Carr puts on old Radlett hat as they bid for glory

14 April 2012

Radlett will have the support of one of the most powerful figures in English cricket when they chase the club game's richest prize this weekend.

The Hertfordshire side face Lordswood, from the Kent League, at The Oval on Sunday in the final of the £12,000 Evening Standard Challenge Trophy, the 50-over knockout event featuring the London area's leading 108 sides.

Among the supporters heading down the A41 will be the English Cricket Board's director of cricket operations, John Carr, wearing his "former Radlett player" hat.

Victory in the final would complete a happy Oval double for the 40-year-old former Middlesex batsman, who was a prolific run scorer for his local team in the Eighties and early Nineties.

"I'm Radlett through and through and I'm really looking forward to the final. It's a big day in the club's history," said Carr, who joined Radlett's colts at the age of 11 and played for them when not required by Middlesex alongside several of the current players.

Carr's presence compensates for the absence of the man who guided Radlett's players through to their first major final.

Dave Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain and Worcestershire coach, ended his two-year stint as Radlett's playercoach shortly after they won their semi-final last month.

The Sky Sports commentator has taken over as director of cricket at Derbyshire and will be with his new team for their National League match against Somerset.

Radlett's captain and opening batsman Nick Fielden said: "Knowing Dave, he will be in regular touch by phone. It would be nice to win the trophy for him as Dave has put a tremendous amount into the club and we are reaping the benefit of his professional approach."

Radlett have collected the scalps of Teddington, Wimbledon and three Kent clubs - Gravesend, Beckenham and Bexley - en route to the final and they hope to emulate Home Counties League rivals High Wycombe, who won at The Oval 12 months ago. Lordswood aim to make it fifth time lucky for Kent after final defeats for Dartford, Sevenoaks Vine and Bexley (twice).

Although they are the outsiders, Lordswood proved their quality with emphatic victories over former champions Wanstead and Finchley.

Radlett are at full strength but Lordswood have 18-year-old seam bowler Steve Silver on standby for David Masters, who is likely to be in action for Leicestershire against his former county, Kent, in the National League.

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Carr puts on old Radlett hat as they bid for glory

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