THE pandemic might have put paid to the Church Times Cricket Cup competition this year, but the spirit of clergy cricket — in which northern sides have played in their raincoats before now — is not so easily quenched.

Next Thursday, 17 September, the London team, current holders of the Church Times Cup (News, 13 September 2019), will take on an invited side drawn from nine dioceses around the country, at Hampton Wick Cricket Club, in south-west London.

The game is largely the initiative of the Revd Chris Kennedy, a pioneer sports minister in Teddington, and the London captain. He also captains the Archbishop of Canterbury’s XI, and is a veteran of the sides that have played against the Vatican since 2014. This experience has given him an overview of the C of E’s clergy cricketing talent, and invitations sent around the unofficial network have led to the creation of the “Diocesan Invitational XI”, captained by the Rt Revd Mark Rylands, a former Area Bishop of Shrewsbury.

The 40-over match will follow strict ECB anti-Covid-19 guidelines for recreational cricket. The planned start is 10.30 a.m. Spectators are welcome, provided that they observe social-distancing guidelines: Hampton Wick CC, Bushy Park, Park Road, Hampton Wick, Kingston upon Thames KT1 4AZ; hwrcc.co.uk.