Searing heat followed by sodden outfields has been the story of the last 48 hours. The latter have already done for the third and fifth team games (both cancelled well before a ball was bowled) and the chances of the other three fixtures taking place are slim. We live in hope, but no one will be surprised if this weekend proves a washout.

Firsts welcome Ealing to the Green
The ones have the best chance of playing; covers plus a fast-drying ground do at least give some room for optimism. From a TCC perspective, there’s plenty of incentive to get the game on.

Carlos Nunes’s side have made some startling progress over the last month and consecutive victories over Richmond, Shepherd’s Bush, Teddington and Harrow St Mary’s have pushed them firmly in to mid-table. Indeed, given that the Ts are now only 8 points behind third placed Teddington (see here), the aim now will be to finish on the podium.

Week 12 nonetheless brings with it a challenge of the highest order; top of the table Ealing are in town. The TCC faithful will certainly be pleased to see that Abhi Singh and Phil Nash are back in the ranks; both have been solid performers this season so far. George Yates, fresh off a Chris-Woakes-esque 6for last week against HSM, will also be looking to do similar damage on what’s likely to be a damp track on the Green.

The team is Carlos Nunes, Rhys Davies, Josh Hinde, Val Giraud, Ben Leale-Green, Don Manuwelge, Phil Nash, Scott Newman, Abhi Singh, Ethan Wright and George Yates.

Seconds visit Southgate
The seconds hit the road, making the long-trek round the North Circular to play Southgate. The hosts have had a tough old campaign and currently sit bottom of the league (see here).

Twickenham will nonetheless know better than to take them for granted. The Ts have already lost at Kenton (who were then bottom) and struggled gamely to a dramatic win against Southgate on the Green 9 weeks ago.

Nakul Vishvanath will certainly go in to the game in positive mood; he swept away HSM last week with a hat-trick to win the match. Pushtak Arsikere returns to bolster the team with both bat and ball whilst Harry Grinstead also comes in for his debut. Grinstead’s one to watch, keep an eye out for him.

The full side is Eugene Berger, Mo Ahmad, Ajmal Allahdad, Pushtak Arsikere, Sam Cliffe, Tom Field, Harry Grinstead, Brandon Newman, Nikhil Nomula, Dom Thamby and Nakul Vishvanath.

Fours lock horns with Shepherd’s Bush
The fours will be looking to continue their imperious form against 5th placed Shepherd’s Bush (see here). The Bush have had a topsy-turvy season, but three wins in timed cricket illustrates that when they get their act together they are no pushovers.

Hinay Dassani has had some selection head-scratching to do this week. There’s subsequently a few players who’ll be looking to take the chances offered up to them. Andy Donelan’s impressive season in the 5ths has won him a call up to open the batting alongside the returning Uzzi Khan. Rajdeep Chaudhray, fresh from mixing with the glitterati this week, returns, as does Vedant Jain to make his seasonal debut. Youngsters Anthony Jones and Dan Waddell will also be looking to make their marks.

The team is Hinay Dassani, JP Bowman, Rajdeep Chaudhray, Andy Donelan, Hiran Dissanayake, Mehran Iqbal, Vedant Jain, Uzzi Khan, Anthony Jones, Dave Jones and Dan Waddell.

Fingers crossed those guys get to don the whites and have a game. In truth, I am not sure they will …