of Wight, Hants, Somerset and Wilts. The top three teams go through to a Knockout stage. The League matches are one game against each County alternating between home and away each season.
In the past 16 years Dorset have qualified to the knockout stages on 6 occasions and the best Dorset has achieved is runners-up to Lancashire in 1993 losing by 8 wickets
2007 saw the introduction of a second Competition for Over 50’s cricket, the Southern Counties Senior Championship (SCSC) was launched - last season renamed to a 2nd XI Competition - with Dorset winning the Competition in the inaugural year and again in 2014 against Wales.
Since then, Dorset have been runners up on 2 occasions – 2009 to Surrey and 2011 to Hampshire and runners up in the first Plate Knockout Competition held in 2021, to Middlesex
This competition has expanded greatly in the last three years and now teams as far as Worcester and Leicestershire play. In 2023 Dorset are in a Group with Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Gloucester and play home and away. The top two go through to a knockout stage and bottom teams go into a Plate competition. The age limit does allow two players aged 49.
In 2021 Dorset started a 60+ team playing home and away against Somerset and Wilts in a mini league.
The County Seniors operate two teams in competitive competition at the over 50 age group.
ECB 50+ County Championship
The ECB 50+ County Championship side compete in Group 3 of the competition.
Fixtures - HERE
Results - HERE
Table - HERE
The Seniors over 60s side play matches against other county opposition in the West of England.
Fixtures - HERE
Results - HERE
ROB SNOW
Left arm spin bowler
SEAN WALBRIDGE
Left arm spin bowler
JOE WILSON
Right arm seam bowler
50s ECB Captain 2024
Overview
Our boys talent pathway cricket provides the opportunity for our very best players to develop their skills with some of the best coaches in the county.
The pathway operates from under 10s to under 18s. Our coaching team work together with our Head of Talent Pathways, to develop well rounded year-round training programmes, with the main aim to ensure players are prepared mentally and physically for the matchplay element of the programme which takes place in the summer.
Players who participate in the pathway have a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents, which may lead to selection for the Dorset Emerging Players Programme (EPP) for boys or even a First-Class County Academy programme.
The overall aims of our boy's pathway are to get players onto First Class County academies and into the Men's 1st team at the end of their Pathway journey.
Talent Pathway Selection policy
The Cricket Dorset Ltd is responsible for the organisation of the Talent Pathway which is played under the Dorset Cricket badge.
A group of Lead Coaches are responsible for the delivery of the programme and the identification of talented players. This starts with larger groups of players at our younger age groups and finishes with a much smaller pool at the under 18s age group.
Starting out, our under 10s and 11s will be focused on players to be given as equal an opportunity as possible in a season, using a rotation of players and offering different match scenario roles should be the norm. At these age group, the main aim is to play lots of cricket covering all formats i.e. T20, 100 Ball 40/50 over. Assessments for all players will normally take place in August/September, where the coaching team will observe the attendees and decide on the winter's intake of players.
This allows us to select the pools of players at under 12 and 13 based on our coaching teams knowledge and assessment sessions are only open to players we did not see in the Pathway the previous year. At these age groups we are still focused on playing lots of roles in lots of formats but a focus starts to move towards the ECB competitions at under 14 and up. We will also begin to identify individuals in more specific roles and be looking to identify the highly talented players who will join our Emerging Player Programme (EPP).
At under 14s to 18s, we start to focus more on performance and those that have genuine potential to go onto a First-Class Academy or our Men's first team.
It is natural that we will look at statistics within our selections but the younger the player, the less we will use statistics as a selection tool. The older the player is, the greater the significance of statistics and performance in the journey onto higher levels.
We do not believe that the door is ever shut to players at any age and we ask clubs to continue to put forward players to the Pathway Lead coaches at all times. We would expect any player being put forward for assessment by a club to be consistently performing at the same level as the existing Pathway members at their respective age group.
We recognise that selection can be a difficult and subjective process but fully supports the Lead Coaches and Head of Talent Pathways in their final decisions.
Anyone with a grievance regarding selection should contact one of the Pathway Lead Coaches at their age group first but only if they have grounds for believing that unfair practice has occurred. This must be supported by evidence. If the issue cannot be resolved with the Pathway Lead Coaches then the matter should be escalated to the respective Head of Talent Pathways or the Managing Director.
Cricket Dorset Ltd believes that cricket is a sport which encourages fair play and teaches discipline, as well as helping children to deal with disappointment and overcome it. We encourage all players not selected to work hard, improving their skills and make their way back into contention for selection. Going a place within our talent pathway is very competitive and it is a great honour for any player to be selected. It requires hard work, dedication and commitment. We ask that parents understand that it is not possible for the coaches to get every decision 100 per cent correct and encourage all players to prove that they are worthy of selection.
The purpose of the Emerging Player Programmes (EPP) are to aid the development of our most talented cricketers aged between 13 and 16.
Players invited on to the programmes do need to show a high level of commitment, have a high work ethic and display the desire to be a professional cricketer. The programme is aimed at the very best players in the county and our aim is to see as many players as possible move onto First Class county academies when they reach the entry age.
The Boys Emerging Players Programme is managed by the Head of Talent Pathway and the EPP Lead Coach.
They will utilise specialist coaches to deliver the best possible content to the players and the sessions will be regularly attended by coaching staff from the First Class counties.
The programmes include twice weekly coaching sessions that are aimed to push the mental, technical and physical development of the players. This includes specific strength and conditioning plans alongside unique technical development steps. The programme runs from November each year for 12 months.
Participation on the programme is by invitation only and the participants are selected through discussions between the Head of Talent Pathways and the Talent Pathway Lead Coaches.
EPP Player Profiles - Boys 2023/24
Sam Barnes
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Left Arm Seam Bowler/Right Hand Batter
Club - Marnhull CC | School - Gillingham High
Leo Cooke
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Left Arm Wrist Spin / Left Hand Batter
Club - Buckhorn Weston CC | School - Bryanston
Ben Jack
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler/Right Hand Batter
Club - Broadstone CC | School - Canford
Cameron Basey
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Right Arm Off-spin Bowler / Right Hand Batter
Club - Hamworthy CC | School - Ringwood Secondary
Ralph Dunne
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Right Hand Batter / Wicketkeeper
Club - Stalbridge CC | School - Bryanston
Teddy Golding
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right Hand Batter
Club - Wimborne CC | School - Bryanston
Alfie Ingram
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Left Hand Batter / Left Arm Spin Bowler / Wicketkeeper
Club - Wimborne CC | School - Bryanston
Henry Morrison
County Age Group - Dorset U16 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right Hand Batter
Club - Bashley CC | School - Queen Elizabeth
Josh Lewis
County Age Group - Dorset U14 | Skill Set - Right Hand Batter / Right Arm Seam Bowler
Club - Stalbridge CC | School -
Barney Overton
County Age Group - Dorset U14 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right Hand Batter
Club - CC | School - Poole Grammar
JP Tatham
County Age Group - Dorset U14 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right Hand Batter
Club - Compton House CC | School - Sherborne
The Physical Performance Hub
Boys Emerging Player's Programme S&C partner
Website: https://www.thepph.co.uk/
Overview
Our girls talent pathway cricket provides the opportunity for our very best players to develop their skills with some of the best coaches in the county.
The pathway operates from under 11s to under 18s. Our coaching team work together with our Head of Talent Pathways, to develop well rounded year-round training programmes, with the main aim to ensure players are prepared mentally and physically for the matchplay element of the programme which takes place in the summer.
Players who participate in the pathway have a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents, which may lead to selection for the Dorset Emerging Players Programme (EPP) for boys or even a Women's Professional Franchise academy programme.
The overall aims of our girl's pathway are to get players onto Professional Franchise academies and into the Women's 1st team at the end of their Pathway journey.
Talent Pathway Selection policy
The Cricket Dorset Ltd is responsible for the organisation of the Talent Pathway which is played under the Dorset Cricket badge.
A group of Lead Coaches are responsible for the delivery of the programme and the identification of talented players. This starts with larger groups of players at our younger age groups and finishes with a much smaller pool at the under 18s age group.
Starting out, our under 11s will be focused on players to be given as equal an opportunity as possible in a season, using a rotation of players and offering different match scenario roles should be the norm. At these age group, the main aim is to play lots of cricket covering all formats i.e. T20, 100 Ball, 40/50 over. Assessments for all players will normally take place in August/September, where the coaching team will observe the attendees and decide on the winter's intake of players.
This allows us to select the pools of players at under 13 based on our coaching teams knowledge and assessment sessions are only open to players we did not see in the Pathway the previous year. At these age groups we are still focused on playing lots of roles in lots of formats but a focus starts to move towards the ECB competitions at under 15 and up. We will also begin to identify individuals in more specific roles and be looking to identify the highly talented players who will join our Emerging Player Programme (EPP).
At under 15s and 18s, we start to focus more on performance and those that have genuine potential to go onto a Women's Professional Franchise Academy or our Women's first team.
It is natural that we will look at statistics within our selections but the younger the player, the less we will use statistics as a selection tool. The older the player is, the greater the significance of statistics and performance in the journey onto higher levels.
We do not believe that the door is ever shut to players at any age and we ask clubs to continue to put forward players to the Pathway Lead coaches at all times. We would expect any player being put forward for assessment by a club to be consistently performing at the same level as the existing Pathway members at their respective age group.
We recognise that selection can be a difficult and subjective process but fully supports the Lead Coaches and Head of Talent Pathways in their final decisions.
Anyone with a grievance regarding selection should contact one of the Pathway Lead Coaches at their age group first but only if they have grounds for believing that unfair practice has occurred. This must be supported by evidence. If the issue cannot be resolved with the Pathway Lead Coaches then the matter should be escalated to the respective Head of Talent Pathways or the Managing Director.
Cricket Dorset Ltd believes that cricket is a sport which encourages fair play and teaches discipline, as well as helping children to deal with disappointment and overcome it. We encourage all players not selected to work hard, improving their skills and make their way back into contention for selection. Going a place within our talent pathway is very competitive and it is a great honour for any player to be selected. It requires hard work, dedication and commitment. We ask that parents understand that it is not possible for the coaches to get every decision 100 per cent correct and encourage all players to prove that they are worthy of selection.
The purpose of the Emerging Player Programmes (EPP) are to aid the development of talented cricketers aged between 13 and 16.
Players invited on to the programmes do need to show a high level of commitment, have a high work ethic and display the desire to be a professional cricketer. The programme is aimed at the very best players in the county and our aim is to see as many players as possible move onto Women's Professional Franchise academies when they reach the entry age.
The Girls Emerging Players Programme is managed by the Head of Talent Pathways.
They will utilise specialist coaches to deliver the best possible content to the players and the sessions will be regularly attended by coaching staff from the Women's Professional Franchises.
The programmes include a weekly coaching session that are aimed to push the mental, technical and physical development of the players. This includes specific strength and conditioning plans alongside unique technical development steps. The programme runs from November each year for 12 months.
Participation on the programme is by invitation only and the participants are selected through discussions between the Head of Pathways and theTalent Pathway Lead Coaches.
EPP Player Profiles - Girls 2023/24
Louisa Heap
County Age Group - Dorset U18 | Skill Set - Wicketkeeper / Right hand Batter
Club - Broadstone CC | School - Bournemouth Collegiate School
Emma Heckford
County Age Group - Dorset U15 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right hand Batter
Club - Poole Town CC | School - Parkstone Grammar
Maria Jeffery
County Age Group - Dorset U15 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right hand Batter
Club - Broadstone CC | School - Canford School
Kelsey Rees
County Age Group - Dorset U18 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right hand Batter
Club - Broadstone CC | School - Queen Elizabeth
Rosie Campbell-Barnard
County Age Group - Dorset U18 | Skill Set - Right Hand Batter / Right Arm Seam Bowler
Club - Kilmington & Stourton CC | School - Warminster
Brooke Williams
County Age Group - Dorset U18 | Skill Set - Right Handed Batter / Right Arm Seam Bowler
Club - Parley CC | School - Bournemouth Collegiate School
Lucy Weir
County Age Group - Dorset Under 15 | Skill Set - Right Handed Batter / Right Arm Seam Bowler
Club - Shroton CC | School - Kings Bruton School
Sophie Randall
County Age Group - Dorset Under 13 | Skill Set - Right Handed Batter / Leg Spin Bowler
Club - Poole Town CC | School - Parkstone Grammar School
Mia Van Egdom
County Age Group - Dorset Under 15 | Skill Set - Right Handed Batter / Right Arm Seam Bowler
Club - Dorchester CC | School - Thomas Hardy School
Martha Appleby Ingram
County Age Group - Dorset Under 11 & Under 13 | Skill Set - Right Handed Batter / Leg Spin Bowler
Club - Wimborne CC | School - Dumpton School
Caitlin Wilmott
County Age Group - Dorset Under 15 | Skill Set - Right Arm Seam Bowler / Right Handed Batter
School - Canford School
We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.