WHOEVER has been arranging the fixtures at Rivermoor Stadium must surely not have seen the weather forecast.

There was going to be rain, followed by more rain, with the prospect of more rain to come.

It has already led to a record number of games being called off at the Scours Lane venue.

Yet, unbelievably, Rivermoor was expected to stage games on six successive days this week and nine in a 10-day period up to next Wednesday.

The first two matches did go ahead – with Highmoor Ibis taking on Oxford City on Monday, followed by Woodley United against Highworth 24 hours later.

I understand the referee on Monday was told he had to play the game at all costs.

Not surprisingly, parts of the pitch quickly turned into a quagmire, making it a danger to players and the decision to play the game – which Nomads won 5-4 – was later criticised on social media.

The Hellenic League are determined to complete their fixtures by the end of this month, with Highmoor and Woodley still having four fixtures remaining.

Both have Reading Senior Cup ties to host as well, while Woodley are also due to entertain Chesham United in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-final next Tuesday.

And on top of that, two successive Wednesday slots were given to Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup ties – Reading YMCA versus Woodcote Stoke Row, followed by Cookham Dean against Berks County, although last night’s tie was called off and re-arranged for May 2 – three days before YM and WSR meet in the Thames Valley League.

  • HEATHER Knight, the Berkshire player who captains England, is among Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.

She is joined by international teammates Natalie Sciver and Anya Shrubsole, with the latter becoming the first female to be pictured on the front cover of the almanack.

Heather, who has agreed to stay with Berkshire despite their relegation to Division Two, follows in the footsteps of another Berkshire player, Claire Taylor, who was in the top five in 2009, and former England skipper and Winnersh resident Charlotte Edwards in 2014.