CYPRUS CRICKET [civilian and military teams] v SWINBROOK CC
Happy Valley Ground - British SBA, Episkopi
17-19 April - 17th - 30 over starting noon, 18th - Timed game starting 11am, and 19th - T20 starting 11am
Cyprus Cricket will be happy to welcome Swinbrook CC over the weekend of 17-19 April. Matches will be played at the picturesque Happy Valley ground which is situated in the British SBA (Sovereign Base Area) at Episkopi, between Limassol and Paphos, towards the western end of the island.
The ground has two cricket pitches, both consisting of astroturf on a concrete base. In recent years we have moved to playing exclusively with white balls, coloured clothing and black sightscreens - a blow to traditionalists but a nod towards the modern way of things.
The ground has recently hosted a T20i series between Cyprus and Austria and in May will be home to one of the qualifying tournaments leading to the 2028 World T20 Cup.
Fixtures for Swinbrook will be against some of our civilian and military teams that play in our domestic league competitions. The planned schedule features a 30 over match on the Friday starting at 12.00, a timed game on Saturday at 11.00, and a T20 on Sunday at 11.00.
Within the army grounds there is a beach bar where a post-match drink can be enjoyed by the sea. Most touring teams seem to like this!
Richard Boxall
Cyprus Cricket
Swinbrook CC is located in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds, close to Burford.
Over the last couple of seasons there has been a revival at the club. An under 13s side was set up with great success, and this summer we will restart our 2nd XI league side, meaning the club will have two teams competing in leagues 5 and 9 of the Cherwell Cricket League. In addition we will be adding All Stars cricket on a Friday evening for the under 7s, and maintaining our Sunday social side.
The aim and ethos of our club is very simple: to be a club people want to play for, and to play against, welcoming all levels of cricketer.
The cricket ground in Swinbrook is a quintessential English village setting: local pub, stream, Cotswold cottages and beautiful countryside.
We also happen to be a powerfully (very, as it’s a mile uphill all the way!) struck cover drive from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub The Farmer’s Dog, with the club also sponsored by Hawkstone.
Many of the new Saturday 2nd XI league side are regular Sunday cricketers, and will be part of the touring squad to Cyprus this year, playing against the local teams based in Episkopi on 17th, 18th and 19th April. We will have two limited overs games and one traditional timed game. White ball, black sight screens and coloured shirts.
This will be the first tour Swinbrook CC has embarked on for many years, and certainly the first overseas tour. We chose Cyprus because there is a very close connection between SCC and many of those that serve at the base on the island - evidenced by the fact that two locals in Cyprus (Mike & Pam Groves) are regular visitors to Swinbrook CC during the summer season. A few of our players have relatives who have been posted to Cyprus and this all adds to the pre tour banter and excitement.
Our aim is to enjoy all that this lovely island has to offer, and maybe play some cricket! We will be a social side so having fun, living the Swinbrook values and entertaining people on and off the pitch will be the tone we want to set. We want cricket to be the winner!
You won’t miss us in our eye catching Hawkstone & Swinbrook shirts – especially late at night!
Rakesh Bajpai
Tour Chair
Swinbrook Cricket Club
