Herefordshire's Sykes elected on to Minor Counties committee (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire's Sykes elected on to Minor Counties committee

8:10am Monday 26th December 2011 in Cricket By Richard Prime

HEREFORDSHIRE CCC has a representative on the Minor Counties management committee for the first time.

County secretary Pete Sykes has been elected to the committee as the Western Division delegate for the coming year.

Sykes said: “It’s an accolade for the county and shows just how well Herefordshire cricket is thought of.

“It is also a tribute to the professionalism of the clubs who host Minor Counties cricket in the county and who have some of the most pictureque grounds on the Minor Counties circuit.”

The management committee delegates are elected by the representative of all 20 Minor Counties clubs with there being a Western Division delegate and an Eastern division delegate elected in alternate years.

The management committee carries out all dealings with the England and Wales Cricket Board and also manages the Unicorns side which takes part in the list A pro-40 competition.

He added: “I’m also delighted because after 20 years in the competition, and with a representative on the management committee, we can truly say that we have thrown off the ‘new boys’ tag.”

Herefordshire are hoping to open the 2012 campaign with a pre-season friendly against Cardiff UCCA on Sunday, April 15.

Their MCCA KO trophy campaign begins the following week when they entertain Cumberland at Eastnor.

The Minor Counties Championship programme gets under way with a home match against Cornwall at Eastnor on June 10, with Shropshire and Oxfordshire also visitors to the county for the 2012 season.

FIXTURES MCCA Trophy Apr 22: Cumberland (at Eastnor).

April 29: Cambridgeshire (at away venue to be decided).

May 13: Northumberland (at Brockhampton).

May 20: Cheshire (at Bramhall).

Minor Counties Championship Jun 10-12: Cornwall (at Eastnor).

June 24-26: Shropshire (at Colwall).

July 8-10: Devon (at Sidmouth).

July 22-24: Oxfordshire (at Brockhampton).

Aug 5-7: Wiltshire (at South Wilts).

Aug 19-21: Cheshire (at Boughton Hall).