Berkshire Cricket is excited to announce a new direction for its Men’s 2nd XI programme in 2026, transitioning into a Midweek Performance Programme designed to better support aspiring cricketers on the pathway to the professional game.
In partnership with Hampshire Cricket, the programme will provide increased opportunities for Berkshire and Hampshire’s top non-contracted players to gain meaningful match experience. Players will compete in midweek fixtures against Professional County 2nd XI teams and development games against other National Counties midweek teams, bridging a crucial gap from National Counties and professional cricket.
A key feature of the programme will be midweek training sessions hosted at Wargrave Cricket Club, giving players access to a high-performance environment during the day. These sessions will be led by Neal Robinson, supported by Bjorn Mordt (Berkshire Men’s 1st XI Coach) and James Tomlinson (Hampshire Player Pathway Manager), who together will oversee the development and progression of players across the programme.
Strength and Conditioning provision will also form a key part of the programme, with support delivered in partnership with Go Perform. Players will have access to their facilities and work closely with their coaching staff, enabling them to benefit from a level of physical preparation and recovery provision aligned to professional sporting environments.
It has been fantastic to see within the women’s game how the tiered structure allows players to move between teams and gain opportunities through loan systems across different levels. In contrast, within the men’s professional game, larger 1st XI squads and less space within 2nd XI teams mean opportunities for players outside of the professional counties to access this level of cricket can be challenging. This programme aims to help address that gap by creating meaningful, high-level opportunities for aspiring players.
Speaking on the initiative, Giles White, Director of Cricket at Hampshire Cricket, said:
“This is a fantastic initiative and one that is really important within the current landscape of the men’s game. There is a growing number of talented players who sit just outside of the professional system, and opportunities to access meaningful 2nd XI cricket can be limited.
Programmes like this help to bridge that gap by providing high-quality match exposure and a performance environment that mirrors the professional game. It’s also a great example of how collaboration between counties and National Counties can create better opportunities for players, and we’re really pleased to be working closely with Berkshire on this.”
The new campaign gets underway this Monday, with Berkshire travelling to Polo Farm to take on Kent 2nd XI in a double-header of T20 fixtures. The squad reflects the strength and depth of the pathway, featuring a blend of Berkshire 1st XI players alongside emerging talent from the Hampshire Academy system, including Freddie Gillett and Peter Nedeljkovic.
This collaboration highlights the shared commitment between Berkshire and Hampshire to create opportunities for talented, high potential and late developing players, particularly at a stage where access to 2nd XI cricket can be limited.
Looking ahead, Berkshire and Hampshire aim to expand the programme further, with plans to continue support through the winter and develop a combined Berkshire & Hampshire U23 side. The long-term vision includes regular fixtures against 2nd XI opposition and additional development games to strengthen the player pathway.
With an ever-growing pool of talented young cricketers striving to break into the professional game, this initiative represents a significant step forward in providing the exposure, support, and competitive opportunities needed to make that transition.