With the nominations for the 2020 now closed, Oxfordshire Cricket over the next three weeks will be shining a light on all of the nominations that we have received, in order to help recognise them for all of their fantastic work over these unprecedented times.

This week we are shining a light on David Warner and the Masked Cricketer.

David Warner

Not only is David Warner the Chairman of Kingston Bagpuize, a role usually somewhat
honorary, but he is also chief groundsman, general dogsbody and driving force. He gets things done – spending a huge amount of time on the ground, pitch preparation and the clubhouse himself but also cajoling, encouraging and directing others. He still plays in the 1 st XI and is always available. He is energetic about organising Sunday friendlies and in raising teams to play, as he sees these as the perfect vehicle for introducing youngsters to Senior cricket. He will make himself available to make up the numbers but is always prepared to stand down to give others a game. He does the same thing for the midweek T20 side. In truth he has done this for many years but this year he has put in an exceptional effort to smarten up the surroundings of the ground, to improve the state of the clubhouse and to make it possible to play cricket with anti-covid measures in place. As well as all this he is an influential member of the Cherwell League Management Committee.

The Masked Cricketer

Darryl and Kieran acted as a partnership in forming a virtual quiz based on the TV singing show. It quickly became locally very popular and progressed to having a national profile due to its charitable links with the Lord taverners. Throughout lockdown local cricketers were disguised behind a mask with the audience trying to guess who they were. Overtime cricketing legends became involved and the weekly event really took off. Attendees donating, if they wished, to an online payment mechanism. Their great work peaked when the Masked Cricketers played a Charity match at Oxford Downs CC against the Lords Taverners. The attendance was capped at 250 people but with Mike Gatting and David Gower umpiring interest was high and they managed to raise £2500 on the day. This greatly enhanced the profile of Oxfordshires Disability programme and we look forward to similar events in the future.