As the curtain falls on the most extraordinary season cricket in the modern era, we look back on a mixed yet remarkable season for Berlin CC.
Considering that back when the corona pandemic first hit, no one quite knew if would play any cricket at all. We have been very lucky to get in a full T20 season. The club is very proud of its 1st XI which played outstanding cricket all year, only to trip up at the penultimate hurdle. To end up in the top 4 teams in the whole of Berlin bodes very well for future seasons. In the 2nd round of matches, we managed a respectable 3rd place, losing only to Chemnitz and eventual ODCV champions and losing DCB Pokal finalists, Britannia.
The story was somewhat different for our 2nd XI. With only 7 games in the first round, 1 of which was cancelled at short notice by the oppo, the season was always going to a much harder slog for the 2s. Nevertheless, despite a string of early defeats, we finally found our mojo, winning 2 of our last 3 matches. Though, sadly, this late surge was not enough to make it through to the 2nd round.
If anything the loss of the 50-over matches has led to an IPL-like boost in the popularity of the T20 format. Not only does it help ease the organisational headaches of trying to fit in a full season of all-day games with only limited availability of the Maifeld. But it also means matchdays are less time-consuming and physically draining for players – although playing two T20s in one day is oddly more strenuous than playing one 40-over game.
We’ll have to wait and see what the format will be for next season. It’s very likely that pandemic restrictions will still be in place and we may have to endure another truncated season.
Nevertheless, we are lucky our sport is non-contact so we were able to have any games at all. Thanks and recognition must go to the DCB & ODCV for organising a successful season and putting the necessary COVID safety restrictions in place so we could get the backing of local authorities to play and train.
On the flip side, there were some disciplinary issues this season, which, in our view, exposed serious failings in the disciplinary process at ODCV and with the DCB appeals process in general. More on this in another post.
So, as one season ends, another begins – we will soon start our indoor season. Though with the current rise in COVID cases, we do not know what the next few months will bring in terms of restrictions and safety measures.
Stay safe. Wear a mask. Social distance.
Berlin Cricket Club 
Nice Marts.
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