To celebrate their victory in the First Division 50-overs competition, the Warwick Workmen’s cricket team has set off on a tour of Canada. Lorenzo Tucker's squad is scheduled to play three matches against the Ontario Cricket Academy, a team coached by one of Canada’s most recognised cricket figures, Derek Perera.
The tour kicks off on Friday with a 40-over match, followed by a T20 game on Sunday. On Monday, Warwick will wrap up their Canadian journey with another 40-over match, before heading back home on Wednesday.
Although Warwick triumphed in the 50-overs format, their performance in the Athene T20 League has been less favourable, with the team struggling at the bottom of the table after losing all four of their matches this season. The Canadian trip is seen as a chance to lift the team's spirits as they approach the final stretch of the season.
Tucker reflected on the tour, describing it as a way to celebrate the team’s accomplishments. He noted that while they claimed the 50-overs title and performed well in the Western Counties competition, losing only in the second round to Willow Cuts, the tour is also an opportunity to give the players some international exposure.
He mentioned the team’s ongoing relationship with the Ontario Cricket Academy and expressed excitement about the three matches ahead. Tucker also highlighted the importance of some additional net practice sessions to mentally prepare the team for international play, with hopes of continuing this tour annually and improving it further in the future.
Recalling their previous visit to Canada in 2019, Tucker pointed out that Warwick, playing alongside Flatts, secured victories in all three matches against Ontario Cricket Academy.
While the team will be missing Luke Horan and Luke Fulton, who are currently studying in England, they’ve bolstered their 12-player squad with three guest players. Among them is Tre Manders, a player from Tucker's Western Counties team, as well as Cofield Robinson from Somerset and Reggie Baker from Flatts. Manders’ inclusion in the tour has also led Somerset to find a replacement for him in their upcoming Cup Match against the visiting Americas Select.