BPCC Tour Summary

Arriving at Kibworth CC on Sunday 25th June 2023 was a bittersweet moment for the touring party. On the one hand, it was the morning of the first game of the historic 50th British Police cricket tour, with all the pride and excitement that came with it. On the other was the news that this would be the last tour managed by Section stalwart David (Beefy) Fraser-Darling, who has represented British Police for the last 35 years and has been Section Secretary for the last 15 of this.

Beefy played 98 games for BPCC between 1989 and 2011, amassing 3008 runs (18 x 50s and 5 x 100s) with a highest score of 136 and 63 wickets with a best of 5-38. He has been instrumental in building BPCC into the section it is and his management, insight and guidance will be sorely missed.

That said, everyone in the section wishes him well in whatever he decides to do next. Thank you Beefy!

This year saw 3 debutants amongst the squad, which is again captained by Micky Martin which earned him his 39th BPCC cap and 27th as captain. As last year, it is worth noting that it is becoming harder and harder to select the team due to unavailability due to Probationer training / CID, Driving & Firearms Courses etc. Whilst some Forces support their staff wellbeing with varying amounts of time off to represent National Sport others have gone the other way by reducing and even removing all time off making selection even harder as players now have the dilemma of choosing between Police Sport and family time.

Now on to the tour:

Day 1

Leicestershire Academy Under 18s (208 for 7) beat British Police CC (187 all out) by 21 runs

Dominic Manthorpe 65 & 6-2-2-19

Sam Baugh 35 & 3-37

“Joint 2nd highest 7th wicket partnership of 102”

Day 2

British Police CC (112 for 5) beat RAF CC (110 for 6) by 5 wickets

Lewis Jones 10-2-4-35

Josh Johnson 10-2-4-25

Dominic Manthorpe 35*

Day 3

Army CC (187 all out) beat British Police CC (142 all out) by 45 runs

Dominic Manthorpe 3-63

Hayden Tice 5-48

Tom Knight 36

Day 4

Hertfordshire CCC (279 for 3) plays British Police CC (219 for 8) – Match Abandoned

Stuart Drakeley 33

Gary Knight 72

Tom Knight 39*

Day 5

Derbyshire & Cheshire Leage Select XI (177 for 3) beat British Police CC (176 all out) by 7 wickets

Will Evans 69

Stuart Drakeley 2-33

A particularly tough tour this year sees the first ‘losing’ year since 2018 but some promising performances throughout from both experienced and debut players.

It’s all change in management next year so hopefully the squad can bounce back and come out on top in 2024