Mill Hill Village Cricket Club will field a 6th XI on a Saturday for the very first time — proof, if any were needed, of just how healthy the club is right now.

The Village already turn out five Saturday league sides in the Herts Premier Cricket League every week. But availability for this weekend was so strong that the club scrambled into action and pulled together a friendly fixture to soak up the demand.

Director of Cricket Phil Smith said: "We had a staggering 69 players available at one point this week. We're always keen to get everyone a game, so we now have six teams playing cricket for Mill Hill Village Cricket Club on Saturday, August 15. I'm not sure that has ever happened before."

The 6th XI will take on Old Albanian CC 3rd XI at Verulamium Park in St Albans in a friendly fixture. The Village will be captained by longtime member Laurence Bird, who joined the club in 1991 as an 8-year-old colts member. More than half of the side come from our thriving juniors section.

All five Saturday league sides remain firmly in the promotion hunt with four rounds of fixtures left to play. Four of the five currently sit top of their league. The 1st XI lead the way in Division 4A. The 2nd XI are also top of Division 6B. The 3rd XI are first in Division 10 East. The 4th XI sit third in Division 11 East, while the 5th XI — only formed at the start of the year — are already top of Division 14 East.