Fakenham skipper looks ahead to 2024 cricket season

The new Norfolk Alliance cricket season starts tomorrow with Downham Stow, Fakenham and North Runcton all looking to launch a Premier Division title challenge in the months ahead.2023 runners-up Fakenham start their campaign with a trip to Acle.Fakenham captain Luke Caswell looks ahead to the new campaign in this question-and-answer session.How pleased were you to be elected as the club captain? I feel extremely honoured that the players and members wanted me to be captain this year. Fakenham is a hugely successful and thriving cricket club within Norfolk, and I can’t wait to offer my experience in helping it try to go one step further.Is captaincy something you always hoped to do in your career? I’ve been fortunate enough to have been led by plenty of great captains over my career, which has influenced my leadership skills and the way I think about the game.I’m grateful to now be in a position to use those skills to hopefully influence the next generation of players and the next captain of Fakenham CC. As a top-order batsman and leading bowler are you confident you will be able to mix both playing and captaincy roles successfully?My job as a batsman has no relationship to my job as captain, I’ll focus as ever on scoring runs for the team in the best way possible. With the bowling and captaincy, I have no doubt they’ll come together nicely, particularly with the support of Harry Bammant as vice-captain.Who is your vice-captain and do you plan to work closely as a leadership group? I asked Harry Bammant to be my Vice Captain this year. Harry is a phenomenally talented batsman who offers so much to the team.Off the pitch he is a hugely respected member of the club that many players look up to; another player to have risen through the youth setup to 1st XI. We have so far and will continue to work together to try and implement our plans for the 1st XI but also along the captains of the other senior sides throughout the club as a whole. The 1st XI just missed out on the top spot last season after suffering play-off heartache the season before, what do you think are your key areas as a side you need to improve on this season?For us, along with every team in the League, it’s about focusing on being consistent: in preparation, delivery and our approach.We have many strengths as a team and hopefully, we can consistently deliver them under pressure.What can you tell us about any new players for 2024?We have a few new signings throughout the club. From a 1st XI viewpoint, Chris Read has joined us from Horsford, which is an exciting move for both him and us.I’m confident Chris will take no time at all to make an impact in the league. He’s already settled into the squad perfectly having played a lot of county cricket with a number of our players.Which clubs do you feel will be your main rivals in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division?Every club in the Alliance Premier Division is a challenge. We don’t value any game above the next, and we are fully aware that every team in the league can beat any team on their day, which makes our job of being consistent even more important.n The winter has enabled Fakenham to take stock of what they are trying to achieve as a club and within/for our community.They are a big club, with three Saturday sides, the potential to start a fourth side, midweek cricket and a youth section of 118 children from 5-19 years old.Naturally, they want the obvious success of league titles, but we also don’t want to lose sight of the bigger picture.They are building good connections with local schools, as well as having reinstated a U19s side, a Sunday League XI, a women’s team, a girls’ team, and we’re exploring how we can deliver disability cricket to the North Norfolk and West Norfolk communities.Fakenham have aspirations for growth and trophies or titles don’t necessarily define success.To help facilitate this, they’ve revamped the management of our cricketing operations.New roles were created to provide volunteers with the scope and remit to help drive all facets of the club forward.The most significant of these roles is the newly-established Head of Women’s Cricket, a role taken on by Norfolk Women’s CCC player/coach Emily Dack.The club is hugely proud of Emily’s achievements in cricket having come through the youth setup to play in the professional game for Sunrisers.Emily is inspiring to all our young cricketers.Another important factor in encouraging future generations is Fakenham’s connection with Norfolk Women’s CCC.This year, they are the exclusive county ground for the Norfolk Women’s team (Fixtures: May 6 vs Cambridgeshire (50 over game), June 16 3x T20 games and July 14 against Buckinghamshire (50 over game).This winter has also seen several initiatives come together.A renovation to the historic ‘old pavilion’ once host to the likes of Middlesex and England’s Peter Parfitt, as well as the purchase of additional land on the Highfield Lawn site.The land will require a lot of work but eventually will be used for youth cricket.If you’d like to get involved in playing cricket at Fakenham CC – you can connect with the club on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or get in touch with the director of cricket, Ben Harvey by emailing: fakenhamcricketclubinfo@gmail.com