Members who have paid their 2025 membership fees can now book the new net lane.
Availability is shown in the following Google Calendar link. Initially bookings need to be made via Martyn Dancer, Jonathan Irby or Chris Judge.

The calendar is colour coded:
Red = nets unavailable
Orange = placeholder for Saturday/League matches. This will be amended to reflect the actual fixtures in due course
Green = reserve slot for matches.
Purple = net lane booked. Specify left/right lane and with/without the bowling machine.

Click here for link

Booking and usage rules will be added shortly and are copy/pasted below:

1. Principles:
a. Allow WCC playing members to book and use the net facilities when the ground is not otherwise in use.
b. Maintain safety at all times. The nets are inherently safe given their size and constriction, but we cannot, for example, have young children straying into the path of competent adult batters.
c. Automated booking, to save admin.
d. Avoidance of individual members monopolising bookings and/or booking and then not turning up.
e. Free usage for all members.
f. Preventing damage to the facility.

2. Booking system
Members will book directly via a Google calendar. A link to the calendar will be saved on the WCC Pitcherho site. Members must book through this site and will not be permitted to use the facility unless they have booked in advance.
The site will be administered by Martyn Dancer, Jonathan Irby and Chris Judge. They will have the ability to reject/cancel a booking if, for example, a match is rearranged and the ground is therefore required.

Bookings will be in one hour blocks. With members asked to book for no more than two consecutive hours.

3. Safety
The following rules apply:
a. All cricketers under the age of 18 must have a first-aider on site to participate in hard ball practice and also be accompanied by a responsible adult. The relevant age group manager or coach must be informed by each participant’s parents/legal guardians of who the responsible adult is. This is to be included in the Google calendar when the booking is made.
b. Cricketers practicing in adjacent net lanes must be responsible for their own safety. Participants may only cross a lane that is in use by first checking that a ball is not about to be delivered. Where children are participating the coach or responsible adult must brief them of the safety rules before the lane is occupied.
c. Safety (and equipment) rules will be printed out, laminated and displayed in the net lanes at all times.

4. Equipment
The following rules apply:
a. Footwear must be astroturf (pimpled) cricket shoes or trainers only. Cricket spikes or football boots are strictly prohibited.
b. Cricketers under the age of 18 must wear helmets and other standard protective equipment to participate in batting or wicket keeping practice with a hard ball.
c. No non-cricket equipment is permitted in the net lanes, including food and drinks.
d. WCC Stumps. Please use a set of heavy-duty plastic stumps to avoid wear and tear to the more expensive spring-back stumps used in junior matches.

5. WCC Bowling Machine
The bowling machine may be used by WCC adult playing members and WCC coaches providing that they have been trained in how to use it, including set up, close down and storage. The ground must not be wet or the balls will damage the machine and all balls must be collected after use.
The bowling machine must be added to the booking on the Google calendar.
6. No-shows
Members are strongly encouraged to only book the lane time that they require and to make any cancellations in good time. Any members who have more than two no-shows in the season will be suspended from using the net lanes for a period of two weeks. A no-show is where a member books the lane and then does not turn up.