While most senior Swiss clubs are still waiting for the snows to clear and the temperatures to pass the 20 degree Celsius mark before they emerge from winter hibernation, the Swiss Colts XI are already moving through the gears.

Indoor Training Matches in February
For the first time in 2013 the Colts squad gathered in Basel at the magnificent Pfaffenholz indoor hall to play two T20 matches after an intensive warm-up. Fourteen players and various coaches had made the trip from Geneva, Cossonay and Zurich to join local Basel players to get underway at 10:30.

There is clearly a lot of talent emerging from the junior ranks this season to replace players who have moved on to university and job training elsewhere. These players will join the four regulars from the 2012 season. The spread of players is also more evenly distributed this year with a good half a dozen pushing for places in the team from the Zurich area. 

Zurich Indoor Challenge Cup in March
The squad will be put to its first test at the 2013 Zurich Indoor Challenge Cup at the end of March. Four six-a-side teams will compete for the trophy this year. Apart from Western Colts and Eastern Colts, Luxembourg and Winterthur CC will enter teams for the weekend tournament in Adliswil.

Schedule for the Zurich Indoor Challenge Cup (March 23rd/24th)
Saturday 23rd  March  

10:30 – 12:30 Luxembourg v Swiss Eastern Colts  

12:30 – 14:30 Swiss Western Colts v Winterthur CC   

14:30 – 16:30 Luxembourg v Winterthur CC 
16:30 – 18:30 Swiss Eastern Colts vs Swiss Western Colts

Sunday 24th  March
09:30 – 11:30 Luxembourg v Swiss Western Colts
11:30 – 13:30 Winterthur CC v Swiss Eastern Colts

Tour to south London in May
The real test, however, comes in early May. To kick off the outdoor season the Colts XI will tour to south London for four days. In addition to intensive training every day the team will play four matches against class opposition beginning with the Twenty20 Academy based in Epsom. From there the team will move to Kent to play against East Berkshire. Camberley Colts and the very talented London Warriors will round off the tour.

The team: Aiden Andrews (Gingins CC), Moaz Butt (Zurich Crickets CC), Neil Creba-Wright (Basel Dragons CC), Jack Dooley (Geneva Region Youth CC), Simon Henderson (Zurich Crickets CC), Callum Hirst† (Zurich Crickets CC), Osama Mahmood (Zurich Crickets CC), Marishque Puvimanasinghe (Geneva Region Youth CC), Jai Sinh (Cossonay Juniors CC), Arjun Vinod* (Geneva Region Youth CC), Ashwin Vinod (Geneva Region Youth CC)

Such opportunities will give the team the time to find their feet, get into their stride and play as a unit before the Swiss cricket season begins in earnest. There is no doubt it is a team that will produce a few surprises in 2013.

Schedule for the Swiss Colts Tour to south London in May

Thursday May 9th – Twenty20 Academy v Swiss Colts XI
Friday May 10th – East Berkshire v Swiss Colts XI
Saturday May 11th – Camberley Colts XI v Swiss Colts XI
Sunday May 12th – London Warriors v Swiss Colts XI