As the national side struggle to hit their stride in the Cricket World Cup, England’s Ladies are more than holding their own in New Zealand and cricket is once again looming large in the public imagination.
And with thoughts turning to balmy days of summer, Bournemouth’s Dean Park Cricket Ground is proud to announce the town’s very first Festival of Cricket.
The four-day event will run over the May Day Bank Holiday as the first part of a summer of celebration as Dean Park marks its 135th anniversary with a renewed sense of purpose.
In a busy programme of events, the highlight of the Festival of Cricket is undoubtedly the return of Hampshire Cricket Club to its spiritual home.
In what will be the first match of captain Jimmy Adams’ benefit year a full-strength Hampshire side begin their T20 preparations by taking on Dorset at Dean Park on Monday 4 May. Left-handed batsman Jimmy made his country cricket debut with Dorset in 1998 at Dean Park and is thrilled to be returning to the historic ground.
“I remember it well,” says Jimmy. “Marcus Trescothick flayed us everywhere! My coach at school was the current Dorset coach Alan Willows and he got me involved again for a couple of games 10 years later.
“Dean Park has a wonderful history and association with Hampshire and it will be great to finally get back on the pitch there after a number of weather-affected years!
“It will be nice to be back and I hope it’s a good day out for all.”
With organisers expecting the festival to attract some 5,000 spectators over the weekend, the festival opens on Friday, May 1 when a special Mayor’s Select XI will take on Dorset Ladies and their guests. On Saturday, last year’s Dorset League runners up, Parley CC entertain Wimborne & Colehill; and on Sunday, May 3 last season’s Unicorns Knockout Trophy winners Devon face the home side, Dorset.
As well as the cricket Dean Park will host a local food and drink festival with more than 20 locally sourced real ales and ciders and a menu that showcases the finest fare from local producers.
Dean Park has a rich history and is something of a ‘lost treasure’ of Victorian Bournemouth. It has been home to Dorset County Cricket Club since it was founded in 1896 and was frequently used by Hampshire County Cricket Club, hosting 343 first class matches between 1897 and 1992.
Arguably the greatest cricketer of all time Prince Ranjitsinhji honed his raw talents at Dean Park in 1890. Working with England cricketer Tom Hayward among others, he did well enough to convince himself he might find success as a cricketer.
Not only did Dean Park twice entertain the Australian national side on tour in the early 20th century, the legendary Victorian cricketer WG Grace, dubbed the Father of Cricket, supported an earlier attempt to stage a festival of cricket and made the first of many appearances at Dean Park in 1903.
Prince Phillip captained the Duke of Edinburgh’s XI to a thrilling one-wicket victor over Hampshire at Dean Park in 1949. Other notable names to have graced its wicket include Gordon Greenidge, Malcom Marshall, David Gower, Robin Smith and Graham Gooch.
And it’s not just cricket… Bournemouth Rovers played one of Britain’s earliest floodlit football matches at Dean Park in 1875 before making a home at the ground and playing as Bournemouth Dean Park in 1888. A year later they merged with Bournemouth Arabs to become Bournemouth FC before leaving Dean Park the following season. Today, they play in the Wessex League as Poppies.
Later this summer Dean Park will play host to charity matches involving the England fans’ side the Barmy Army, the Lord’s Taverners and the all-star lashings World XI.
