How to join a cricket club in London

London has hundreds of cricket clubs, from park teams playing friendly Sunday games to clubs with five Saturday XIs in county leagues. Whether you’ve never held a bat or you’re coming back after years away, there’s a club that fits. Here’s how to find it, and what to expect when you turn up.

Decide what kind of cricket you want

Most clubs offer more than one type of cricket, so it helps to know roughly what you’re after before you start looking:

• Saturday league cricket: the traditional format. Longer games, competitive leagues and usually several teams of different standards, so new players can start in a lower XI.
• Sunday and midweek friendlies: more relaxed games, often ideal if you’re new, returning, or can’t commit every weekend.
• Evening T20: short, fast games after work, popular with busy players.
• Women’s and girls’ cricket: many clubs now run women’s teams. If you’re completely new, women’s soft ball cricket is a friendly way in: teams of six to eight, everyone bats, bowls and fields, games last under an hour and all the equipment is provided.
• Juniors: children usually start with the ECB’s All Stars Cricket (ages 5 to 8) or Dynamos Cricket (ages 8 to 11), then move into age-group teams such as under-11s and under-13s.
• Disability cricket: some clubs and county boards run dedicated sessions and teams.

Where to find clubs in London

• The CricketsFinest club directory: we’re adding clubs region by region, starting with clubs that are actively recruiting.
• The ECB’s Find a Club tool: search by where you live, then filter by men’s, women’s or mixed cricket, by senior, social, junior, indoor or disability cricket, by age group and by distance.
• County cricket boards: London clubs fall under the Middlesex, Surrey, Essex and Kent boards, and their websites list clubs, leagues and contacts.
• Club websites and social media: most clubs post recruitment messages, nets dates and open days on their own site, Facebook or Instagram.

When to get in touch

The outdoor season in England usually runs from April to September, and many clubs hold indoor winter nets in the early part of the year. Late winter is the ideal time to make contact, because captains are planning their squads. Clubs welcome new players all year round though, so don’t wait if you’re keen.

Keep your first message short. Something like this works well:

What happens at your first nets session

Nets are practice sessions in netted lanes, either indoors in winter or at the ground in spring and summer. A typical session goes like this:

1. A warm-up, then players rotate between batting and bowling in the nets.
2. Someone, often the captain or a coach, will ask about your experience. Be honest: clubs want to put you in a team where you’ll enjoy it.
3. You’ll bat for a few minutes at a time and bowl in turns. Nobody expects you to be brilliant.
4. Afterwards, ask about membership, which team you might play in and when fixtures start.

The kit you actually need

You don’t need to spend much to get started. For your first few sessions:

• Comfortable sports clothes and trainers. Whites aren’t needed for nets.
• Your own abdominal guard (box). Clubs share most kit, but this is personal.
• Water and a towel.

Most clubs have shared bats, pads, gloves and helmets you can borrow at first. Once you’re playing regularly you’ll want whites, cricket shoes and eventually your own bat. Our guide to choosing your first cricket bat covers that. Juniors should always wear a helmet when batting against a hard ball, and clubs will insist on it.

Fees: what to expect

Most clubs charge an annual membership plus a small match fee each time you play, which usually goes towards balls, ground costs and teas. Many offer reduced rates for juniors, students and new players, so it’s worth asking.

Choosing the right club for you

• Travel: how long it takes to get to the ground and to training on a weeknight.
• Standard: clubs with several XIs make it easier for new players to find their level.
• Sections: women’s, junior or Sunday teams if you or your family want them.
• The welcome: the best clubs make new players feel part of things quickly. Trust your first impression.