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[rickjames]

Afternoon CBF,

Just thought I'd raise this as whilst I haven't had much batting time this season and our club doesn't do midweek nets during the summer. We did some over the winter period at the Oval that were reasonably well attended, so I was wondering if anybody else is keen to do the same over the summer? Obviously it's weather dependent but I wouldn't mind going outdoors, if only because it's probably substantially cheaper.

If anyone is interested and able to recommend suggestions as to where around London that'd be grand, I can only assume the big parks have nets available for use. I know there's some free nets over at Archbishops Park in Lambeth that are OK and some in Kennington Park, but the last time I checked they were in mighty poor condition. Also happy to book it should this come to fruition. I live in Kennington, but happy to travel within reason

Cheers!
Alex

[GoodLeave]

The ones in Lambeth look OK. Video of the IJC boys netting there recently below.

Seems to be well behaved unless you bang it in short. Might want to take a sweeping brush, that'll test how versatile your bag is!

https://youtu.be/jJoeKflZgG8

[WalkingWicket37]

Look okay? They look like they're a chain link fence round a strip of concrete!

This is what I imagine you'd get if you tried to explain the concept of a net to a non cricketer who was doing things on a low budget

[rickjames]

I've lost count of balls that have slipped through those fences at Archbishops Park.

Also it appears that the nets over at Kennington Park have been done up by Surrey last month https://twitter.com/SurreyCricketFd/status/738032243570941952

Certainly an improvement

[Neon Cricket]

The Kennington nets are free to use too, shame I'm not still in London or I'd be down there all the time!

[rickjames]

Giving this a gentle bump. Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

[rickjames]

Just had a stroll down there now, dead until one bloke turned up waiting for some of his friends

[Boondougal]

Bloody hell they look like an amazing bit of kit just sat there. Wish i was in London more...

[Chalkie]

They do look good.

I'm usually in London 2 or 3 days a week so depending on the date I could make a session.

Do we need to book them to make sure they aren't busy, or is it first come first served?

[rickjames]

@Chalkie First come first served appears to be the case; I walked over at around 5:30 and started chucking a ball around to see what it was like.

Only thing I lack kitwise is stumps, but I'm sure if this gained traction it could be easily sorted

[Chalkie]

Not far from us either if anyone needs to stock up on kit....

@chrisbd - Fancy sponsoring some stumps, and maybe some refreshments?  Might encourage a few more to come along. 😉

[chrisbd]

Haha! Stumps might not be a problem - and beers in the lounge afterwards too isn't a bad shout either!

[rickjames]

@chrisbd Could also bring a Paceman down, haha. How come you guy didn't do your videos down here?

FWIW to others possibly interested I could do any day next week.

[chrisbd]

We didn't know the nets even existed tbh. I'm not from South London - I net at my club so never knew of public facilities tbh!

Could bring a Paceman but would need to use a big extension cord as they aren't battery powered annoyingly....

[rickjames]

Ah, fair enough.

p.s stumps have been sorted by yours truly, some bargain GN springers from Fleabay