British Police Cricket Team flourishing with Derby Fed member at its heart

3 September 2024

A Derbyshire Police Federation member who captains the British Police Cricket Club has spoken about the enjoyment he gets from representing the service.

A former professional cricketer who played for Derbyshire in the County Championship and T20, PC Tom Knight has been playing for the British Police Cricket Club for the past four years.

Tom, a response officer at Erewash, captained the side on their week-long summer tour to Surrey.

“It’s something I really enjoy doing,” said Tom. “It’s a week-long tour, we’re playing every day, and it takes me back to the days of playing day in, day out for Derbyshire.”

Royal Navy

The police kicked off the tour against a Derbyshire Challengers XI in a 45-over fixture after a late cancellation by the Royal Navy. The police team won by 22 runs after posting 293-5.

It was followed by a six-wicket win over the Army Cricket Association, as the British Police successfully chased 167 all out.

They recorded another six-wicket win in their third game of the tour, this time chasing down the Royal Air Force Cricket Association’s 222 all out.

 

 

The final game of the tour ended in defeat to the Club Cricket Conference, an association of 1,000 clubs and leagues based in the south of England.

The police XI dismissed the Club Cricket Conference for 208 but the reply never got going and they were bowled out for 142.

Tom, who plays for Alvaston and Boulton in the Derbyshire Premier League, said: “It was a really good week.

Passion

“In terms of cricket, it is one of the best things I do and the standard is really good.

“It allows me to combine my passion for cricket with being a police officer.”

Tom decided to swap his cricket whites for a blue police uniform in 2019.

“I wanted to become a police officer because I liked the thought of been able to do something different each day and going to work not knowing what you are going to deal with,” he said.

 

 

“I always enjoyed the adrenaline and working under pressure that came with cricket and I believe this is something that I will use on a regular basis in the police.”

Now that the cricket campaign is coming to an end, attention is already turning to next season for the British Police Cricket Team.

And Tom encouraged colleagues to get in touch if they want to be considered for selection.

Professional cricket

“The team is made up of players from all constabularies around Britain,” he said. “We have got a couple of lads who have played professional cricket and for second XIs, and some who are currently playing minor counties.

“There’s an inter-competition that individual forces play in and the side is selected from that, as well as direct recommendations to the committee.

“Now that the season is coming to an end, and we had the committee meeting this week.

“They will start putting recommendations in and we will sit down before Christmas to start that selection process.

“We have a squad of 15. We have a core of around 10 lads but there’s always rotations every year so put your name forward and send a CV in.”

More information is available on the British Police Cricket Club website.

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