I’ve thought about it for a while, but I’ve finally decided to have a moan. It’s not a moan directed at anyone or resulting from any incident in particular, it’s more to address a feeling I sometimes get.


 Although the 4th team was floated in friendlies last year this is its first year of regular, competitive cricket. All throughout this year the side has been developed, players brought through and a more than respectable blend is starting to come together. Northants Division 13 may not be the most glamorous setting in the world but everybody, and everything, has to start somewhere.


 Everyone seems to agree that having a Fourth Team is a good thing. It offers the Junior players a route into the mens game and also gives more people the opportunity to play league cricket for the club. As someone who is obviously deeply involved in the project I can tell you it is better than a good thing, it’s a fantastic thing, and an honour to be involved with. However, for some it may be good in principle but only if it doesn’t entail being picked to play for it.


 The driving point of this piece is that the Fourth Team seems to suffer from something of an image problem. Some might think there is no glamour at this level, the team isn’t gunning for promotion, it isn’t sweeping all before it and it loses more than it wins. My reaction to that is quite simple, so what?
 

 To play for the Fourth Team this year especially is to be in something from the start, the start of an adventure. Make no mistake the team always goes out to win but even the most talented Juniors can be out thought and out gunned on any particular afternoon, they need a sprinkling of older heads. So if you play for the Fourth Team you play for yourself, you play for the team and you play to set an example to those around you. Playing for the Fourth Team is no easy ticket.


 Approximately half of the team of any given Saturday will be a good deal shorter than you, their encouragement might be an octave higher or two than your own, and they might not get it right every time, but you should take the opportunity to play with some of these lads while you can. Perhaps next year, or maybe the year after, they will be using the experience they have gained (allied to their natural talent) to play at a level higher than some of you can even now aspire to. Not too long ago some might have scoffed at playing in the Third Team but wouldn’t those scoffers like the opportunity to play at the same level as a certain J Cobb Esq now?


 I joined Kibworth to do the only thing I ever wanted to do, play some Cricket. I knew I was never going to threaten the First Team, the vast majority of the players at the club know it about themselves too. Looking at it that way we are all in the supporting cast, whether at Second, Third or Fourth Team level. Is a number then so important?


 If you happen to be passing the bottom square on Saturday please stop off and see what is going on. Regardless of what the scoreboard might display I can guarantee there will be 11 players busting a gut to win a game of Cricket for Kibworth. All they ask in return is the courtesy of their efforts being taken seriously.