THE
PLAYING FIELDS OF ENGLAND AN A–Z GUIDE TO THE SUMMER GAME’S TOP 100 SCHOOLS 2017
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Academic and Cricket Excellence Outstanding coaching and superb facilities National Finalists 2016 Independent boys’ school (7-18 years) 01926 776400 ∣ www.warwickschool.org
Bede’s Cricket Academy
1st XI Sussex Champions – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 1st XI South East Regional Champions – 2011, 2012, 2013 1st XI South of England Champions – 2012, 2013 1st XI National Runners Up – 2012, 2013 Girls’ U15 Lord’s Taverners National Finalist – 2011 U13, U14 Sussex Champions – 2015, 2016
Bede’s Alumni
Callum Jackson – Sussex CCC and England U19 Ollie Rayner – Sussex CCC, Middlesex CCC, England U19 and England Lions Luke Wells – Sussex CCC, England U19 and England Lions Shai Hope – Barbados and West Indies Fynn Hudson-Prentice – Sussex CCC Delray Rawlins – Sussex CCC and England Young Lions
Coaching Staff
Alan Wells (ECB Level 4) Sussex CCC, Kent CCC and England Neil Lenham (ECB Level 3) Sussex CCC Petch Lenham (ECB Level 3) James Kirtley (ECB Level 3) Sussex CCC and England
Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker East Sussex BN27 3QH bedes.org
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HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding Boys and girls 13 to 18 For more information please contact: richard.mills@bedes.org T 01323 843252
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Staff Chief executive Guy Evans-Tipping Editor Simon Hughes Deputy editor Huw Turbervill Art director James Bunce Assistant editor James Coyne Art editor Jessica Hutchinson Commercial director Manpreet Singh Pattar Head of marketing Jess Davidson Finance and subscriptions manager Chris Smith CricketArchive managing director Jim Hindson Social media manager Owen Riley
Schools’ cricket is superb introduction to the greatest game on earth There is something wonderfully old fashioned about watching schools’ cricket. The beautiful green sward immaculately tended by the devoted groundsman. The players (mostly) in whites, apart from the one who forgot his boots and is playing in his school shoes. The variety of physiques – small, large, thin, lumpy, athletic, clumsy, and the gawky one who fields long leg both ends and doesn’t bat or bowl (which in my school team was none other than Hugh Grant in a pair of white jeans). There are the funny run-ups and the myriad bowling actions, the carefully rehearsed defensive strokes leading to random bouts of wild slogging, the diving stops, the overthrows, and the hilarious running, culminating in a sudden collapse with three runs to win to the exasperation of the dedicated coach. There is a spirit and an eyeswide-open optimism and a sense of total enjoyment that you do not always see at other levels of the game. Schools’ cricket is a superb
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introduction to the greatest game on earth. It emphasises fun and competitiveness and teamwork and dealing with awkward situations and occasionally the fear of facing a demon opposition bowler. Many people I meet look back with great fondness at their school cricket career where lifelong friendships are often formed and memorable moments live on and become more embellished by the year. So we at The Cricketer bring you the second Playing Fields of England. It is a celebration of the best of school sport, the grounds, the facilities, the coaching, the fixture lists and the general commitment to getting those blighters on the field to play a semblance of the game that has characterised England and Englishness for more than three centuries. Those lads and lasses may not express their gratitude to their establishments for leading them into this special, enduring, bewildering but ultimately captivating world, but we will! Thanks for all your efforts. It is worth it.
SIMON HUGHES Editor @theanalyst
ON THE COVER A match at St John’s School, Leatherhead, with the dining hall forming the backdrop
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
ASHES TESTS TO SCHOOL EXAMS They took part in two of the most thrilling Ashes series on English soil, and Chris Tavaré and Geraint Jones are now passing on their experiences to youngsters. Tavaré, the king of cussedness and defiance who played in the final two Tests of the 1981 rubber, is now at Sevenoaks School in Kent. Jones, another man of Kent, and an important member of the 2005 Ashes-winning side, is now at Brentwood College in Essex. Now 62, his pupils know Tavaré as the master in charge of cricket, and a biology teacher. They would need to do a Google search to discover that he is an iconic figure who – rather than just a former England opener who won 32 Test caps and averaged 32.50 – represents a paradigm of the game itself. To “do a Tavaré”, symbolises obduracy and defiance. Like the innings at Perth on the 1982/83 Ashes tour, when he made 89 in 466 minutes, with two scoreless hours. His abilities have been much maligned, although he made two Test centuries, in India and at home to New Zealand. He is a likeable and decent fellow, too, and clearly commands affection and respect among his charges. When asking about his reputation for dour batting, he admitted: “I do find that rather boring, that’s why I don’t do interviews these days, so this is unusual! I find it frustrating. Some people hated my approach. On the other hand cricket was different then. The draw was a possibility. Cricket was played as a much longer game. “I look back at my cricket career in a funny way. I have been teaching longer now than I played. It’s a life that I sometimes wonder if I was ever part of. I have had a really good time teaching. “I find it funny when I watch Sky, and they have a programme about how great David Gower was, and I am in the odd clip, the
batsman at the non-striker’s end. “My most memorable experience was being at the other end when Ian Botham got his hundred at Old Trafford in 1981. I had the best seat in the house.” Tavaré made his maiden Test hundred at Delhi in 1981/82. “They went 1-0 up in the first Test, and after that the pitches were just flat. It was boring cricket. They batted two days, we batted two days, then it was a draw.” The six-Test series ended 1-0. He had a memorable 1982/83 Ashes tour. After that dogged 89 at the Waca, he made the same score at the MCG, and (sort of) took the catch that won the Test by just three runs. Well, he popped the ball up and Geoff Miller finished the job. “It was fantastic to play in front of 64,000 on Boxing Day. It was a relief, but I can’t say I recall it particularly well! I found touring hard. All the tours I went on, we went 1-0 down. It’s not often sides come back from that. “The England experience took me a year to recover from. Test cricket took a lot out of me. I admire people like Gower who played [international cricket] for 10 to 12 years... I don’t know how they did it. I found it absolutely draining. They always said Botham and Bob Willis liked to have a long rest between bowling spells, anyhow, so they loved it when I batted!” The Cricketer caught up with Jones as he watched
GETTY IMAGES (2), ADRIAN MURRELL/ALLSPORT, ALLSPORT UK /ALLSPORT
A busy summer on the schools beat saw Huw Turbervill interview Chris Tavaré and Geraint Jones
Brentwood play at Ipswich School. The former England, Kent and Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, 40, was in his first year at the school after leaving county cricket last summer and calling time on a brief venture into Associate cricket with Papua New Guinea, where he was born. “I am really enjoying it. The boys are a really great group, and they accepted me straightaway. I drip-feed them little bits of advice – I can’t throw it at them all at once. How to finish teams off is something I am advising on. And some of the fields are, shall we say, different! Youngsters are sponges, though, they want to absorb lots of information, so they are learning fast. “Do I miss playing? No, not really – I had a really fulfilled career. My biggest regret is not converting my 85 at Trent Bridge in 2005 – I would love to have scored an Ashes century.” With coaches like Tavaré and Jones around, schools’ cricket is in safe hands, and it is no wonder there have been some tremendous displays this summer.
Leg-spinner Henry Wines took a hat-trick for Haileybury School 1st XI, amid a spell of 8 for 15, in a T20 match against Aldenham School. Blake Cullen started the summer with a blitzkrieg of centuries. The 14-year-old Hampton School pupil made 119 against King Edward’s School, Birmingham, 119 not out v Reed’s, 127 v Dulwich College and 115 against St John’s, Leatherhead. And unplayable is the best word to describe Olly Tomalin’s spell for St Olave’s School, York, in the Royal National Children’s Foundation Cup. The 13-year-old took 10 for 7 off 3.5 overs against Terrington Hall. He claimed a hat-trick with his first three deliveries, and took five wickets in that first over. Perhaps they could be among the next generation of Ashes heroes.
National service: Chris Tavaré was defiant in Tests (above) but had the shots in county cricket (left); Geraint Jones (far left) shone in the 2005 Ashes
TOP 100 SCHOOLS
ALDENHAM SCHOOL Aldenham Road Elstree Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ
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Established 1597 Notable fixtures MCC, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood, Haberdashers’ Aske’s, Highgate, XL Club, UCS, Watford Grammar, Mill Hill, Berkhamsted, Haileybury, John Dewes Inv XI, Westminster Director of cricket David Goodchild (Middlesex) Teams Seven from U14 upwards, plus four U12–13 Facilities Large indoor sports hall, five nets and a bowling machine Club/county affiliation Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Watford Town CC, Eastcote CC and Radlett CC Brief history The boards in the quaint old pavilion claim that cricket was first played at Aldenham in 1857. Aldenham has produced one Test player, Middlesex’s John Dewes, who played for England in Don Bradman’s final Test. A match has been established in his honour, with John Emburey and Aftab Habib representing the John Dewes XI Cricketers of note Dewes, Scott Moffat (Middlesex) Extras Lee Tyrrell recently broke the school record and now has amassed over 2,000 runs and 70 wickets for the 1st XI, and was awarded the Cricket Society Wetherell Trophy for the leading schools allrounder. Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen filmed an advert here for the Caribbean Premier League. In 2016 Aldenham made two county finals, winning the U15 competition
AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE Ampleforth Abbey Yorkshire YO62 4ER Established 1802 Notable fixtures Hymers College, Pocklington, St Peter’s York, Bradford Grammar, Woodhouse Grove, Sedbergh, Durham, Barnard Castle, Stonyhurst, Worksop College, Oundle, Uppingham, Denstone, Oakham, Blundell’s, Taunton School, Canford, Dulwich, Eastbourne Cricket professional Jim Love (Yorkshire) Teams 10 Girls’ cricket The best girls play in boys’ teams; the school has hosted girls’ festivals Facilities Eight indoor cricket lanes (in two sports halls), eight artificial nets, six grass cricket nets, seven cricket squares Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Brief history Records survive from 1919 and in that time a fine tradition has emerged. Spectators enjoy the idyllic setting and the Benedictine hospitality. Fr Peter Utley of Hampshire returned to Ampleforth as a monk and gave much to the sport from 1936 to 1955, nurturing many a quality batsman. CF Grieve
scored 2,344 runs in his five years in the team. JP Pearce (1972–1977) claimed 141 wickets and F O’Connor (1976–1977) 91. In latter years, batting has dominated, testimony to high quality of the square and ground, expertly prepared by JM Wilkie. This culminated with Toby Pratt (2012–2015), scoring a career 1,990 runs at an average of 62 Cricketers of note Edmund King (Warwickshire), Richard Utley (Hampshire), Nick Derbyshire (Lancashire & Essex) Extras Ampleforth boasts a broader range of geographical opponents than most other schools, with opponents from as far down as the West Country, such as Blundell’s and Taunton School. Old Amplefordians are one of the fixtures on the friendly cricket scene in the south of England. The ground is the last place that Fred Trueman and Brian Statham opened the bowling together. Scyld Berry, The Telegraph’s longstanding cricket correspondent and former Wisden editor, went to school at Ampleforth
BEDFORD MODERN SCHOOL Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7NT
BEDE’S SCHOOL Upper Dicker Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3QH
Alan Wells Director of cricket
Established 1978 Notable fixtures MCC, Eton, Hampton, Tonbridge, Charterhouse, Whitgift Director of cricket Alan Wells (Sussex, Kent & England) Cricket professional Neil Lenham and James Kirtley (both Sussex) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U15 girls, U14AB Facilities Six indoor nets, eight outdoor artificial nets, four grass squares Club/county affiliation Sussex Brief history Cricket has gone from strength to strength under successive headmasters who are both cricket fans. Employing a professional coach 15 years ago has helped gain national recognition. It has consistently helped develop county youth cricketers, both male and female. The school currently has 14 girl cricketers Cricketers of note Ollie Rayner (Sussex & Middlesex), Luke Wells, Callum Jackson, Fyn Hudson-Prentice (all Sussex), Shai Hope (West Indies) Extras The option for year 9s to choose cricket as part of their curriculum and also drop a GCSE for those potentially on a career pathway Finest moment on the field National runners-up in 2012 and 2013 Cultural cricketers The pavilion is named after Christopher MartinJenkins, who went to Bede’s Prep
Established 1764 Notable fixtures MCC Director of cricket Paul Woodroffe Teams 15 teams regularly turn out, with girls able to opt for cricket, several playing for school teams Facilities Two indoor lanes in sports hall, 10 artificial lanes outdoors and five excellent grass nets. The school has five cricket squares Club/county affiliation Bedfordshire Brief history The first organised cricket at the school took place in 1883, largely thanks to Dick Rogers, who converted wasteland on Clarenden Street into a sports field Cricketers of note Arthur Turner (Essex), Arthur Jones (Nottinghamshire & England) Frederick Newman (Surrey), Harold Day (Hampshire), Norman Oliver, Daniel Richmond (Jamaica), Bob Gale (Middlesex), Peter Watts (Northamptonshire), Peter Kippax (Yorkshire), Alan Fordham
(Northamptonshire), Geoff Millman (Nottinghamshire & England), Neil Stanley (Northamptonshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire, Sussex, Essex & England) Extras Stanley holds the school record for most runs scored in a season, with 1,116 in total. Paul Owen (Gloucestershire) holds the record for most 1st XI wickets with 154 victims over three years. Nottinghamshire and England captain Arthur Jones made nearly 23,000 first-class runs, scoring 34 centuries, while Monty Panesar represented England in 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013. The school actively lends out facilities to local state schools Finest moment on the field Fordham captained Bedford Modern to the Lord’s Taverners Trophy against Rugby School at Edgbaston in 1980. The school were also national runners-up in 2012 and 2013
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
BEDFORD SCHOOL De Parys Avenue Bedford MK40 2TU
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BISHOP’S STORTFORD COLLEGE 10 Maze Green Bishop’s Stortford Hertfordshire CM23 2PJ Matt Drury Head of cricket
Established 1868 Notable fixtures MCC, Haileybury, Brentwood, Ipswich, Colchester RGS, Chigwell Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB Prep School 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, 6th XI, U11ABCD, U9AB Girls’ cricket Training sessions are run on a weekly basis and the first inter-school matches were played in the 2016 season. Facilities Four main squares, 14 artificial outdoor nets, two mobile net cages, two indoor nets Club/county affiliation Hertfordshire, Bishop’s Stortford CC Cricketers of note Graham Doggart (Middlesex & Cambridge University), CH Titchmarsh (MCC) Extras The College offers sports scholarships and an elite cricket
programme throughout the off season. Regular overseas 1st XI pre-season tours to Cape Town. The Doggart pavilion was opened in 1933 and presented by the Doggart family. The outfield is one of the best in the region, having been used by Hertfordshire for two-day matches and international hockey until the 1970s. The 1st XI finished fourth in the 2016 RNCF Cricket Shield for prep schools Finest moment on the field The College was the first UK school to tour Sri Lanka, in 1985/86 and played in the inaugural Sir Garfield Sobers International Cricket Schools Festival in Barbados Cultural cricketers Sir Stephen Lander, director-general of MI5 from 1996 to 2002 and ex-chairman of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency, played for the 1st XI
DAN MULLAN/GETTY IMAGES FOR ECB
Established 1552 Notable fixtures MCC, Harrow, Shrewsbury, Bromsgrove, Stowe Director of cricket Gary Steer (Derbyshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U17, U16, U15ABC, U14ABCD Prep School 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, U11ABCDEF, U10ABC, U9AB, U8ABC Facilities Six indoor nets, 13 outdoor grass nets, six outdoor artificial nets, seven grass squares Club/county affiliation Bedfordshire Brief history Records go back to 1886 but it is in recent years that Bedford has become one of the leading cricket schools. They won the under-17 tournament in 2010 and 2014, and twice made T20 finals day. The Alastair Cook Room in the refurbished pavilion is a daily reminder of his inspiration Cricketers of note Alastair Cook (Essex & England), Alex Wakely, Toby Bailey, Ian Peck, Christian Davis (all Northants), James Kettleborough (Northants & Glamorgan), Will Smith (Notts, Durham & Hampshire), Adrian Shankar (Worcestershire & Lancashire), Brian Disbury (Kent) Extras The ground has hosted Bedfordshire since 1895 Finest moment on the field Cook scoring a record 1,287 runs with five centuries in 2003
BLUNDELL’S SCHOOL Blundell’s Road Tiverton Devon EX16 4DN Established 1604 Notable fixtures MCC, Millfield, King’s Taunton, Sherborne, Clifton College Director of cricket Rob Turner (Somerset & England A) Cricket professionals (from autumn 2016) Liam Lewis (Devon & Loughborough UCCE), Alfonso Thomas (Somerset & South Africa) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12AB Girls’ cricket Girls’ fixtures across a variety of age groups, with girls also playing in the boys’ teams on merit. Girls’ cricket is growing in popularity and a number of students play for Devon at various age levels Facilities Indoor sports hall (two nets), outdoor all-weather facility (four nets), 12 grass nets and six cricket squares. Fitness suite for training during winter months Club/county affiliation Heathcoat CC, Devon, Somerset Brief history The earliest record of a
BRADFIELD COLLEGE Blundell’s cricket match took place in September 1844 against the Tiverton club Cricketers of note Vic Marks (Somerset & England), Jeremy Lloyds (Somerset & Gloucestershire), Hugh Morris (Glamorgan & England), Dominic Bess (Somerset), Ulrick Considine (Somerset), Royston Gabe-Jones (Glamorgan) Extras The school hosts matches for boys and girls at all age levels from under-11 through to the full county club and women’s teams. Venue for the David Shepherd Great Cricket Picnic in July, raising funds to promote youth cricket Finest moment on the field A recent Devon v Wales match featured five Old Blundellians who have all captained the school Cultural cricketers Christopher Ondaatje (author and philanthropist), Michael Mates (politician), Tristan Evans (drummer with The Vamps)
Reading West Berkshire RG7 6BZ Established 1850 Notable fixtures MCC, Free Foresters, Radley, Marlborough, St Edwards, Winchester and Cheltenham, Eton, Harrow, Wellington, Charterhouse, Stowe, Malvern Director of cricket Julian Wood (Hampshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U17, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket Two sides during the summer and training through the age groups Facilities Five indoor nets, four all-weather nets, 16 grass nets, seven grass squares Club/county affiliation Berkshire, Middlesex, Hampshire, Surrey and Gloucestershire Brief history Cricket is centred around Pit, the iconic main ground, once named by Ted Dexter as one of the most beautiful in the world. The bowling record – Michael Mence’s 84 wickets in 1962 – looks like it will never be beaten due to the increase in limited-overs fixtures, but his batting record from the same year was smashed in 2015 by Harry Came (great-grandson of Walter Robins) who is the first Bradfieldian to 1,000 in a season Cricketers of note Graham Roope (Surrey & England), Mark Nicholas (Hampshire & England A), Rupert Cox, William Kendall, Hamza Riazuddin and Richard Morris (all Hampshire), Ryan Higgins (Middlesex), Tom Jewell (Surrey), Mence (Warwickshire) Extras Wood is part of Graham Thorpe’s coaching team at Loughborough. He also works with Gloucestershire, Middlesex and IPL and Big Bash sides during the holidays. Sachin Tendulkar is rumoured to have cleared the River Pang in an U15 tour match Finest moment on the field Bradfield has won the John Harvey Cup in 2012 and 2015 – played between Radley, Marlborough, St Edwards, Winchester and Cheltenham. The Old Bradfieldian team – the Waifs – has won the Cricketer Cup three times
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BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL Keighley Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD9 4JP
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Established 1548 Notable fixtures MCC, St Peter’s York, RGS Lancaster, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield, Ampleforth College, Grammar School at Leeds, Woodhouse Grove, Durham School Cricket professional Simon Kellett (Yorkshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15, U14, U13, U12 Facilities Two grass pitches, one artificial pitch, six grass nets, five indoor nets Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Brief history Cricket was first played at Bradford Grammar in the 1870s, the school playing its first competitive match against Fulneck School in May 1884. Much has happened since those early
days, including the move to grounds at Frizinghall, the building of both the old and new sports pavilions, and the development of a major overseas tours programme Cricketers of note Frank Lowson (Yorkshire & England), Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Sussex & England), Jack Webster (Northamptonshire), Ashley Metcalfe (Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire) Extras Major tours every four years since the late 1980s, including an island-hopping tour of St Vincent & the Grenadines last summer. Past trips to Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Kenya and Sri Lanka
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
BRENTWOOD SCHOOL Middleton Hall Lane Brentwood Essex CM15 8EE
Steve Salisbury Master in charge
Established 1557 Notable fixtures MCC, Felsted, Bancroft’s Cricket professional Geraint Jones (Kent, Gloucestershire & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12AB Facilities Six indoor and six outdoor nets Club/county affiliation Essex Cricketers of note Stanley Scott (Middlesex), Charles Kortright, Colin Griffiths, Graham Horrex, David Acfield, Richard Baker, Max Osborne Ian Pont, Kishen Velani, Thomas Moore (all Essex) Extras The school has an active touring programme and strong links with Essex CCC and local clubs in the county. Former Essex batsman Brian Hardie has just made way as cricket professional after 25 years for 2005 Ashes hero Jones (see page 4), fresh from helping Gloucestershire to Royal London One-Day Cup glory at Lord’s in 2015. Among the former cricketers at Brentwood is former Chelsea and England footballer Frank Lampard, who is a big fan of the game
BRIGHTON COLLEGE Eastern Road Brighton East Sussex BN2 0AL Established 1845 Notable fixtures MCC, MCC Women, XL Club Director of cricket Mike Smethurst (Lancashire) Teams Ten boys teams and four girls teams (two outdoor and two indoor) Girls’ cricket The best girls play in the boys’ teams Facilities Four indoor nets, ten artificial nets, seven grass nets, two grass squares Club/county affiliation Sussex Cricketers of note Sammy Woods (Somerset, England & Australia), Matt Prior, (Sussex & England), Matt Machan (Sussex & Scotland), Carl Hopkinson, Neil Lenham (both Sussex), Joe Gatting (Sussex & Hampshire), Michael Thornely (Sussex & Leicestershire), Malcolm Waller (Zimbabwe), Bazid Khan (Pakistan), Clare Connor, Holly Colvin, Sarah Taylor, Laura Marsh (all England Women) Extras Brighton College is the most successful girls’ cricket school in the country. Georgia Adams and Freya Davies are on the England Academy Finest moment on the field In June, the 1st XI tied two consecutive games – against MCC and Ardingly – within three days, on the same wicket
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
BRISTOL GRAMMAR SCHOOL University Road Bristol BS8 1SR
on the night of November 24 1940 by incendiary bombs. The playing fields are three miles away from the main school at Failand where a new pavilion was built in 2008. Bristol Grammar went independent in 1979 following the abolition of the direct grant system. In 1980 the school became a
BROMSGROVE SCHOOL Worcester Road Bromsgrove Worcestershire B61 7DU 12 | thecricketer.com
fully co-educational day school and has over 1,200 students aged between the ages of four and 18 Cricketers of note Tom Graveney (Gloucestershire, Worcestershire & England), Will Tavaré (Gloucestershire)
Established 1553 Notable fixtures Shrewsbury, Sedbergh, Malvern Director of cricket Dave Fallows Teams U18 ABC, U15ABC, U14ABC, U13ABC, U12ABC, U11 ABC, U10ABC, U9ABC Girls’ cricket U15s coached over the winter and play cup and friendly matches in summer. Looking to expand this to U13s in 2017 Facilities Five new outdoor nets. Indoor arena with eight nets, indoor sports hall with four nets. Seven outdoor squares Club/county affiliation Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Worcestershire age groups train all-year round on site Brief history Bromsgrove has a strong cricketing history, which sees many old boys returning to reminisce over. They regularly reach the latter
stages of national competitions Cricketers of note Ben Cox (Worcestershire), Jonathan Webb, Matt Lamb (both Warwickshire) Extras Bromsgrove retains strong links with the Lyttelton family of Worcestershire. The 10th Viscount Cobham was himself a first-class cricketer for Worcestershire. Although not Old Bromsgrovians themselves, the family engaged with the Old Bromsgrovian Martlets cricket side, and held an annual cricket match against the school at Hagley Hall, the family seat. The last match of this kind was played in May 2015 between Old Bromsgrovians and Lord Cobham’s XI Finest moment on the field Bromsgrove School has won the Chesterton Cup three out of the last four years
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Established 1532 Notable fixtures Clifton College, King’s Taunton, Queen’s Taunton, Blundell’s, Taunton School, RGS Worcester Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13ABC, U12ABC, U11AB, U10AB, U9AB, U8AB Girls’ cricket There are eight teams. Kwik cricket for U12AB up to U15AB Facilities Five indoor lanes, seven grass nets, four astro nets, one artificial strip, five grass squares Club/county affiliation Somerset and Gloucestershire Brief history Founded by Royal Charter on March 17 1532 by Henry VIII for the teaching of “good manners and literature”, the school was established to educate the sons of Bristol merchants and tradesmen. The school moved from its original home in the city centre to its current location at Tyndall’s Park in 1879. The preparatory school began in 1900 but was destroyed
CANFORD SCHOOL Wimborne Dorset BH21 3AD
Established 1923 Notable fixtures MCC, Millfield, King’s Taunton, XL Club, Marlborough, plus overseas tourists Crawford College RSA, Leopards RSA, Xavier College Cricket professional Julian Shackleton Director of cricket Matt Keech (Middlesex & Hampshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC, Girls XI Girls’ cricket Currently have 22 training weekly and matches, notably Dorset girls Facilities Eight indoor nets, 10 outdoor grass nets, four outdoor artificial nets, four grass squares Club/county affiliation Dorset and Hampshire Brief history Canford is the only English school to have won the Sir Garry Sobers Cup Cricketers of note Jon Hardy (Hampshire & Somerset). Others currently in the England Player Development Programme, county age groups and academies Extras Superb setting and friendly hospitality encourages visiting clubs. They aim to provide as much competitive cricket as possible through a challenging fixture list. Canford offers a wide range of fixture for boys and girls and aims to develop these skills to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to meet their full potential. They also host the Lady Taverners competition
CHARTERHOUSE SCHOOL Charterhouse Road Godalming Surrey GU7 2DX
Martin Bicknell Cricket professional
Established 1611 Notable fixtures Cowdrey Cup (Eton, Harrow, Tonbridge, Radley College, Wellington College), MCC, Cranleigh Cricket professional Martin Bicknell (Surrey & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD Facilities Four indoor nets, 12 artificial cricket nets, nine squares Club/county affiliation Surrey Cricketers of note Peter May (Surrey
& England), James Hamblin (Hampshire), James Bovill (Hampshire), Gregor McMillan (Gloucestershire and Leicestershire) Extras One of the prettiest grounds in the south-east. It dates back to 1859, when the school played a game against Marlborough College. It also hosted a 1972 John Player League game between Surrey and Warwickshire, and the 1992 and 2009 Bunbury Under-15 Festivals
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From Prep to Professional
“... an immensely friendly school...” Good Schools Guide
Our flourishing co-educational school offers outstanding boarding and day education for 3-18 years – including quality coaching led by talented staff with professional cricketing backgrounds.
An independent, co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged between 11 and 18, on the north Hampshire/Surrey border
Keen to improve your cricket? So are we. E: admissions@lordwandsworth.org
23817 Lord Wandsworth College Cricket Advert.indd 1
T: 01256 862201
Call 01747 812122 • www.clayesmore.com
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‘One of the top 20 sporting schools in the UK’
School Sports magazine, 2015
Exceptional teamwork underpins every sporting activity at Sevenoaks, and our students and alumni compete at regional, national and international levels in many sports. Co-educational boarding and day, 11-18.
www.sevenoaksschool.org
Registered charity 1101358
CHELTENHAM COLLEGE Bath Rd Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7LD Established 1841 Notable fixtures Radley College, Rugby School, Winchester, Bradfield, Marlborough, MCC, Clifton College, Sherborne, Haileybury, King’s Taunton, St Edward’s Oxford, Wellington College Cricket professional Mark Briers (Worcestershire & Durham) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U16A, U15ABC, U14ABC Girls’ cricket A Girls Open XI, plus four girls presently playing in the U14 and U15 boys’ teams. The U15s won the 2015 Indoor Lady Taverners final for Gloucestershire Facilities Five cricket squares plus the dedicated square for the Cheltenham
Festival. Double sports hall with eight indoor nets. Four artificial nets and four grass nets. Use of the Cheltenham Prep sports hall with a further four indoor nets Club/county affiliation Gloucestershire. Current captain Josh Dell is in Worcestershire’s academy Cricketer of note Percy Jeeves (Warks) Brief history Gloucestershire have been playing at Cheltenham College for more than 140 years, making this the world’s longest running cricket festival on an outfield. WG Grace took 12 for 73 at the college for Gloucestershire v Surrey in 1872, then in 1877 he took 17 for 89 against Notts and promptly followed this up with the first ever first-class triple-hundred, 318 not out. In 1928 against Surrey, Wally Hammond set a world record that still stands, taking 10 catches in an match by a fielder, then scored a century in each innings Cricketers of note Mike Cawdron and Dom Hewson (both Gloucestershire)
Finest moment on the field The 1st XI were unbeaten against schools during 2012, winning 12 games in succession Cultural cricketers Ulster and Scotland rugby player Simon Danielli and Nick Abendanon of Bath, Clermont Auvergne and England, both played cricket for the college
CLAYESMORE SCHOOL Blandford Road Iwerne Minster Dorset DT11 8LJ Established 1896 Notable fixtures MCC, Canford, Sherborne, Bryanston Cricket professional Dan Conway (Oxford MCCU & Herefordshire) Teams Ten from U14 to U18 Girls’ cricket A winter training group was formed this year and Clayesmore are attempting to arrange fixtures with Canford and Bryanston. Girls are encouraged to join the boys’ teams and attend additional training opportunities in summer term Facilities Four indoor nets, five grass nets, three artificial nets, three grass squares. Further facilities available at the adjacent prep school Club/county affiliation Dorset and Hampshire Brief history Clayesmore School
Dan Conway Cricket professional was founded by Alexander Devine, a Greek-Irish Mancunian, in 1896 in Middlesex, and after spells at Pangbourne and Winchester, it moved to Iwerne Minster in 1933. In 1974 the school became fully coeducational Cricketers of note JWA Stephenson (Essex & Worcestershire), Lewis McManus (Hampshire) Extras Recent coaches have gone on to higher coaching honours. Paul Warren now works as an analyst for New Zealand, and Tom Flowers is assistant coach of the England Learning Disability team. Clayesmore aim to try to support local club cricket at grassroots level wherever possible: Conway and other staff have spent the last year coaching at the local village
club, Shroton CC, to reinvigorate their junior section Finest moment on the field A last-ball victory with a boundary hit to defeat local rivals Dauntseys in a nailbiting fixture around 2000 Cultural cricketers Gloucester, Leicester and England centre Anthony Allen, America’s Cup winner Shannon Falcone and legendary artist Tony Hart all played cricket at the school
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
CLIFTON COLLEGE The Avenue Bristol BS8 3HE Established 1862 Notable fixtures Sherborne, Marlborough, King’s Taunton, Bromsgrove, Cheltenham College, Malvern, MCC Cricket professionals Jim Williams (Glamorgan), James Averis (Gloucestershire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13ABCD, U12ABCD Girls’ cricket U15AB, U13AB Facilities Ten-lane outdoor cricket school (including two bowling machine lanes), seven cricket squares, including two artificial wickets, and six indoor nets Club/county affiliation Gloucestershire, although the schools has pupils in the Somerset and Glamorgan academies Brief history “There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night. Ten to make and
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the match to win. A bumping pitch and a blinding light. An hour to play, and the last man in. And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat. Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote. ‘Play up! Play up! And play the game!’” – Vitaï Lampada by Henry Newbolt, 1892. Newbolt wrote these lines about cricket on Clifton’s Close, and the sense of duty that could be taken to war, making The Close famous throughout the cricketing world. Seven years after Newbolt wrote the poem, 13-year-old AEJ Collins scored 628 not out in a match for Clarke’s House against North Town House, at a pitch on Guthrie Road, now named Collins Piece. Collins pursued a career in the army and, sadly, was to die in the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914. Until Pranav
Dhanawade scored 1,009 not out for KC Gandhi High School in Mumbai in January 2016, Collins’ score was the highest for an individual in all cricket. There is a plaque at the College in memory of his achievement Cricketers of note Matt Windows (Gloucestershire), Jim Williams (Glamorgan), James Kirtley (Sussex & England) Finest moment on the field A sevenwicket victory over Tonbridge School on the Nursery Ground at Lord’s in 2014. The fixture was to commemorate 100 years of the Clifton v Tonbridge fixture and to remember those who played in the fixture and later died in the Great War Cultural cricketers John Cleese, actor and co-founder of the Monty Python series, played for the 1st XI
CRANLEIGH SCHOOL
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Horseshoe Lane Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8QQ
Established 1865 Notable fixtures MCC, Wellington College, Tonbridge, Harrow, Charterhouse Director of cricket Stuart Welch Teams Five senior sides, three U15, three U14 Girls’ cricket U18, U15, U14 Facilities Dedicated two-lane indoor school, 20 outdoor nets, five squares including a six-bay net area with fully synthetic run-ups Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history 2016 represented the 150th anniversary of Cranleigh’s first fixture, against Hurstpierpoint in June 1866. Cricketers of note Seren Waters (Kenya), Stuart Meaker (Surrey) Extras Harry Calder was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1916 – when county cricket was in abeyance due to the First World War – and remains the only person to be given the award and not play first-class cricket. He was a spin bowler for Cranleigh 1st XI for five years, captaining them for three Finest moment on the field In 2014 Cranleigh won both The Cricketer Cup (first in Old Cranleighan history) and the school won the National Under-15 Cup, the first school in Surrey to do so
DAUNTSEY’S SCHOOL High Street West Lavington Devizes Wiltshire SN10 4HE
Established 1542 Notable fixtures MCC, Winchester, Clifton, Sherborne, Canford, XL Club, Wiltshire Queries Cricket professional Jon Ayling (Hampshire) Teams 12 teams from U12 to senior Girls’ cricket An after-school club, with junior fixtures Facilities Four indoor nets, four grass nets, five caged astro nets, four grass squares, one artificial pitch, electronic scoreboard recently installed Club/county affiliation Wiltshire Brief history Dauntsey’s is a leading co-educational independent boarding and day school for 11 to 18-year-olds, located on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain set in an estate of over 100 acres of idyllic countryside. In 1930 it was made a public school and the name officially changed to Dauntsey’s School. Girls were admitted in 1971. It is now a school of over 800 pupils, and is supported by the Worshipful Company of Mercers Extras Dauntsey’s are host to the MCC Foundation mid-Wiltshire hub, regularly host county age-group matches and training sessions and recently hosted a regional women’s T20 competition for the ECB. The 1st XI ground is frequently described by visitors as one of the best school grounds in the country thecricketer.com | 17
TOP 100 SCHOOLS
DENSTONE COLLEGE Uttoxeter Staffordshire ST14 5HN Established 1868 Notable fixtures Worksop, MCC, Trent, Manchester Grammar Director of cricket Simon Guy (Yorkshire) Teams 13 Girls’ cricket Denstone enters the Lady Taverners’ competition in the winter and there are currently seven girls that play for boys’ teams in the summer Facilities Four cricket squares, three indoor nets and six outdoor nets Club/county affiliation Staffordshire and Derbyshire Cricketers of note Denstone has produced 29 first-class players, most recently Aneesh Kapil (Worcestershire & Surrey), Harvey Hosein and Greg Cork (both Derbyshire) and Jeremy Snape (Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire & England) Extras All Staffordshire boys and girls age groups play at Denstone up to U15 level, and the school hosts the ECB Super Fours Midlands trials as well as Midland U15 matches Finest moment on the field In 2011 the U15 XI reached the final of the Lord’s Taverners U15 national 40-over tournament, and in 2012 went one better, beating Tonbridge in the final Cultural cricketers Alastair Hignell played full-back for England and first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and Cambridge University. Arthur Berry played football for England
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DR CHALLONER’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL Chesham Road Amersham Buckinghamshire HP6 5HA Established 1624 Notable fixtures MCC, Hampton, St Albans, Berkhamsted, Aylesbury GS, RGS High Wycombe, Reading Bluecoat, Eton, Stowe Teams Two senior XIs play regularly. A and B team per year group in lower school, plus C team fixtures for each year group Facilities Two squares, four indoor nets Club/county affiliation Buckinghamshire Brief history Cricket has flourished at Challoner’s over the last 10 to 15 years. Major improvements, courtesy of enthusiastic support from the headmaster, have included a new pavilion and relaid square, which have contributed to making cricket the flagship sport of the school. The junior teams often win the Bucks County Cup and have also had good success in the U13 and U15 national competitions. The passion for cricket comes from the committed Sport and PE team and a number of club cricketers on
the staff. The school has regular tours to the Caribbean, generally St Kitts and Nevis, and travelled to India in 2016. Lacking the level of investment of most independent schools, Dr Challoner’s compete very positively against the top schools in the area. The number of cricketers who carry on playing for their local club sides in the years after leaving school, and who play representative junior cricket for Buckinghamshire, is a hugely positive aspect. Although there are no current professional cricketers who went to Dr Challoner’s, a recent pupil, Ali Birkby, was in the England Under-16 squad. Matthew Watson, whose uncle Roger played for Lancashire, has played first-class cricket for Buckinghamshire and Oxford UCCE Finest moment on the field Reaching the National U13 Cup quarter or semi-finals – and being the last state school left in the competition – three times in the past 10 years
DULWICH COLLEGE
DURHAM SCHOOL Quarryheads Lane Durham DH1 4SZ
Established 1619 Notable fixtures MCC, Tonbridge, Harrow, Bedford, Incogniti (125 years standing) Cricket professional Bill Athey (Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex & England) Teams 45 from Year 3 to 13 Facilities Twenty-four astroturf nets, 11 grass squares, main site and Trevor Bailey Sports Ground, eight indoor nets Club/county affiliation Surrey, Spencer CC, Dulwich CC, Old Alleynian CC Brief history Cricket has been played at Dulwich College for more than 140 years. PG Wodehouse said the game was one of the major strengths of the College in his day. Boys have the opportunity to represent the College for one of 45 sides, from the U8s up to the 1st XI and there is also a Common Room team Cricketers of note Nine Old Alleynians have been capped for their country and four have been named Wisden Cricketers of the Year, the most famous being Trevor Bailey. Roger Knight (Surrey), the MCC president, is an OA and a former assistant master. Several Barbadians have arrived and thrived on sports scholarships, including Anthony Alleyne (Combined Campuses & Colleges), Ruel Brathwaite (Durham & Hampshire), Chris Jordan (Surrey, Sussex & England) Extras There is a rumour that the nickname for deep midwicket, ‘cow corner’, originated at Dulwich
Established 1414 Notable fixtures Woodhouse Grove, Sedbergh, St Peter’s York, Ampleforth, Bradford Grammar, RGS Newcastle, Barnard Castle, MCC Director of cricket Michael Fishwick (fulltime master-in-charge). Michael Hirsch, who is part-time, has coached at Durham School for 35 years Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15, U14, U14AB, U13, U12 Girls’ cricket No teams at present but the best players are in the boys’ teams Facilities Indoor sports hall with four lanes. Main pitch on the playground and a smaller pitch on the bottom. Bow, the Junior school, has a lovely little pitch of its own Club/county affiliation Durham Brief history Durham School has had a cricket team from at least 1847, but regular matches with other schools did not start until 1866 with the annual
game against St Peter’s York. Other annual matches followed: Sedbergh in 1908; Ampleforth in 1915; Giggleswick in 1933; Barnard Castle in 1937 and St Bees in 1938 Cricketers of note Mike Roseberry (Middlesex & Durham), Andrew Roseberry (Leicestershire & Glamorgan), Phil Weston (Worcestershire, Gloucestershire & Derbyshire), Robin Weston (Durham, Derbyshire & Middlesex), Gordon Muchall (Durham), Paul Muchall (Gloucestershire), Fraser Watts (Scotland) Finest moment on the field Beating Millfield by six wickets in 1992 – their first loss in 17 years Cultural cricketers Mike Weston, former centre for the British Lions, was England national selector and manager, taking charge of the England side in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He also played for Durham when they were still a minor county
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Dulwich Common London SE21 7LD
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
EMANUEL SCHOOL Battersea Rise London SW11 1HS
EASTBOURNE COLLEGE Old Wish Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4JY Established 1867 Notable fixtures MCC, Tonbridge, Sussex Martlets Cricket professionals Andy Waller (Zimbabwe) and Rob Ferley (Kent & Nottinghamshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC Girls’ cricket Girls can play in boys team with a girls’ cricket activity running in the summer months Facilities Project 150, marking the school’s sesquicentenary, to deliver as part of the £32m investment a world-class indoor five-lane facility completed in 2017. Eight-lane state-of-the-art all-weather practice facility. Five cricket squares Club/county affiliation Sussex Cricketers of note Ed Giddins 20 | thecricketer.com
(Sussex, Warwickshire, Hampshire & England), Matt Hobden and Harry Finch (both Sussex) Finest moment on the field Winning the inaugural Arch Trophy in Dubai in 2008, beating Wellington in the final. Openers Henry Braybrooke and John Kelsey put on an unbroken 403 at the College in 1899 Extras The Memorial Ground has hosted county fixtures and College Field is regarded as an iconic venue, situated right on the south coast. Eastbourne became the first English school to go on a tour to Nepal. There the boys coached cricket in a school in the Himalayan foothills near Kathmandu, helping to paint run-down areas of the school
Established 1594 Notable fixtures MCC, Tiffin School Director of cricket Mark Stear (Berkshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12AB Girls’ cricket Completed two seasons of U13 and U15 girls’ cricket as an extracurricular option in the summer term Facilities Two sites: the main school houses the main square – minutes away from Clapham Junction – and a junior square. The school also has access to the Old Boys’ ground, Blagdon’s. Sports hall includes four indoor nets, three outdoor nets, an artificial surface and one cage Club/county affiliation Spencer CC, Bank of England CC, Barmy Army Colts Cricketers of note Stuart Surridge (Surrey), Ian Payne (Surrey & Gloucestershire) Finest moment on the field U14s won the London Cup and U15s were semi-finalists in the Ingham London Cup Extras Emanuel has hosted a number of high-level games, most recently Sri Lankan Unity U19 XI v Trinity Schools’ Select XI, organised by the Foundation of Goodness, patronised by Sarah Botham Cultural cricketers Four Surrey CCC presidents (including Surridge) went to Emanuel. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the world wide web, played cricket for the school. Hero Fiennes-Tiffin played 11-year-old Tom Riddle, the young version of the antagonist Lord Voldemort, in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, but more notably represented Emanuel U13As in 2009
EPSOM COLLEGE College Road Epsom KT17 4JQ Established 1855 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, Eastbourne, Hurstpierpoint Cricket professional Neil Taylor (Kent, Sussex & England A) Teams Eight teams from seniors to U15 and U14. Lower school opening in September 2016 which will organise U12 and U13 fixtures Girls’ cricket One team Facilities Outstanding facilities include three grass wickets and an all-weather pitch. Practice facilities included grass wickets, 10 astro nets and the use of a fivelane indoor school Club/county affiliation Surrey, Banstead CC and Ashtead CC Cricketers of note Natalie Sciver (England Women) Extras Before coming to Epsom, Sciver was
born in Tokyo, and also lived for a time in Poland and the Netherlands. Dubai-based academy team G Force spend three weeks at the school during the summer break. The 20 college coaches are supported by the expertise of Matt Holmes, director of
the In-Touch Cricket Academy, based at the college. College teams have recently toured Dubai and Barbados. The College sides also have strong links with the Old Epsomians, with a match played every year on Founders’ Day
School. August 2 1805 witnessed Eton v Harrow at Lord’s (Eton won by the comprehensive margin of an innings and two runs). In 1882, The Hon Ivo Bligh, CT Studd and GB Studd toured Australia with England. Bligh received the ashes of a bail. In 1897, BJT Bosanquet is said to have invented the googly. 1899 saw Lord Hawke captain England v South Africa. Gubby Allen represented England in Australia in 1932/33 and refused to bowl Bodyline. In 1961 Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie captained Hampshire to the Championship. Old boy Matthew Fleming represent England in 11 one-day internationals, and is the incoming president of MCC. Will Vanderspar was Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year 2010 Cricketers of note More recently, Alex Loudon (Warwickshire), James Bruce
(Hampshire) Extras Competitive inter-school sport is said to have started with cricket matches between the trio of Eton, Winchester and Westminster. As well as in excess of 500 school fixtures, Eton also runs a programme of 500plus house matches with more than 40 schoolmasters involved, taking teams at all levels
ETON COLLEGE
CENTRAL PRESS/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES, GETTY IMAGES
Windsor SL4 6DW Established 1444 Notable fixtures Millfield, MCC, I Zingari, Harrow (at Lord’s), Cowdrey Cup (Radley, Tonbridge, Charterhouse, Wellington, Harrow), Silk Trophy (Shrewsbury, Oundle) Cricket professional Tim Roberts (Lancashire & Northamptonshire). John Rice (Hampshire) worked at the school for 30 years Teams Six senior XIs, four U16, six U15, seven U14 Facilities Three indoors nets and two grass net areas (40m long x 4m high artificial area), 12 grass squares and five synthetic-grass match pitches Brief history The school has produced more than 750 first-class cricketers. 1706 saw the first written record of a game of cricket at Eton College – in the poem Certamen Pilae, by William Godwin, master of Bristol Grammar
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
FELSTED SCHOOL Felsted Dunmow Essex CM6 3LL Established 1564 Notable fixtures MCC, Oakham, Oundle, Bedford Cricket professional Jason Gallian (Essex, Nottinghamshire & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U17, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket 1st XI and 2nd XI. An inspirational school and MCC hub for girls’ cricket. Hosts two Essex women’s matches a season Facilities Five squares at the senior school, one indoor school, 10 artificial net lanes
Club/county affiliation Essex Brief history The first cricket field was established in 1805. Felstedians begin to play cricket from year 3 (age eight) Cricketers of note Nick Knight (Essex, Warwickshire & England), Derek Pringle, John Stephenson and Johnny Douglas (Essex & England), Tim Phillips and Elliot
Wilson (Essex) Extras Will be hosting a future edition of the Bunbury Festival, the prestigious regional festival for the best under-15 cricketers in the country, organised by David English Finest moment on the field T20 National Champions 2004 and 2005
now runs more teams than at any time in its history Cricketers of note James Foster, Nasser Hussain (both Essex & England) Extras The school runs a cricket exchange programme with St Stithian’s College in Johannesburg, and bi-annual overseas cricket tours with recent trips to venues such as
Trinidad & Tobago, Sri Lanka, St Lucia and Barbados Finest moment on the field Playing at the R Premadasa and Sinhalese Sports Club Test grounds in Colombo Cultural cricketers Paapa Essiedu, who has played Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company, turned out for the school’s B teams
FOREST SCHOOL 2 College Place London E17 3PY Saul Foulds Master in charge
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Established 1834 Notable fixtures MCC, Highgate, Bancrofts, Brentwood, UCS, XL Club Cricket professional James Foster (Essex & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14ABC, U13ABC, U12ABC. Girls’ U13, U15 Girls’ cricket U15 and U13 girls teams which train once a week and compete in the Essex Cup Facilities Purpose-built indoor cricket suite comprising two lanes (including video analysis technology), threelane outdoor synthetic-grass nets, four cricket squares Club/county affiliation Essex Brief history The school archives date cricket at Forest School back to the 1860s. Nasser Hussain became the first Old Forester to play for Essex and then England. Former Essex allrounder Stuart Turner ran cricket at Forest from 1987 until his retirement in 2010. Forest School
FRAMLINGHAM COLLEGE
CRAIG PRENTIS/ALLSPORT
College Road Framlingham Suffolk IP13 9EY Established 1865 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, Gentlemen of Suffolk, Gentlemen of Essex, Essex Girls’ Development Cricket professional Johann Myburgh (Durham, Hampshire & Somerset) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15ABC, U14ABC Girls’ cricket 1st XI, U15, U14. Recently extended to incorporate girls in the prep school from U9 upwards Facilities Three indoor nets, eight grass nets, four astroturf nets and four pitches (a fifth planned)
Club/county affiliation Essex and Northamptonshire Brief history The cricket culture has probably never been in such good health at the college Cricketers of note Herbert Wilson (Sussex), Norman Borrett (Essex), David Larter (Northamptonshire & England), Ashley Cowan (Essex), Rob Newton (Northants) Extras Headmaster Paul Taylor used to play for Surrey. Cowan broke the then-headmaster’s thumb in a match against the Masters’ XI in 1993. The Quilibets (consisting of staff
and students, Old Boys and other friends of the school) holds a weekly festival at Framlingham at the end of term against various nomadic teams Finest moment on the field Newton becoming the first schoolboy to register a double-hundred, against MCC in 2007 Cultural cricketers Jim Paice, former Conservative minister for agriculture and food, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Simpson from Busted and Fightstar, soprano Laura Wright and Keito Okamota from Hey! Say! JUMP
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
GEORGE WATSON’S COLLEGE 69–71 Colinton Road Edinburgh EH10 5EG Established 1741 Notable fixtures MCC, Millfield Teams Six junior sides and eight at senior level. Two girls’ teams that have been Scottish champions two years in a row at U15 and 1st XI Girls’ cricket Two teams. Scottish champions two years in a row, at 1st XI and U15 level. The Girls’ Cricket Club is open to all girls in primaries 5 to 7 and to all girls in the senior school. There are also opportunities for girls in primaries 3 to 7 to play Kwik Cricket with the Watsonian Colts programme Facilities Four squares, two syntheticgrass pitches, 10 artificial-turf nets, four indoor nets Club/county affiliation Watsonians CC, Eastern Region, Scotland Brief history George Watson’s College is one of the largest single-campus schools in the UK. One of Scotland’s leading independent schools and is widely renowned for its sporting excellence. In 2015 the school won all three major Scottish sporting competitions in rugby, hockey and
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cricket, becoming the first school to do so Cricketers of note Alasdair Evans (Derbyshire & Scotland), Dewald Nel (Kent & Scotland), Neil McCallum (Scotland) Extras The school’s Myreside square was recently used in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifying tournament, featuring teams such as Afghanistan and the Netherlands. The school has, for the last two seasons, won three of the four national competitions – including, in 2015, becoming 1st XI Scottish Champions. The under15s compete in the East District T20 tournaments, with the winner advancing to the Scottish finals. The school’s alumni club, Watsonians, play in the top National League, and were crowned as Scottish champions as recently as 2012. Alumni include Scotland international batsman, Neil McCallum, who has scored two centuries in 43 ODIs and Alasdair Evans, who has taken 40 wickets in ODI and Twenty20 cricket for the national side
HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S Butterfly Lane Elstree WD6 3AF
Stephen Charlwood Master in charge
Established 1690 Notable fixtures Bancroft’s, Berkhamsted, Felsted, MCC, Merchant Taylors’ (Northwood), St Albans Cricket professional Doug Yeabsley (Devon) was a full-time member of staff for many years. Jamie Hewitt (Middlesex & Kent) is employed by both Haberdashers’ and Middlesex as part of a developing partnership between school and county Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC, U13ABC, U12ABC, plus prep school A and B teams at U11, U10, U9 and U8 age groups. Girls’ cricket Coaching for sister school Facilities Three grass squares, three synthetic strips, three artificial nets, five grass nets and an ‘open’ net plus a twolane indoor centre that includes instantreplay and video-analysis systems Club/county affiliation Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Sidmouth and Exeter in Devon Cricketers of note Richard Yeabsley (Middlesex) Extras There is huge enthusiasm for cricket, particularly from within the school’s Asian community
HAMPTON SCHOOL Hanworth Road Hampton Middlesex TW12 3HD
HAILEYBURY
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Haileybury Hertford SG13 7NU Established 1862 Notable fixtures MCC, two-day games v Cheltenham, biennial touring games v Haileybury, Melbourne Cricket professionals Daan van Bunge (Middlesex & Netherlands), Geoff Howarth (Surrey & New Zealand) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14ABC, U13ABCD Girls’ cricket U18 team selected from all ages Facilities 12 outdoor nets, three indoor nets, five grass squares Club/county affiliation Hertfordshire, Hertford CC, Hoddesdon Town CC, Broxbourne CC, St Margaretsbury CC, Harlow Town CC Brief history The fixture between Haileybury and Cheltenham began in 1893 and was played at Lord’s every year until 1968. The annual match continues today in two-day format between the sides. All the history is held in Haileybury Cricket by David Rimmer, which maps Haileybury cricket from the beginning, including team lists and photos. The book is held in the historic pavilion, a listed building, designed by Reginald Bloomfield. Past professionals include Graham Barlow, Peter Ellis, Jeremy Lloyds, Nic Pothas and Mike Cawdron Cricketers of note Haileybury has produced 91 first-class cricketers, Sam Billings the latest. Others include Jack Meyer (Somerset) – also the
future founder of Millfield School – Andrew Miller, Richard Ellis (both Middlesex) and the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, who famously led India in England in 1936, and sent Lala Amarnath home Finest moment on the field 2016 may have seen the finest hour batting second, as Haileybury chased down 308 to beat Stamford with a 50 from Ben Morris, followed by unbeaten hundreds from Freddie Walker (127) and Ollie Heazell (104), both not out Extras Sir Don Bradman visited the pavilion and bequeathed his Baggy Green, which lay in the Long Room for many years, and is now loaned to the Cricket Australia museum. Haileybury also run a sporting exchange with Knox Grammar, Sydney, where one of their young cricketers come over for an English summer and in return a Haileybury rugby player goes down under in July and August Cultural cricketers Labour prime minister Clement Attlee enjoyed his cricket at Haileybury before going up to Oxford. He famously sent a handwritten note – held in the Haileybury archives – to Jim Callaghan upon him being made a parliamentary secretary: “Remember, you’re playing for the 1st XI now”
Established 1556 Notable fixtures MCC, Eton, Harrow, Dulwich College, Whitgift (two-day game) Cricket professional Chris Harrison Head of cricket Amitava Banerjee Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABCD, U13ABC, U12ABC Facilities Five indoor nets, six cricket squares, plus a single artificial match strip Club/county affiliation Middlesex Brief history The school’s current cricket fixture list is strong, with 17 teams competing across multiple formats, and junior teams entered in the Middlesex Cup. Biannual major tours, the most recent being a December 2013 trip to Mumbai and Chennai. The junior teams tour Dubai and Guernsey each year as part of pre-season preparation. The Hampton Cricket Academy runs in the autumn term. Age group teams have consistently won the Middlesex Cup and competed in later rounds of the Nationals Cricketers of note Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Banerjee (Guernsey) and Zafar Ansari (Surrey & England)
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The Mary Erskine School Stewart’s Melville College The Junior School
Enjoyment and excellence for all Whether our boys want to compete internationally or simply enjoy recreational sport, many take inspiration from the School’s sporting greats. This legacy serves to encourage every boy to develop his talent and strive to be the best he can be.
Stewart’s Melville College • Featured in the UK's Top 100 Cricketing Schools 2015 and 2016 by The Cricketer Magazine • Scottish Independent Schools' T20 Cricket Cup Winners in 2012, Joint Winners in 2013 and Finalists in 2014, 2015 and 2016 Boarding and Day school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Bursaries available.
0131 311 1111 admissions@esms.org.uk www.esms.org.uk
The Sunday Times, Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year Stewart’s Melville College - 2013 The Mary Erskine School - 2012 Merchant Company Education Board Schools. Registered Charity No. SC009747
SCHOLARSHIPS
13+ and 16+ scholarships available Please contact our Registrar, Kate Rippin: 01823 328204
www.kings-taunton.co.uk
HUSRTPIERPOINT COLLEGE College Lane Hurstpierpoint Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9JS
HARROW SCHOOL
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5 High Street Harrow on the Hill Middlesex HA1 3HP Established 1615 Notable fixtures Eton (at Lord’s), MCC, Wellington, Tonbridge, Radley, Charterhouse Cricket professional Stephen Jones (Western Province) Teams Four senior teams, U16ABC, U15ABCDE, U14ABCDEF Facilities A two-lane purpose-built indoor school with Pitchvision, eight artificial and four grass outdoor nets. Nine squares all served by excellent pavilions Club/county affiliation Middlesex Brief history Cricket has long played a major part in the life of Harrow. In the period from 1850 to 1939 this was largely due to the social significance of the Eton match at Lord’s, which along with Henley Regatta, sailing at Cowes and racing at Ascot became part of ‘the London Season’. The first recorded match in 1805 gained some publicity from the presence in the Harrow team of the poet, George Byron. Byron was no cricketer, indeed he had a
club foot and batted with a runner, but he talked a good game. The match in 1914 was attended by over 38,000 people during the two days. Even in 2008, the match attracted a larger crowd than any of Middlesex’s firstclass matches Cricketers of note Monkey Hornby (Lancashire & England), Archie MacLaren (Lancashire & England), Robin Marlar (Sussex), Tony Pigott (Sussex & Surrey), Rob White (Northamptonshire), Gary Ballance (Derbyshire, Yorkshire & England), Sam Northeast (Kent), Nick Compton (Middlesex, Somerset & England), Glen Querl (Unicorns) Extras Eton v Harrow is the oldest schools’ fixture at Lord’s Cultural cricketers Sir Stanley Jackson, England Test player and Conservative Party chairman; Earl Alexander of Tunis was secretary of MCC; playwright Terrence Rattigan scored 29 against Eton in 1929. Racehorse trainer William Haggas skippered the side in 1979
Established 1849 Notable fixtures MCC, Whitgift Cricket professional Mike Yardy (Sussex & England), Phil Hudson, Jerry Heath Teams Ten to 11 in the senior school, eight to 10 in the prep school Girls’ cricket Girls can choose it as a summer sport. A senior and junior team Facilities Eight grass pitches, 10 grass nets, five artificial nets, six-lane indoor hall Club/county affiliation Sussex Brief history Although the school was founded in 1849 and it is clear that cricket was played not only when the school was at Shoreham but also at the Mansion House there are no written records until the appearance of the Hurst Johnian in 1858. In recent years the school has had success winning the Woodard Schools Festival on a number of occasions, the Langdale Trophy three times in the last four years Cricketers of note George Garton and Justin Bates (Sussex), Martin Speight (Durham & Sussex) Extras Hurstpierpoint has one of the world’s largest squares in the world Finest moment on the field Winning the National Schools T20 Competition in 2015
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
KING’S COLLEGE, TAUNTON South Road Taunton Somerset TA1 3LA
HYMERS COLLEGE Hymers Avenue Hull East Yorkshire HU3 1LW Established 1893 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, Durham Pilgrims, Sports Turf Academy (India), St Peter’s York, Ampleforth College, Cricket Festival with Strathallan School, Stewart’s Melville College and Pocklington School Director of cricket Graham Tipping Teams Nineteen teams U9–U18 Girls’ cricket The school runs sessions led by Joe Ashdown, development officer for East Yorkshire Facilities A four-lane indoor facility that employs the Uni-turf flooring used at Headingley. Eight-lane grass net facility, four squares on the school site and a further ground Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Brief history Hymers were at the forefront of the MCC hub scheme and the programme was used as a model for others. The MCC Foundation national hub manager, Reece Bird, works with Hymers’ U14 team. The school has hosted Lashings in recent years Extras In 2017 Hymers will be hosting a T20 warm-up game as an outground for Yorkshire CCC. The school works closely with the cricket development officer for East Yorkshire and host county age-group matches. There is also a partnership with Hull Zingari CC
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Established 1879 Notable fixtures MCC, Whitgift, Eton, Millfield, Cardiff MCCU, Exeter University Cricket professionals Rob Woodman (Somerset & Gloucestershire), Ben Phillips (Kent, Northants, Nottinghamshire & Somerset), Dennis Breakwell (Northants & Somerset) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, Development XI and five junior teams Girls’ cricket 1st XI, U15. Finished runners-up in the regional indoor Lady Taverners’ league, and beat Millfield Facilities A new cricket centre is due to be ready for this winter’s training. Six squares all in close proximity, six grass nets and eight artificial strips, four indoor nets, four bowling machines and three pavilions Club/county affiliation Most players go to Somerset, but there are players on academies at Warwickshire and Glamorgan Cricketers of note Jos Buttler (Somerset, Lancashire & England), Roger Twose (Warwickshire & New Zealand), Richard Harden (Somerset), Nicholas Boulton (Somerset, Worcestershire), Tom Webley (Somerset), Phil Lewis (Somerset), Craig Meschede (Somerset & Glamorgan), Alex Barrow (Somerset), Charlie
Morris (Worcestershire), James Regan (Somerset), Neil Brand (Glamorgan) James Turpin (Cardiff MCCU) Finest moment on the field Last season the 1st XI took on a strong PCA Masters (all ex-England) and gave them a good run in front of thousands of spectators Extras King’s believe they have the best results and production line of professional cricketers of any school in the country in terms of its size, which is around 450 pupils. King’s have beaten local rivals Millfield. King’s have also just beaten Exeter University for the first time. The West Country schools circuit is one of the strongest and King’s tend to be up there each year. The school offers oneto-one work, group sessions, a strength and conditioning coach, indoor cricket competitions and regular tours, including pre-season training camps to La Manga in Spain. The school also runs a cricket exchange programme for a talented cricketers to go to play cricket in South Africa at the exchange school for a term. The school then receives an exchange pupil in return who plays development games for King’s and for a local club side. Breakwell has been professional or head groundsman for more than 30 years
LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL East Road Lancaster LA1 3EF
KING’S COLLEGE SCHOOL Southside Wimbledon Common London SW19 4TT
Established 1829 Notable fixtures MCC, Dulwich College, St Paul’s, Epsom, Hampton Cricket professionals Gary Butcher (Surrey & Glamorgan), Pete Scott Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, U15ABCD, U14ABCD, U13ABCDE, U12ABCDE, U11ABCDEF, U10ABCDEF, U9ABCDEFG, U8ABCDEFG Facilities Thirteen nets including six grass, three grass squares; off-site two grass squares, eight artificial nets, two artificial wickets Club/county affiliation Surrey & Wimbledon CC Brief history Ruari Crichard and Alex Hunt played in 2015 Varsity match Cricketers of note Russell Cake (Cambridge University), Samir Sheikh Finest moment on the field Cake’s 108 for Combined Universities v Australia in 1993 Extras Over 600 boys represented both the senior and junior school teams during the 2016 season. One of the few schools to put out a 5th XI Cultural cricketers Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons and ‘Whiz Kid’ Nick D’Aloisio, “Britain’s most exciting young tech entrepreneur”, design of the Summly app
Established 1469 Notable fixtures MCC, Sedbergh, Shrewsbury, Bolton School, Manchester Grammar, RGS Guildford, RGS Worcester, Woodhouse Grove Director of cricket Ian Perryman Teams Thirteen Facilities Three pitches, five squares, three astro outdoor nets, two portable batting cages, four indoor nets in the sports hall Club/county affiliation Lancashire and Cumbria Brief history Cricket is played at the Harold Douthwaite fields where the main pitches have a stunning outlook over Morecambe Bay to the mountains of the Lake District. In the last 25 years the school has expanded and strengthened its fixture list. The school is proud that B-team cricketers will usually get at least eight matches a season against local schools. The school has produced a number of Cambridge and Oxford Blues
for cricket. As a state grammar school, Lancaster RGS plays six fixtures every weekend through the summer, entirely against the top independent schools in the north of England. The school is represented in at least two county age-group schools finals every year, and plays at least 120 matches across all ages over the course of a season Finest moment on the field Won the National Under-15 final in 1999, beating Charterhouse at Trent Bridge. Losing finalist of National U13 final at Headingley in 1997. Finalists of the Sir Garfield Sobers U19 Tournament at Kensington Oval, Barbados in 2010, losing to Combermere School Cultural cricketers The late Cecil Parkinson, a minister in Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative governments, played for the school before winning a scholarship to Cambridge University, where he won a Blue in athletics
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
LEICESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL
LANCING COLLEGE Lancing West Sussex BN15 0RW
Established 1848, by the Rev Nathaniel Woodard Notable fixtures Bede’s, Hurstpierpoint, Eastbourne, Epsom, King Edward’s Southampton Cricket professionals Raj Maru (Middlesex & Hampshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB Girls’ cricket They started up a girls’ section at the start of September Facilities Two indoor nets, sports hall, six astro nets, four grass squares Club/county affiliation Sussex Brief history Lancing, set in outstanding countryside and housed in fine buildings, educates boys and girls to develop a love of learning and to reach their full potential, enriched by the arts and physical activities Cricketers of note Johnny Robinson (Surrey), Mason Crane (Hampshire) Extras In 2014 Lancing launched the Peter Robinson Cricket Scholarship for boys and girls of county standard Cultural cricketers Sir Tim Rice, the renowned author and lyricist – and former MCC president and founder of his own Heartaches Cricket Club – was a pupil at Lancing
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Established 1981 Notable fixtures MCC, Loughborough Grammar, Oundle, Gentlemen of Leicestershire Director of cricket Laurie Potter (Kent & Leicestershire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12AB, U11AB, U10, U9 Girls’ cricket Cricket is taught to girls from year 7 as the striking game within the curriculum. They play indoor matches during the winter months and outdoor in the summer. In May 2016 the U15 girls team reached the national final of the Lady Taverners’ indoor competition and spent the day competing for the trophy at Lord’s Facilities Three indoor nets, bowling machine, seven grass outdoor nets, three artificial nets, two grass squares, two Flicx pitches for junior games Club/county affiliation Leicestershire Brief history Leicester Grammar is a very young school and the cricket set-up is even younger. A small amount of cricket was played at the school before 1994 but that year with the appointment of a formal master-in-charge, cricket became more of a focus. As a day school it has been decided that LGS should play their fixtures in midweek
and in the last season well over 70 games of cricket were played by representative teams. In 2008 LGS moved to a purpose-built site and now have fantastic facilities to develop the game at all levels. The 1st and 2nd XIs toured Barbados in 2014, playing 10 fixtures, with the 1st XI returning unbeaten. In 2015 the U13 A and B teams toured Netherlands again, returning unbeaten, but more importantly developing their game greatly. The 1st and 2nd XI will be touring Sri Lanka in July 2017. They are also hoping to take two under-13 teams (boys and girls) to the Isle of Wight in June, to play one of the schools on the island, plus two club teams Cricketers of note Avish Patel (Cambridge University) Finest moment on the field Beating both Repton and Oakham in the national T20 Extras The City Cricket Academy who have their summer camp at LGS also play matches at the ground on Friday evenings and Sundays, free of charge. In August LGS was visited by Indian schoolboy Pranav Dhanawade, who made international headlines after scoring 1,009 runs in a single innings in January
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London Road Great Glen Leicester LE8 9FL
LORD WANDSWORTH COLLEGE Long Sutton Hook Hampshire RG29 1TB
Established 1928 Notable fixtures MCC, Reed’s, Charterhouse Cricket professional David Beven Teams Ten boys’ teams, one girls’ team Girls’ cricket Coaching for 11 to 15-year-olds. Under-14 and under-14 girls have been Lady Taverners Hampshire winners and the Under-13s finished third overall at the regional finals. In September 2015 LWC introduced junior girls’ cricket and it has been extrenely sucdessful. Facilities Six squares, including two artificial pitches, 10 outdoor nets with two artficial surfaces, plus four further indoor nets
Club/county affiliation Hampshire Brief history From humble beginnings, LWC cricket has become a force to be reckoned with. First XIs have been able to hold their own on a strong circuit. Pupils with an interest in cricket have the opportunity both to enjoy and improve their game, while representing both the school and their houses in inter-houses cricket. LWC aims to promote cricket to people of all capabilities, both boys and girls, with a Junior Premier League designed to help newcomers learn the basics of the game through Kwik cricket competitions. There is also a girls’ programme to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play cricket. Cricketers of note Michael Bates (Somerset & Hampshire), Tom Hicks (Dorset & Cambridge University), Guy Hicks (England Under-15s) Extras Grounds regularly used by county and district teams with quality pitches courtesy of groundsman Alistair Cotton
and his team Finest moment on the field Hampshire champions in the 2012, 2013 and 2015 indoor seasons. Cultural cricketers 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, The Killing Fields actor Julian Sands and rugby union players, Charlie Amesbury and Peter Richards
1867 Richard Tomlinson, from Northamptonshire, became the school’s first cricket professional Cricketers of note Sam Hain (Warwickshire), George Munsey (Scotland & Northamptonshire), Simon Smith (Scotland). During his four years in the Loretto XI between 1908–1911, GL Hunting amassed a higher total of runs than any pupil has done while at Loretto. In 1910 he scored 1,081 in 23 innings and was out not once Extras A rather bizarre match took place in 1884. Loretto scored 407 against Edinburgh Academy and allowed their opponents only one hour to make the runs (they finished on 21 for 4). This was in the days when it was against the rules to declare an innings. Loretto’s Pipes and Drums are playing at Lord’s on
July 8 2017 for the Test against South Africa Finest moment on the field LR Paterson scored the first century for Loretto against Fettes in 1885 (122). CW Berry took 320 wickets at an average of just under 7.5 runs in the four seasons for the Loretto XI between 1879–1882
David Beven Head of cricket
LORETTO SCHOOL 1-7 Linkfield Road, Musselburgh EH21 7RE
Established 1827 Notable fixtures MCC, Fettes, Merchiston Castle, Glenalmond, Strathallan, Edinburgh Academy Cricket professional John Blain Teams 16 (1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 2 x U15, U14, U13, U12, U11 and 2 x U10 and U9) Girls’ cricket A squad of 20 Facilities Three grass squares (one main oval called Pinkie, and two nursery grounds called Newfield). Indoor nets with four lanes and sixlane practice artificial Club/county affiliation Grange CC, Scotland Brief history Cricket was introduced in the 1860s by the pioneering headmaster Hely Hutchison Almond. The first official schools matches were played against Edinburgh Academy in 1863. In
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MAGDALEN COLLEGE SCHOOL, OXFORD Cowley Place Oxford OX4 1DZ Established 1480 Notable fixtures MCC, Abingdon, St Edwards Oxford, Rugby, Haberdasher’s Aske’s, Marlborough, Radley, Eton, Stowe, South Oxfordshire Amateurs, Melbourne Grammar School (Australia), Grey High School (South Africa) Head cricket coach David Bebbington Head of cricket Alan Duncan Cricket professional Tony Scriven Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC, U13ABC, U12ABC Girls’ cricket Played during sixth-form games sessions Facilities Indoor facility: five nets, three bowling machines, plus one Merlin spin-bowling machine. Five grass nets, three artificial outdoor nets. Seven squares (includes network of grounds of Oxford University Colleges), winter academy Club/county affiliation Sussex, Oxfordshire Brief history Founded by William Waynflete, MCS was initially set up as a school of the university and quickly became established as one 32 | thecricketer.com
of the leading centres of learning in Europe. In 1894 the school acquired the playing fields now known as School Field, a unique island setting accessed via two listed white bridges. The cricket ground is considered one of the most picturesque in England, with a backdrop of punts on the Cherwell, the Botanic Gardens, Magdalen Tower and the dreaming spires beyond. In 1913 the unique pavilion was built and now stands as a tribute to those who played and lost their lives in the Great War. The school has expanded to become a centre of academic excellence Cricketers of note David Ligertwood (Durham & Surrey), John Martin (Somerset), Francis and Arthur Roberts (both Gloucestershire), Octavius Radcliffe (Gloucs & Som) Extras The School Field is the only ‘island’ cricket ground in school cricket. Don Bradman played at the Christ Church ground three times for Australia (1930, 1934 and 1938) versus Oxford University, but averaged only 42 there. The Australians played
on this ground from 1882 onwards and it is here in 1884 that Oxford University beat the Australians for the first and only time. The record biggest hit (as recorded by Wisden) was made on the Christ Church ground in 1856: the Rev W Fellows drove a ball bowled by Charles Rogers 175 yards from hit to pitch. Previous heads of cricket include John Crawley (Lancashire, Hampshire & England), and professionals include Phillip DeFreitas (Leicestershire, Lancashire, Derbyshire & England), and Raj Maru (Middlesex & Hampshire) Finest moment on the field Ben Thompson becoming the youngest century-maker for Oxfordshire in 1998 with 111, against Herefordshire, aged 17 years and 250 days Cultural cricketers Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty, Skyfall and Spectre, played for the 1st XI. Other former pupils include sports presenter Jim Rosenthal, England rugby player and commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith, and Wisden editor Lawrence Booth
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
MALVERN COLLEGE College Road Malvern Worcestershire WR14 3DF
Established 1865 Notable fixtures Shrewsbury, Harrow, Repton, Wellington, Bradfield, Millfield Cricket professional Noel Brett Teams Nine sides agead 14 and above Girls’ cricket In the last two years games against Shrewsbury and Clifton. Facilities Three grounds, four artificial nets, 16 grass nets, indoor cricket facility Club/county affiliation Worcestershire CCC train there over the winter Brief history The Senior Turf at Malvern is spectacular. Matches were played within 18 months of the school’s foundation in 1865. Players included the seven Foster brothers, who dominated Malvern cricket from 1889. All played for Worcestershire, but RE ‘Tip’ Foster was the most outstanding, and is still remembered for his innings of 287 for England at Sydney on the 1903/04 tour to Australia, on Test match debut. The Tolchard brothers Jeff, Ray and Roger, were all outstanding players in the 1960s Cricketers of note Mike Cawdron and Dom Hewson (both Gloucestershire), Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Worcestershire) Finest moment on the field The 1st XI were unbeaten against school opposition during the 2012 season, winning 12 games in succession. Cultural cricketers Rugby stars Simon Danielli and Nick Abendanon played cricket for the college
MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE Bath Road Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 1PA Established 1843 Notable fixtures MCC, Rugby (two-day colour match, played at Lord’s until 1972), Radley, Eton, Winchester, Cheltenham, Sherborne, Wellington, St Edward’s Oxford, Bradfield Cricket professional Mark Alleyne (Gloucestershire & England) Teams U18ABCDE, U16ABC, U15ABCD, U14ABCDE Girls’ cricket One team. Charlotte Bawden (Surrey U19s) made her debut for the boys’ 1st XI in 2015. Rosie Pembroke made her full Wiltshire women debut in May 2016, aged 14, the youngest to represent them. In 2016, 29 girls opted for cricket once a week. The College hosted Bradfield in an inaugural girls’ fixture Facilities Sports hall which includes five indoor nets, nine grass squares, 14 artificial nets and two cages Club/county affiliation Marlborough CC, Hampshire, Middlesex, Wiltshire Brief history By 1849, six years after the College started, the boys had begun levelling a ground and had formed a cricket club. Dr Cotton, who arrived from Rugby as master in 1852, gave great encouragement to the sport and by 1855 when the first
match between the two schools took place at Lord’s, the main cricket square at Marlborough had been completed. Until 1972 Marlborough v Rugby was a regular fixture at Lord’s and since then the schools have played a two-day match against annually, alternating home and away Cricketers of note AG Steel (played in first ever Test in 1880 and name features on Ashes urn), LH Gay, AJL Hill, NF Druce, JC Hartley (all England), RH Sponner (England in cricket and rugby), Jake Seamer (Somerset), Mike Griffith (Sussex & MCC), Christopher Martin-Jenkins (former journalist and MCC president), Richard Savage (Warwickshire), Robbie Williams (Middlesex & Leicestershire) Extras The pavilion (built in 1874) was designed by Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, famous for designing the Natural History Museum and Manchester Town Hall Finest moment on the field Playing against Rugby at Lord’s – the fixture lasted from 1855 to 1972. Recent victories in the twoday colours match include 2002 and 2015 Cultural cricketers Comedian Jack Whitehall is rumoured to have reached the giddy heights of the 3rd XI
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
MILLFIELD
MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL, NORTHWOOD Sandy Lodge Road Moor Park Northwood Hertfordshire HA6 2HT
Established 1561 Notable fixtures Harrow, Haberdashers’ Aske’s, MCC Cricket coaches Ian McGowan, Graham Furber, Adam Cuthbert, Connor Patterson, Leigh Wooldridge Teams Eighteen – 1st XI to U12 Facilities Twelve grass squares, 20 grass, 12 astro and two indoor nets Club/county affiliation Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire Brief history Merchant Taylors’ has a distinguished cricketing history. The first cricket match recorded on the school’s cricket ground was between the Norwood Club and MCC in 1892. County 2nd XI cricket was first played there in 2002 when the Middlesex 2nd XI played Kent 2nd XI. The ground hosted its inaugural firstclass match in 2012 and Middlesex beat Hampshire by an innings and 116 runs on the way to winning the 34 | thecricketer.com
Butleigh Road Street BA16 0YD Tom Webley Director of cricket
2016 Championship Cricketers of note Ravi Patel and Oli Wilkin (both Middlesex) Extras Merchant Taylors’ is officially ‘The Home of Middlesex Youth Cricket’. The Australians held their pre-Ashes training camps in 2013 and 2015 at Merchant Taylors’, and the former India Test spinner Piyush Chawla has held masterclasses at the school. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke was quoted as saying that the school’s facilities were “world-class”. Old Merchant Taylors’ CC, who compete on Saturdays in the Thames Valley League, play on the War Memorial Ground next door Finest moment on the field Reaching the national finals on the ESCA U15 Competition in 2015 Cultural cricketers Comedian Michael McIntyre played cricket for the school in his three years there
Established 1935 Notable fixtures Surrey Academy, Worcestershire Academy, Gloucestershire Academy, MCC, Wales U17 Master-in-charge Richard Ellison (Kent & England) Director of coaching Mark Garaway (Hampshire) Teams 14 Girls’ cricket Senior and U15 level. Numerous county fixtures and matches against RAF Ladies and MCC women’s teams Facilities Four cricket squares, three indoor nets and six outdoor nets. The campus has several cricket pavilions including the stunning Wilson Pavilion. Match analysis system on the main field, Merlyn bowling machines, Pitchvision net system, Zepp power-hitting sensors, SAQ Aerofloor for fast bowlers as well as radar guns for registering ball velocities in our bowling, hitting and throwing programmes Cricketers of note Ian Ward (Surrey, Sussex & England), Paul Terry (Hampshire & England), Kieran Powell (West Indies), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset & England), George Hankins (Gloucestershire), Tom Moores and George Bartlett Extras In 2016 63 days of county 2nd XI cricket was played by boys at the school. The 12-month Performance Programme led by Garaway integrates specialist technical, tactical and lifestyle coaching with sports science input from the Millfield Institute of Sport and Wellbeing team. The programme is individually tailored to optimise performance. There are 53 boys and girls on the programme. Every pupil has the opportunity to be coached by ECB Level III and IV coaches
NEW HALL SCHOOL The Avenue Boreham Chelmsford Essex CM3 3HS
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Established 1641 Notable fixtures MCC, Whitgift, Felsted, Forest School, Haileybury, Royal Hospital, Ipswich, Caterham Cricket professionals Gareth James (Essex), Nasser Hussain (Essex & England) Teams 18 – 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12ABC Girls’ cricket U11, U13 and U15 level Facilities Six cricket squares. The Six Acres ground is set against the stunning backdrop of the main school building. This area also has the main pavilion as well as four outdoor nets. The school and its students also benefit from two indoor lanes and facilities in the multi-purpose sports hall Club/county affiliation Essex Brief history With the school moving to a co-educational student body only 10 years ago, cricket has grown rapidly. The school has recently toured Dubai and Sri Lanka. New Hall are currently county champions at under-14 and under-15 age groups Finest moment on the field 1st XI beating MCC in 2015 Extras A touring programme is set for boys’ cricket for all age groups. An annual weekend UK tour for year 7 and 8 boys to the South West. Since 2010, New Hall have toured biannually: to compete in the Schools Arch Trophy in the UAE as well as to Sri Lanka. The next tour will see the academy return to Sri Lanka in Easter 2017
NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL Waverley Mount Nottingham NG7 4ED
Established 1503 Notable fixtures MCC Cricket professional Lloyd Tennant (Leicestershire) Teams 22 Facilities Sports hall comprising four nets. Playing field comprising eight grass nets, three grass squares and one astro wicket Club/county affiliation Nottinghamshire Brief history Earliest records of cricket at Nottingham High School go back to the 19th century, with cricket mostly taking place on the Forest Recreational Ground (then the original home of Nottingham Forest). Cricket has always been the focus sport in the summer term, something that is maintained to this day, now comprising well over 100 fixtures per year across a variety of age groups, often winning the County Cup competitions and competing well at national cup level Cricketers of note Reg Simpson (Nottinghamshire & England), Mark Saxelby, Peter Johnson (both Nottinghamshire)
Extras The school is the Nottingham hub of the MCC Foundation, providing excellent training facilities, coaching and a summer fixture programme to U13 and U15 cricketers from the local city state schools. The U12 and U13 teams enjoy an annual residential cricket tour to the north-west of England, while the U15s team play a three-day schools festival. In 2013, the High School’s senior cricketers enjoyed a 10-night tour of Sri Lanka, including a game at the Galle International stadium. Members of the next cohort are eagerly awaiting their tour of Barbados & St Lucia in July 2017 Finest moment on the field Winning against MCC in 2013 Cultural cricketers Cricket fanatic Ken Clarke, the former Conservative chancellor of the exchequer, attended the school
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
OAKHAM SCHOOL
Established 1584 Notable fixtures Eton, Harrow, Millfield, Bedford, Wellington College, Tonbridge, Felsted, MCC, BOWS festival Cricket professionals Neil Johnson (Leicestershire, Hampshire & Zimbabwe), Darren Bicknell (Surrey & Nottinghamshire), Frank Hayes (Lancashire & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD, U13AB, U12ABCD Girls’ cricket As an activity. Fixtures planned Facilities Six grass squares, 18 grass nets, seven artificial nets, four indoor nets, enclosed coaching net with bowling machine Club/county affiliation Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire Brief history Oakham has an enviable cricket reputation and in the last decade six former pupils have joined the professional ranks. Old boy Stuart Broad said: “Frank Hayes and David Steele taught the majesty and theory of the game through storytelling. Mr Hayes would break everything down into its simplest form. Mr Steele was a huge character and fired enthusiasm with his anecdotes.” Cricketers of note Percy Chapman (Kent & England), Stefan Kelly (Bermuda), Greg Maybury, (Bermuda), Matthew Boyce and Alex Wyatt (both Leics), Josh Cobb (Leics & Northants), Ian Saxelby (Gloucs), Stuart Broad (Leics, Notts & England), Lucy Pearson (England women), Tom Fell (Worcs) Extras Leicestershire played at Oakham from 2001 to 2009. Some of the Surrey players reputed to have said that it looked as good as many of the Test wickets they had seen. Hosted the 2014 Bunbury Festival Finest moment on the field Beating Eton in their inaugural game in 2003
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ORMSKIRK SCHOOL Wigan Road Ormskirk Lancashire L39 2AT
Established 1612, with the amalgamation of Cross Hall High School and Ormskirk Grammar School, in 2001 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, MCC Women Teams 1st XI and years 10 down to 7 Girls’ cricket 1st XI, U15, U13. A very strong programme of girls’ cricket, with lots of local, county and national success. Many girls go on to play local club cricket, county representation and the England women’ development programme. Winners of the Lady Taverners Competition in 2013 and 2015, Chance to Shine winners in 2013 and finalists in 2016 Facilities Indoor nets, outdoor nets, two grounds St Helens Road and use of Ormskirk CC Club/county affiliation Lancashire Brief history The market town of Ormskirk has a proud and long cricket heritage (the town club were Merseyside competition winners 2014) and former pupils have always
been present in the Ormskirk CC 1st XI. When cricket became dormant in many comprehensive schools across the country in the 1990s the school continued to retain a Saturday fixture list and promoted the sport through a parents’ support group which raised funds and supported staff. The appointment of Laura Goff in 2003 was the catalyst for girls’ cricket to take off and it has gone from strength to strength since. Ormskirk were the first comprehensive school to be invited to play MCC Women in 2015, and played the second fixture in 2016. This was an impressive achievement for Ormskirk, given that the MCC fixtures are normally against university sides, the armed forces and county teams Cricketers of note Several players have gone on to represent Lancashire and, in recent years, Rachel Dickinson and twin sisters, Erin and Lucy Staunton-Turner, have also played for England. Dickinson was selected for the Under-19 squad at the age of 16 having worked her way through the Lancashire ranks Finest moment on the field Winning both U13 girls’ indoor and outdoor national finals in 2013
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Chapel Close Market Place Oakham Rutland LE15 6DT
OUNDLE SCHOOL
Church Street Oundle Northamptonshire PE87 4EE
Established 1556 Notable fixtures MCC, Eton, Shrewsbury, Oundle, St Peter’s York, Oundle, Trent and Cheltenham Cricket professional Van de Merwe Genis – in his 17th season as cricket professional Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U16AB, U15ABCD, U14ABCD, U13ABCD Girls’ cricket Likely to become an option for girls from 2017 onwards. Oundle played its first girls’ match against Oundle Town CC women in May. Girls’ sessions will be offered in the winter of 2016/17 Facilities A new sports hall is about to be constructed likely to house four more indoor nets with video facilities. The current sports hall has four nets and a half hall for skills practice. A state-ofthe-art outdoor facility has just been constructed with 10 artificial nets of different paces and taking different levels of spin with two permanent
nets for bowling machines. The loam for the grass section of that same facility is just being laid and will provide 10 enclosed grass nets from 2017 onwards. There are also 10 further artificial nets. The school has eight squares in total; it regularly hosts seven matches on block fixture days on Pavilion Drive Club/county affiliation Northamptonshire, Oundle Town CC Brief history Cricket has been played at Oundle since 1830, although the first match for which a full score survives was against Uppingham in 1855. The current ground has been in use since the 1880s Cricketers of note Oundle has produced nearly 50 first-class cricketers. John Morley Lee (Cambridge University & Surrey), Reggie Ingle (Somerset), Frank Greenwood (Yorks), Mike Mills (Cambridge University & Warks), Tom Harrison (Derbyshire & Northants), Will
Jefferson (Essex, Notts & Leics) and Greg Smith (Leics & Notts) Extras WG Grace scored his 200th century in all cricket on the school’s ground – 141 for his own team against Oundle School in 1901, the second of his three visits there (his son WG Jr was a master and master-in-charge of cricket at the school at the turn of the century). Clark Gable (stationed at a nearby base during the Second World War) brought a camera crew to film cricket at the school. Finest moment on the field Any of the following: the 1976 team – containing four future Blues – was unbeaten against all school sides. More recently, the 2004 side – under Cameron Wake – won 15 matches with no defeats and lifted the Silk Trophy Cultural cricketers Richard Dawkins, Sir Peter Scott and Arthur Marshall played cricket at the school. Harrison is now ECB chief executive
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Boys 13 - 18 • Boarding and Day
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PORTSMOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL High Street Portsmouth Hampshire PO1 2LN
Established 1732 Notable fixtures Brighton College, Canford, King Edward VI, Southampton, Winchester College Cricket professional Sam Lavery Teams 1st and 2nd XI at senior level, down to U8 in the junior school Facilities Indoor sports hall with four lanes, as well as Hilsea playing fields, with eight artificial cricket nets, six grass nets and two squares at this location Club/county affiliation Hampshire Brief history The school’s playing fields at Hilsea offer a unique setting,
bordered by the north of the historic Hilsea Lines which were built to protect the northern reaches of Portsmouth Harbour. The school previously played at East Hampshire Cricket Ground in Southsea, but moved to Hilsea in 1885 Cricketers of note Wally Hammond (Gloucestershire & England) attended Portsmouth Grammar during the First World War. His achievements are highlighted in the school’s pavilion at Hilsea, providing inspirationfor today’s pupils. Other Hampshire players to emerge from the school include John Palmer Park, Jon Ayling, Alfred Wood and Mike Barnard Finest moment on the field Winners of the Under 15 Lord’s Taverners Trophy in 2011 and winners of the newly-established National Under 17 Competition by the schools Sports Magazine in 2013 and 2015
Cultural cricketers Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose brother, Innes, attended the school, is one of the most famous batsman to appear at the crease at Hilsea. Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, was an opening batsman for South Hampshire in their games against the school 1st XI. He also played 10 first-class matches for MCC
independent schools in the later stages of the County Cup and are fairly dominant against local state schools. On the back of these successes the 1st XI played MCC for the first time in 2016
Cricketers of note Daryl Mitchell (Worcestershire) Finest moment on the field In 2013 the school won the National eight-a-side competition at Northamptonshire’s Wantage Road
PRINCE HENRY’S HIGH SCHOOL
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Victoria Avenue Evesham Worcestershire WR11 4QH
Established 1376 Notable fixtures MCC, Malvern College Teams 1st XI, U16, U15, U15, U14 and Staff XI Girls’ cricket Girls’ teams in the above age groups. Gill Richards, a former England player and the first female on the Lord’s groundstaff is a member of the PE department Facilities Purpose-built cricket centre at the school, with four lanes and access to bowling machines. One artificial wicket on the playing fields Club/county affiliation Worcestershire, Pershore CC Brief history Prince Henry’s has developed a proud tradition of a fine cricketing experience for its students. The school regularly competes against the local
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS QUEEN’S COLLEGE, TAUNTON Trull Road Taunton Somerset TA1 4QS
QUEEN ELIZABETH GRAMMAR SCHOOL, WAKEFIELD 154 Northgate Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 3QX Established 1591 Notable fixtures MCC, St Peter’s York, Woodhouse Grove, Bolton Master-in-charge Ian Wolfenden Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15, U14, U13AB, U12AB Facilities Three indoor nets, six outdoor synthetic nets, two outdoor grass nets Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Brief history The first record of fixtures at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School appeared in The Savilian in 1889. In 1992, Ronald Chapman wrote: “When I arrived here in 1936 I was surprised at the mediocre quality of the school’s cricket. It appeared to be treated as an unavoidable interlude between rugby seasons. Advice was followed; even more important was the appointment of a professional coach, Miles Coope.” 40 | thecricketer.com
In 1982 Trevor Barker was appointed master-in-charge and his work has led to QEGS becoming one of Yorkshire’s top cricketing schools Cricketers of note Greg Wood (Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire), Peter Heseltine (Sussex & Durham), Mike Smith (Gloucestershire & England) Finest moment on the field David English/Calypso Cup national final against Whitgift School, Croydon, at Headingley in 1998 Extras Last season, vice-captain George Thompson scored 111 not out off 24 balls in the Bradford Grammar School Sixes Competition. In 2015 the U14s reached the semi-final of the Lord’s Taverners Cup and won the Yorkshire Cup Cultural cricketers MCC’s 2012 president Philip Hodson is an Old Savilian
Established 1843 Notable fixtures MCC, Millfield, XL Club, Taunton School, Blundell’s Cricket professionals Arul Suppiah (Somerset & Malaysia), Mark Davis (Somerset) Teams 10 teams in senior school, five in junior school Girls’ cricket Queen’s runs the Broderick Girls’ U15 tournament annually. In 2016 six schools took part. Regular practice sessions for girls every week from January to June Facilities One sports hall has four lanes (three bowling machines available and one junior bowling machine), in addition to eight artificial nets, grass nets, six grass squares Club/county affiliation Somerset, Taunton St Andrews CC, Taunton Deane CC, Taunton Vale CC, Shapwick & Polden CC Brief history First known as the Wesleyan Collegiate Institute, Queen’s College was established by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1843. It was built by Giles and Gane in 1874 and has been designated as a Grade II-listed
LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/ALLSPORT, ALLSPORT HULTON/ARCHIVE
Arul Suppiah Director of cricket building. Queen’s College first began admitting girls during the 1970s and is now fully co-educational Cricketers of note Gary Palmer (Somerset), Ben Ackland (Northamptonshire & Ireland), Matt Gitsham (Gloucestershire), Jake Lintott (Dorset), Will Bates (England age-groups) Finest moments on the field Ben Ackland passing 1,000 runs in the 2007 season. Rudi Claassen scoring a century against MCC in May 2016 Extras Palmer is now an acclaimed batting coach who runs his own specialist coaching centre from a village near Oxford. His clients include Alastair Cook. Somerset’s Visually Impaired team have visited Queen’s College in recent years for training sessions. The Queen’s side wore simulation glasses and played against the blind cricket ball (with a bell inside) to learn what it is like to play this form of disability cricket Cultural cricketers Conservative MP John Baron, racehorse trainer Martin Pipe
RADLEY COLLEGE Kennington Road Radley Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 2HR Established 1847 Notable fixtures Eton, Harrow, Tonbridge, Charterhouse, Wellington, Marlborough, Cheltenham, St Edward’s Oxford, Winchester, Bradfield, MCC and wandering sides Cricket professional Andy Wagner – 2013 Sky Sports ECB coach of the year – has just completed 33 seasons Teams 21 teams across four age groups Facilities Five indoor nets, 26 outdoor artificial nets, 10 grass nets and 11 grass squares Club/county affiliation Middlesex Brief history Radley’s cricket tradition is a strong one. The sport was launched as an alternative for rowing in the early 1850s and the first recorded fixture was against Bradfield in 1853. Since then there have
been a number of ‘golden eras’ with the sides of the 1866–67, 1929–32, the 1990s and then 2006–08 deserving special mention. Cricketers of note Ted Dexter (Sussex & England), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex & England), Ben Hutton (Middlesex), Robin Martin-Jenkins (Sussex), Jamie Dalrymple (Middlesex, Glamorgan & England), Nick Gubbins (Middlesex) Finest moment on the field The 1999 side won nine out of 10 matches in timed cricket taking 98 of a possible 100 wickets. The school won back-to-back Cowdrey Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2008 Extras The school hosted the 30th Bunbury Festival in 2016
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
REPTON SCHOOL The Lodge Repton Derbyshire DE65 6FH
Sandy Lane Cobham KT11 2ES Established 1813 Notable fixtures MCC, Stock Exchange, XL Club, St Paul’s, Hampton, Hurstpierpoint Cricket professionals Keith Medlycott (Surrey) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3th XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABCDE, U13ABCD, U12ABCD Girls’ cricket Is being planned Facilities Four squares plus two at satellite ground, eight grass nets, six artificial nets, four indoor nets. New state-of-the-art indoor centre being built with five lanes of nets and analysis software Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history Cricket has been played at Cobham since the school arrived from Watford just after the war. Reed’s inherited an extremely beautiful, if slightly small, ground formerly used by the preparatory school Sandroyd (now found in the West Country). The game became more important in the 1960s 42 | thecricketer.com
under two of its great headmasters: Bob Drayson and Rodney Exton. His experience as a county cricketer at Hampshire when he was still a schoolboy drove the game to greater heights. More recently, newly retired headmaster David Jarrett, a Blue at Oxford and Cambridge, encouraged the sport to reach its highest standard in the history of the school. Presently, we have a number of boys playing for county and national academies. We regularly tour the Caribbean with two teams selected from boys across three year groups so that the touring experience can be tasted by as many as possible before leaving the school Cricketers of note Mark Rowland (Hampshire & Sussex), Phil Salt (Sussex) Finest moment on the field 50/40 League winners 2014 & 2015 Extras Surrey women play on the main square Cultural cricketers European Tour golfer James Morrison captained the 1st XI. Tim Henman, Tom Hardy, opera singer Simon Keenlyside, Alex Corbisiero (England rugby), and BBC TV’s Chris Hollins all played cricket
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REED’S SCHOOL
Established 1557 Notable fixtures MCC, Free Foresters, Uppingham (150 years), Malvern (130 years) Cricket professionals Howard Dytham, Andy Afford (Notts & England A) Teams U14 to 1st XI, 10 sides in total. Some girls played for the first time in boys’ teams in 2015 Facilities Four grounds developing to five from 2016. Ten artificial nets, five indoor lanes Club/county affiliation Derbyshire Brief history An illustrious line of cricketers from CB Fry in the 1880s through to the most recent addition of Nitish Kumar (Canada), youngest player to play in the World Cup. Repton boasts one of the highest (second to Eton) numbers of firstclass players among their old boys. In 2008 Repton won the National Schools T20. Captain that year was ex-Derbyshire keeper Tom Poynton Cricketers of note 132 first-class players, 11 England players and three Test captains, including Donald Carr (Derbyshire & England), Jack Crawford (Surrey, South Australia & England), CB Fry (Surrey, Hampshire & England), Chris Adams (Derbyshire, Sussex & England) Richard Hutton (Yorkshire & England) Cultural cricketers Old boys include Roald Dahl and Jeremy Clarkson
ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, GUILDFORD High Street Guildford Surrey GU1 3BB Established 1509 Notable fixtures Cranleigh, Whitgift, St Paul’s and MCC Teams 15 Facilities A newly refurbished pavilion, six artificial outdoor nets, five indoor nets and a wheel on cages for grass practice sessions. Bradstone Brook is the perfect location and a wonderful setting to a day’s cricket on a Saturday. Matches also take place at Wonersh CC Club/county affiliation Surrey and Guildford CC Brief history In 2013 both the 1st XI and 2nd XI won their respective leagues. The annual RGS Cricket Festival is held on a rotational basis at all the Royal Grammar Schools in the country. Guildford have won this seven times in the last 12 years In 2015 the 1st XI toured Sri Lanka and are heading back there in February 2017 Cricketers of note Bob Willis (Surrey, Warwickshire & England) Finest moment on the field 50/40 League winners 2014 & 2015 Extras The eminent cricket historian and writer David Frith, a former editor of The Cricketer, believes that cricket may been played in Guildford in 1550, before even Hambledon
Chris Sandbach Head of cricket
RUGBY SCHOOL Lawrence Sheriff Street Rugby Warwickshire CV22 5EH
Established 1567 Notable fixtures MCC (175 years’ standing), Marlborough (two-day) since 1855, Clifton College (two-day) Cricket professional Michael Powell (Warwickshire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket U16 and U15 teams Facilities Eight indoor nets (at two sports centres), eight to 12 grass nets, six grass squares (two on the historic ‘Close’) Club/county affiliation Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Brief history Cricket has been played on the Close from the early 19th century and there are detailed scorebooks dating back to 1831. In the early years, fixtures were played against MCC, a number of the Oxbridge Colleges and wandering sides such as I Zingari and Free Foresters. Internal matches were played, with many lasting several days. The highlight of the season from the 1830s to the 1850s was The Tall against the Short. 5ft 6in was
the dividing point. In 1855, Rugby played Marlborough for the first time. Miles Giffard played for the 1st XI and Cornwall and was later hanged for the murder of his parents. The match has been played at numerous grounds including The Oval, but Lord’s became its home for nearly 100 years until this came to an end in 1972. This two-day game continues today and alternates between the two schools. Warwickshire have played at Rugby several times in the past 10 years. The 1st XI wear ‘duck egg’ shirts Cricketers of note PF Warner (Middlesex & England), HH Castens (South Africa), ER Wilson (England), RA Boddington (Lancashire), JL Bryan (Kent), MD Lyon (Somerset), Bev Lyon (Gloucs), MM Walford (Somerset) MA Eager (Gloucs), RR Montgomerie (Northants & Sussex) Finest moment on the field 1979 v Marlborough: “Rugby were left with 177 to make in 80 minutes; the captain, David Cutter, reached this target with a mighty six off the penultimate ball.” Cutter’s son, James, was the 2016 captain of the 1st XI Extras Ex-pupil Giles Clarke was ECB chairman 2007–2015 Cultural cricketers In 1905 the bowling averages were headed by Rupert Brooke, later renowned for his war poetry
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
SEDBERGH SCHOOL Station Road Sedbergh Cumbria LA10 5HG
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SEVENOAKS SCHOOL High Street Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1HU
Established 1432 Notable fixtures MCC, King’s Canterbury, The Judd, Sutton Valence, Eltham College Cricket professional David Smith (Surrey), Chris Tavaré (Kent, Somerset & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15ABC, U14ABC, U13ABC Girls’ cricket Girls play in the boys’ teams. Tash Farrant has played for England’s Women’s team and is one of the first group of centrally contracted players. Coco Streets (year 10) was a leading player in the U14As in 2016 and played representative cricket for Sussex Facilities Three pitches, five all-weather nets, three grass nets plus centre practice wickets, eight indoor nets Club/county affiliation Kent Brief history Sevenoaks were unbeaten by other schools for seven years during the 1970s. Four players went on to play professional cricket from that period. Former Essex cricketer Alan Hurd was the
Chris Tavaré Master in charge inspirational coach. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw another series of excellent teams including Omar and Shami Iqbal, who both went on to win the Kent League with Sevenoaks Vine in 1997 and where they are now chairman and chairman of cricket Cricketers of note James GrahamBrown (Kent & Derbyshire), Chris Tavaré (Kent, Somerset & England), Paul Downton (Kent, Middlesex & England), Guy Spelman (Kent), Will House (Kent & Sussex) and Tash Farrant (Kent & England Women) Finest moment on the field In 2015, U15s, U17s and the 1st XI all reached national finals; 1st XI appeared in National T20 Finals Day at Arundel Extras Sevenoaks’ one-to-one programme has been going for four years and caters for over 40 pupils starting at 7.30am. This takes place throughout the year and is delivered by cricket professional David Smith and his Invicta Cricket Coaching team
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Established 1525 Notable fixtures Lancashire, Yorkshire and Durham academies, Shrewsbury, Bromsgrove, Repton, Wellington, Oakham, Brighton College Cricket professional Martin Speight (Durham & Sussex) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB Girls’ cricket No separate programme; best girls play in boys’ teams Facilities Four grass squares, six outdoor lanes, four indoor lanes Club/county affiliation Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire Brief history The first match was played in 1841 against Kirkby Lonsdale, though in those days the team was supplemented by masters and local players. The first proper school game was played against Giggleswick in 1879 when the current ground was established. A hundred years later the school undertook its first overseas tour to the West Indies Cricketers of note Norman MitchellInnes (Somerset & England), Jordan Clark (Lancashire), Jamie Harrison (Durham), Harry Brook (Yorkshire) Finest moment on the field In 2015, U15s, U17s and the 1st XI all reached national finals; 1st XI appeared in national T20 Finals Day at Arundel
SHENFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Alexander Lane Brentwood Essex CM15 8RY
Established 1962 Notable fixtures Eastbourne College, Darren Lehmann Academy, Felsted, Bancrofts, St Albans Teams U19, U17, U15, U14, U13, U12 Girls’ cricket U15 and U13. Essex Cup champions at both age groups for the past four years. 2014 and 2015 National Cup T20 finalists. 2013 Chance to Shine National Cup winners Facilities Two indoor nets, two outdoor synthetic nets on site. Use of Shenfield & Hutton CC for Cricket Academy fixtures and finals Club/county affiliation Essex Brief history Shenfield High School forged
a formal partnership with Shenfield CC in 2003. Since 2004 Shenfield High has won 30 county titles in boys and girls indoor and outdoor cricket. In 2016, the U17 boys beat Bedford School by four runs. Shenfield currently holds the Essex U19 title and girls U13 & U-15 titles. In 2011 Matt Salisbury was man of the match for Shenfield in the U19 final. He has gone on to represent Cambridge University and is part of the full Essex attack. Salisbury was given a huge cricketing opportunity at Shenfield and he was picked up by Essex at U14 level having missed out at younger age groups Cricketers of note Salisbury (Essex), Mady Villiers (Essex Women)
Finest moment on the field Beat Dulwich College to make the National Cup quarterfinal in 2013 Cultural cricketers Phillip Hammond (Conservative chancellor of the exchequer), TV presenter Richard Madeley and EastEnders favourite Ross Kemp
pitch was levelled and records of the XI’s began. In 1874 Sherborne made their sole appearance at Lord’s and scored a resounding victory over Rossall Cricketers of note Rev DS Sheppard (Sussex & England), Arthur Carr
(Nottinghamshire & England), Jimmy Adams (Hampshire) Finest moment on the field In 2015 the U15s reached the national final of the prestigious, two-year long ECB/ESCA Schools Trophy competition losing by one run
SHERBORNE SCHOOL Abbey Road Sherborne DT9 3AP
Established 1550 Notable fixtures King’s College Taunton, Millfield, Cheltenham, MCC Cricket professional Matthew Pardoe (Worcestershire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC Facilities Four indoor nets, seven grass squares, 12 grass nets, 12 astro nets Club/county affiliation Dorset Brief history The earliest record of cricket being played at Sherborne School dates from August 1841 when the Boarders played the Day Boys. The school’s first match against another school, King’s Bruton, was played in September 1846. These early matches were played at Lenthay and it was not until 1856 that the school acquired its own ground, The Upper, though it was two more years before the first proper
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
SHREWSBURY SCHOOL Shrewsbury Shropshire SY3 7BA
Established 1552 Notable fixtures Millfield, Eton, Malvern, Manchester Grammar, Sedbergh, MCC, Free Foresters Cricket professional Paul Pridgeon (Worcestershire), Adam Shantry (Northants, Warwickshire & Glamorgan) Teams U18ABC, U17, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket U15 and U14 Facilities Six squares, 14 grass nets, four all-weather nets, four indoor lanes each with bowling machines (including a Merlyn machine), two astroturfs to practice fielding on out of season. The only school to have a permanent, purpose-built, single use indoor centre, about to go under a £50,000 refurbishment Club/county affiliation Shropshire Brief history The school moved to the current site overlooking the town in 1882. Girls have been admitted to the Sixth Form since 2008 and 2014 has been fully co-educational. Old Salopians include naturalist Charles Darwin, poet Sir Philip Sidney and broadcasters John Peel and Michael Palin Cricketers of note James Taylor (Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire & England), Joe Leach and Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), David Lloyd (Glamorgan), Ruaidhri Smith (Glamorgan & Scotland), Ed Pollock (Warwickshire), Oliver Westbury (Worcestershire) Finest moment on the field HMC U18 T20 Winners 2011 and 2013, Silk Trophy Winners 2006, 2009, 2013–15 Extras Shrewsbury will represent England in the inaugural ISF World Schools T20 Championship in Mumbai in December Cultural cricketers Neville Cardus was assistant cricket coach from 1912 to 1916. Comedian Nick Hancock played at the school
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ST EDWARD’S SCHOOL, OXFORD Woodstock Road Oxford OX2 7NN
Established 1863 Notable fixtures Harrow, Eton, Winchester, Radley, Marlborough, Cheltenham, MCC, Free Foresters, Oxford University, Oxford MCCU Cricket professional David Simpkins (Gloucestershire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket First match in 2015 Facilities Six grounds, four-lane indoor nets in Douglas Bader Sports centre, 10 outdoor astro nets, eight outdoor grass nets, 18-strip cover on 1st XI square, a blotter and a Merlyn bowling machine Club/county affiliation Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire (satellite academy based at St Edward’s through winter) Brief history Cricket originated in the playground at New Inn Hall Street, Oxford and thence to various parts of the surrounding areas including public parks, Port Meadow, the Meads (today’s quad), Keble College and finally Upper One. The earliest records of results for the school’s
XI date from 1873. By 1879 the number of fixtures had risen to 19, of which 15 were won. Indeed, no XI in the school’s history surpassed that feat until the 2012 side recorded 16 victories and the 2013 side 17. The 2014 side secured 20 victories, and subsequently hold the record for the highest number of wins in a school season. The 1st XI also had two unbeaten seasons, in 1968 and 1998 Cricketers of note Russell Bencraft (Hampshire), Teddy Wynyard (England), FW Terry (Somerset & Canada), TH Page (Hampshire), EG Read (Hampshire & Sussex), CR Wetherall (Northants), AM de Labat (New Zealand), PA Gibb (England), Tim Hancock (Gloucestershire), Calvin Dickinson (Oxford MCCU) Finest moment on the field Beating Oxford University Blues in 2014 and 2015 and being the first school to win the John Harvey Cup three consecutive years (2013, 2014 and 2015) Cultural cricketers Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, played for St Edward’s 2nd XI and was the Oxford Chronicle cricket reporter during his time at the school. Flying ace Douglas Bader represented the 1st XI for between 1925 and 1928
ST JOHN’S SCHOOL, LEATHERHEAD Epsom Road Leatherhead Surrey KT22 8SP
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David Hammond Cricket professional
Established 1851 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, St Paul’s, KCS Wimbledon, Hampton, Epsom College, Eastbourne College Cricket professional David Hammond (Essex) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC. Initially introduced in 2010, 2015 saw a significant uptake in girls’ cricket at U15 level with a fixture list that includes Hurstpierpoint and Epsom Women’s CC
Girls’ cricket Initially introduced in 2010, but last year saw a significant uptake at U15 level and it has gone from strength to strength. Fixtures against Hurstpierpoint and Epsom Women have followed and teams at U15 now enter a festival each year that attracts some of the leading schools in the county Facilities These include four indoor nets, 14 outside nets, plus four grass squares Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history Cricket has always been one of the primary games played at St John’s with the first recorded match on the new ground being in 1879 against MCC. The school has hosted two List A fixtures and also hosts Surrey age-group cricket. It was originally founded to educate the children of clergy
Cricketers of note David Balcombe (Hampshire & Surrey) Finest moment on the field Winners of both Surrey U14 and U15 County Cups in the past Extras During the 2016 Easter break, the school’s U15s toured Dubai and Abu Dhabi and played in the prestigious Arch Cup. St John’s ended up finishing as the highest-ranked English school in the competition, some achievement considering the likes of Eton College, Hampton and Radley College were all there Cultural cricketers Include Peter Drury (football commentator), Simon Thomas (Blue Peter and Sky Sports presenter), George Kruis (Saracens & England rugby forward)
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
ST PETER’S SCHOOL, YORK Clifton York YO30 6AB Established 627 Notable fixtures MCC, Yorkshire Gentlemen, Free Foresters, Durham, Ampleforth College, Denstone. St Peter’s also has two fixtures dating back to 1853 against Pocklington, and 1856 against Leeds Grammar that are still part of the fixture list Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, Development XI, U15AB, U14AB Girls’ cricket Offered as an afterschool club in the prep school Facilities Two sports halls, four bowling machines; 10 artificial nets and six grass nets; four cricket grounds with county covers and sightscreens, four mobile batting cages, ECB Level 2 and 3 cricket coaches throughout the school Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Brief history “Older than the House of Commons, older than the Universities, older than the Lord Mayoralty, older even than the throne or nation itself,” said Arthur F Leach, in November 1892. Founded in 627AD,
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL Lonsdale Road London SW13 9JT Established 1509 Notable fixtures Eton, Merchant Taylors’, Dulwich College, MCC, Cranleigh, Radley, Hampton Cricket professional Nigel Briers (Leicestershire), Alastair Fraser (Middlesex and Essex) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15ABC, U14ABC Facilities Five indoor cricket nets within sports hall complex, seven outdoor nets, six grass squares and winter coaching with two bowling machines Club/county affiliation Middlesex Cricketers of note Percy Fender (Sussex, Surrey & England), Aubrey Faulkner (South Africa) Finest moment on the field In 2015 Tom Powe (134) and Harveer Mahajan (105) both scored centuries against Hampton in a score of 301 for 4 off 50 overs Extras St Paul’s used to play at The Oval during the latter part of the 19th century. The school competed in cricket matches during the 1660s and so it could be among the first to play it Cultural cricketers John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was a former pupil and he played for the cricket team. Award-winning novelist Patrick Neate and actor Rory Kinnear played in junior teams
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Nigel Briers Cricket professional
with Guy Fawkes among its alumni, St Peter’s School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school (aged 3–18) in the centre of the historic city of York. The first recorded game of cricket played at St Peter’s was in 1853 when the school XI played Pocklington. Cricket now lies at the centre of the sporting calendar in the summer term throughout the school Cricketers of note Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire & England), Frank Mitchell (Yorkshire, England & South Africa), Norman Yardley (Yorkshire & England), Brian Sellars (Yorkshire) Steve Coverdale (Northamptonshire chief executive) Finest moment on the field U13 Oli Tomalin took 10 for 7 from 3.5 overs in 2016, including a hat-trick and five wickets in six balls – all of the dismissals were clean bowled Extras The school, as the third-oldest in the UK and fourth-oldest in the world, contests some of the oldest schoolboy fixtures in the country. They continue to produce cricketers representing both North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire age groups and in 2010, the U15 side ended up as North of England runners-up in the ECB T20 finals day, losing to Sedbergh
STAMFORD SCHOOL
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Southfields House St Paul’s Street Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 2BQ Established in 1532 by William Ratcliffe Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club Cricket professional Dean Headley (Worcs, Middlesex, Kent & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13ABC, U12ABC Girls’ cricket Offered in both senior and junior school. Highperforming girls are incorporated into the boys’ coaching programme and matches Facilities Indoor nets at two venues with four lanes each, plus an array of bowling machines. Six lanes of artificial outdoor nets. Large main square with 15 strips – which is also used for practice sessions. Second square of six strips. Two astro strips and two grass junior squares added for 2017 Club/county affiliation Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire,
Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Huntingdonshire Brief history By 1885 the school was playing cricket on its own ground, but the playing area was not large enough and the editor of The Stamfordian expressed the hope that the School “might acquire Mr Huckbody’s field as well”. This field is presumably part of the present playing field Cricketers of note MJK Smith (Leicestershire, Warwickshire & England), Shan Masood (Durham MCCU & Pakistan), Zak Chappell (Leicestershire) Extras In the past two years, a charity cricket event is held that has raised more than £75,000 for The Matt Hampson Foundation. It attracts around as many as 2,000 spectators. Notable players that have played including Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Flintoff. Events
are also held such as a Lord’s Long Room Dinner which the school introduced in 2011 and will look to do every 5 to 10 years dependant on timings. It showed the film Fire in Babylon followed by a Q&A with Michael Holding. The school is interested in enthusing the game which is most important regarding any ability level. The coaching programme is extensive starting in autumn half-term carrying on throughout the summer Finest moment on the field Taking 54 boys on tour to Sri Lanka and committing to touring every two years Cultural cricketers Simon Hodgkinson (England rugby), Ian Stafford (author and broadcaster), Colin Dexter (creator of Inspector Morse), Nick Anstee (former Lord Mayor of the City of London) thecricketer.com | 49
Become part of the tradition NURTURING TALENT ... Queen’s College is proud to be named among The Cricketer’s Top 100 Schools Scholarship and Bursarial Awards available
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ST PAUL’S ST XI WON FROM SCHOOL MATCHES IN Generous means-tested bursaries now available at all entry points
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STEWART’S MELVILLE COLLEGE Queensferry Road Edinburgh EH4 3EZ
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Notable fixtures MCC, Fettes College, Merchiston College, Dollar Academy, Edinburgh Academy, High School of Glasgow, Glasgow Academy, Strathallan School, Glenalmond School, George Watson’s College. For the first time, with Cricket Scotland, Stewart’s Melville will host a fixture for boys from state schools who are in the Scotland development squads to play against the school’s first XI Current cricket professional Dewald Nel (Scotland, Kent & Worcs) Teams 16 boys’ teams are fielded, plus more than 70 girls playing aged five to seven Girls’ cricket PE teacher Pippa Johnston has launched girls’ cricket Facilities Six indoor nets at Mary Erskine’s Girls School. Two indoor nets at the boys’ school with a further two to be installed this year. Eighteen outdoor practice nets and the largest bank of all-weather practice wickets in Scotland (13) Club/county affiliation Scotland, Stewart’s Melville former pupils club Extras Principal David Gray and deputy master (Neal Clark) take a team every week Finest moment on the field Since the Scottish Cricket Cup began five years ago Stewart Melville have played in four finals. This year 12 boys have played for Scotland U15s and U18s
Dewald Nel Cricket professional
STOWE SCHOOL Stowe Buckinghamshire MK18 5EH
Established 1923 Notable fixtures Cranleigh, Harrow, Shrewsbury, Marlborough, Radley, Bedford School, Oakham, MCC, Uppingham, Oundle, Rugby, Abingdon, Magdalen College School Oxford, Bradfield College, Stamford, Warwick, Oratory, Bedford Modern Cricket professional James Knott (Surrey) Teams Seven senior and eight junior sides Girls’ cricket For junior girls on a Wednesday afternoon. Talented female cricketers are also offered opportunities in a boy’s team Facilities Four lanes of indoor nets, four bowling machines, 11 lanes of turf nets, 10 lanes of astro nets, seven turf squares. The school has also invested over £10,000 in video analysis equipment Club/county affiliation Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire Cricketers of note Ben Duckett, Graeme White, Mark Nelson, Rob White, Ben Howgego (all Northants), Liam Gough (Essex), Sean Morris (Hampshire), Jason de la Pena Extras The 1st XI and 2nd XI squares are situated in front and behind of what was once the palace of the Duke of Buckingham – one of the most picturesque settings for a game of cricket
James Knott Director of cricket
in the world. Northants 2nd XI play an annual fixture and Stowe has also hosted the 1st XI for a 40-over match. Stowe also regularly hosts county youth fixtures and training camps. They are due to host the Bunbury ESCA Festival in 2017 and have also hosted the full Bunbury side and the rebel Zimbabwean cricketers back in 2004. They have a comprehensive off-season training programme as well as on-season programme that involves a lot of individual attention on technique, fitness, game plans and the mental side of the game. They have reached the semifinals of the National T20 twice as well as the regional finals of the U15 National T20 twice. With plenty of boarding facilities the school is also able to host teams from overseas as well as other English schools, which we do on a regular basis during their end-of-term festivals. Duckett is the first Old Stoic to play for England Finest moment on the field Beating Menlo Park of South Africa in the final of Stowe’s T20 festival 2015. It was Stowe’s last game of the season and Menlo had just been crowned T20 champions in South Africa. An incredible bowling and fielding display saw Stowe restrict them to 116 for 9 and they managed to knock them off for four. It capped off a great season, where the 1st XI only lost one match
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
THE JOHN FISHER SCHOOL TAUNTON SCHOOL Staplegrove Road Taunton Somerset TA2 6AD
Established 1847 Notable fixtures MCC, Millfield. A 1st XI cricket festival every year against Dulwich College, Eastbourne and Ampleforth Cricket professional Marcus Trescothick (Somerset & England) Teams There are boys’ and girls’ teams from year 3. There are 14 teams in the prep school and nine to 10 in the senior Girls’ cricket Senior team, U15 indoor and outdoor team and an U13 indoor and outdoor team. Girls have played since 1976. Jodie Dibble was 1st XI captain, and made the England World T20 squad. This year the U15As reached the National Finals Day, having made it through to regionals of the Lady Taverners Facilities Six grounds, three outdoor nets, with 12 astro and four turf nets
THE JUDD SCHOOL Brook Street Tonbridge TN9 2PN
Established 1888 Notable fixtures Eltham College, Sevenoaks School, King’s School Canterbury Master in charge David Joseph Teams 14 – ranging from 1st XI to U12s Facilities Indoor four-lane sports hall, one main square and ground, eight artificial nets, second ground, two artificial wickets. New detached fields currently being developed to include addition grass squares and artificial wickets Club/county affiliation Kent, through the 52 | thecricketer.com
Club/county affiliation Somerset. The school sponsor Taunton Deane CC and hosts junior county matches Brief history Cricket at the original school near the town centre began with a match between the pupils and the school governors in 1855. The move to the present site was in 1870. John Jameson (later Warwickshire and England) dominated school cricket from 1956 to 1959. In his last summer for the 1st XI he amassed 1,031 runs, including five centuries, three of them in consecutive matches. His average was 93.72, a record again only beaten – and impressively beaten at 193 – by Tom Abell two years ago Cricketers of note Five internationals, 14 senior county players Extras Taunton has long held a place in Somerset as a cricketing school. They have a proud history and have strong links to many clubs and schools within the local area. They have had a number of county and international players and the main school building forms one of the most iconic backdrops on the schools circuit Kent Performance Centre Brief history Judd became the first voluntary-aided grammar school in 1944. Offers academies for year 8 onwards, with training all year round in the four indoor nets within the sports sall. Junior A & B teams are entered into district leagues and Kent Cup Cricketers of note David Fulton, Julian Thompson (both Kent) Extras Full Saturday programme including senior teams. The school regularly appears in Kent Cup finals and lost in the ESCA David English Cup semi-final in 2010. The school runs a winter cricket academy for around 90 boys and tours Barbados biannually at senior level Finest moment on the field Reached the semi-final of the National U13 Cup
Peaks Hill Purley Croydon CR8 3YP
Established 1929 Notable fixtures Tiffin, City of London Freeman’s, Judd, Emanuel School, MCC, Eltham College Teams 11 – U12ABC, U13AB, U14AB, U15AB, 2nd XI, 1st XI Facilities Five outdoor nets, four indoor nets, pavilion Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history John Fisher’s 1st XI has an annual fixture with the MCC and they were finalists in the 2006 Independent Schools Twenty20 competition played at Edgbaston, losing out to Millfield School. The boys regularly represent clubs, counties and their country at schoolboy level throughout the year Cricketers of note Laurie Evans (Surrey & Warwickshire), Tim Murtagh (Surrey, Middlesex & Ireland), Chris Murtagh (Surrey) Extras A strong reputation and 12 teams competing on Saturdays School’s finest moment on the cricket field? In 2006 the 1st XI reached the HMC Independent Schools T20 Final, bearing in mind they are a state school and lost to Millfield School by five wickets, with two balls to spare. Millfield had Craig Kieswetter and Tom Maynard to name a couple in their team Cultural cricketers The actor Bill Nighy
THE KING’S SCHOOL IN MACCLESFIELD Cumberland Street Macclesfield Cheshire SK10 1DA
Established 1502 Notable fixtures MCC, Sedbergh, Leeds Grammar, Bolton Grammar, RGS Lancaster, Manchester Grammar Cricket professional Andy Kennedy (Lancashire) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB, U12AB. This season U13 won the county cup, U14 are in the final and U12 in the semi-final Girls’ cricket The school hold an annual cricket ‘away day’ for all year 5 boys and girls. They enter the Lady Taverners competition each year – at U13 and U15 age groups. Recent leaver Hannah Gradwell played for the 1st XI for two seasons as well as representing Cheshire Women Facilities The school has five new allweather nets at the boys’ site and three at the junior/girls site (three years old). They have four cricket squares that are entirely grass and three that are artificial Club/county affiliation Cheshire, Macclesfield CC Brief history The recent celebration of 150 years of cricket on the current site unearthed a photo of the team in 1865. King’s School started a cricket festival in 1974 with Brighton College, Solihull and Birkenhead – and the festival is still going strong Cricketers of note Mike Davies (Northants), Peter Moores
THE KING’S SCHOOL, CANTERBURY
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25 The Precincts Canterbury Kent CT1 2ES Established 597 Notable fixtures MCC, Band of Brothers, Eastbourne, Reed’s, Felsted, Sutton Valence, Whitgift Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15AB, U14AB Girls’ cricket Introduced in 2016 by Susie Rowe, ex-England Women Facilities Three grass wickets, two astro wickets, 14 grass nets, four astro nets, two indoor nets. Kent 2nd XI visit for annual two-day and one-day games at the Birley’s Playing Fields
(Worcestershire & Sussex) Extras There are a vast number of players playing a high standard of league cricket locally, plus a lot of social cricketers. Moores, who went on to coach England and currently is head coach of Nottinghamshire, told Jon Culley of The Independent in 2012: “We had a great schoolmaster at the King’s School in Macclesfield called Ian Wilson, who had such fantastic enthusiasm for the game that if we wanted to net until seven at night
he would stay behind” Finest moment on the field In the 2011 cricket festival the school 1st XI scored 853 runs, conceding just 144. King’s scored four centuries in the three games, with Ben Marsden and Tom Foreman scoring one each and Andrew Hodgson two. In the final game of the festival King’s bowled Magdalen College School, Oxford (who had scored 307 the previous day) out for just 14 runs, Jonny Marsden taking 6 for 7 and Tom Foreman taking 4 for 6
Club/county affiliation Kent Cricketers of note Geoffrey Austin, Henry Barber, Henry Biron, Alfred Gillow, Edward Swann (all Kent), Cecil Bodington, William Maundrell and Cecil Paris (all Hampshire), Edward Collings and Wilfred Kempe (Somerset), Paul Dixey (Kent & Leicestershire), David Gower (Leicestershire, Hants & England), Claude Haines (Glamorgan), John Hellard (Somerset), Richard Juckes (Sussex), Robert Minns (Oxford University & Kent), John Phillips and Ian Potter (both Oxford Uni & Kent), Graham Pritchard (Cambridge Uni & Essex), Alfred Richardson (Cambridge Uni, Somerset & Gloucestershire), Jethro Robinson (Cambridge University & Sussex), Oliver
Robinson (Sussex), Charles Rowe (Kent & Glamorgan), Philip Sankey (Cambridge Uni, Oxford Uni & Kent), Evelyn Toulmin (Essex & Argentina)
Andy Kennedy Cricket professional
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
Mike Watkinson Director of cricket
THE LEYS SCHOOL Fen Causeway Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 7AD
Established 1875 Notable fixtures MCC, Cambridge University Crusaders, Norwich, Wellingborough, Felsted, Haileybury Cricket professional Richard Kaufman (Oxfordshire) Teams Eleven Girls’ cricket Reached last 16 of the Lady Taverners’ indoor U15 competition Facilities Purpose-built two-lane indoor school. Two bowling machines. Video analysis equipment. Two grass cages, five artificial lanes. Planning approved for additional four outdoor artificial lanes. Four grass squares Club/county affiliation Better players move on to the Northants Academy; Many others play for Cambridgeshire Brief history The Leys was established in February 1875 and in its second term cricket was introduced Cricketers of note Before the Great War, Justin Benson left the school to play for Leicestershire, Gordon Bevas for Nottinghamshire, William Brown for Gloucestershire and Thomas Hill for Somerset. The school’s most distinguished cricketer in that era, though, was Bernard Holloway, who played for Sussex and was a member of the MCC touring party on the first tour to the West Indies in 1910/11. Freddie Brown (Surrey and Northants) arrived from Peru as a child and went on to captain England in the 1950/51 Ashes Extras The 1st XI reaching the last 16 of the HMC T20 competition in 2015. The U15s also reached the last 16 of the ESCA competition
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THE MANCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL Old Hall Lane Manchester M13 OXT
Established 1515 Notable fixtures Shrewsbury School, Sedbergh School, Leeds GS, MCC Cricket professional Mike Watkinson Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15A&B, U14A&B, U13A&B, U12A&B plus Junior School (U11 A&B, U10A&B) Facilities New indoor facility with four cricket nets, three grass squares (first team, intermediate and junior school), six grass practice pitches and four outdoor artificial practice nets. Artificial match pitch. Extensive covering for all outdoor pitches Club/county affiliation Lancashire Brief history Boys are provided with many chances to represent the school in a wide range of sports, including cricket. Academic staff and specialist coaches have helped develop the skills of sportsmen since the school moved out from the cramped city centre to a new site in Fallowfield, surrounded by pitches, during the 1930s. However, even before the move south of the city, former pupil Herbert Toft went on to play rugby union for England, and
Robert Crawshaw and Douglas Lowe had won Olympic gold medals in water polo and athletics respectively. Mike Atherton played 115 Tests and captained England Cricketers of note Atherton (Lancashire & England), John Crawley (Lancashire, Hampshire & England), David Green (Lancs & Gloucs), Mark Crawley (Lancs & Notts), Gary Yates (Lancs), Mark Chilton (Lancs), Scott Richardson (Yorks & Leics) Extras Manchester Grammar was founded to provide an education of the highest quality for those who qualified by virtue of their intelligence, regardless of parental background. The school has raised over £25m to ensure that more than 200 pupils receive means-tested bursaries to attend the school. Atherton and Chilton are both patrons of the ongoing fundraising effort, which aims to raise an endowment fund of over £100m to ensure that means-tested bursaries, are available to any boy who would benefit from an MGS education. The school’s commitment to the widest possible social access extends to the school’s sporting ethos. MGS has a philosophy of sport for all
THE PERSE SCHOOL Hills Rd Cambridge CB2 8QF
THE ORATORY SCHOOL
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The Oratory School Woodcote South Oxfordshire RG8 0PJ
Established 1859 Fixtures Eton College, Bradfield College, Reed’s, St Edward’s Oxford Cricket professional Dan Housego (Middlesex & Gloucestershire) Teams 12 Facilities Seven squares, 12 nets, four lanes indoors Club/county affiliation Oxfordshire Brief history The Oratory School was founded at Edgbaston. Games were played in the playground behind the school. In 1873 a sports ground was acquired at Ravenhurst about a mile to the west of the school under the headship of Fr John Norris. Cricket and football were played here and both flourished. The captain of the school and a prominent OS cricketer – an opening bowler - in the late 1880s was John Pius Boland, who later won two gold medals at the Athens Olympics in 1896 for tennis. The headmaster from 1921–1934 was Fr Edward Pereira (OS 1876-85), a county cricketer for Warwickshire – the only Catholic priest ever to play first-class cricket. His school record for throwing the cricket ball (115 yards, 1 foot, 9 inches) still holds good. In 1896, he gave family money to expand the Ravenshurst Grounds and in 1900 to build a new pavilion. This new pavilion was burned down by suffragettes in 1914. This was in retaliation for an incident when a boy sprinkled ink on some suffragettes
meeting outside the school. The fire destroyed many early cricket records and photos. The Oratory took part in an annual cricket match at Lord’s against Beaumont from 1926 to 1968 – this was the only Lord’s fixture between Catholic public schools. When Beaumont was closed down in 1966, the fixture was taken up by Downside against whom the OS had a famous victory in 1967. The 1968 match was a draw and proved to be the final Lord’s match for the school, as the authorities discontinued school fixtures at the ground. In the late 1930s when the school was very small, a team was still fielded. EW Swanton said that he had always had a soft spot for The Oratory. He was the president of the OSCC from 1996–2000. From 2000–2003 it was Sir John Paul Getty and he was succeeded by MJK Smith of England and Warwickshire. Currently Old Oratorian Keith Hornby is president. The 1st XI cricket field, behind the school, was excavated and laid out in 1946/47 “as a tribute to those Old Oratorians who served in the Second World War and in memory of those who gave their lives”. The pavilion was built in 1958 Cricketers of note Steve Tomlinson (Glamorgan), Benny Howell (Hampshire & Gloucestershire), Housego, Michael Roberts (Hampshire) Extras The Oratory has a fantastic ground and views
Established The Perse School was founded in 1615 by the will of Stephen Perse, MD, a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College. It provided for 100 local boys and was first established in Lorteburn Lane, later called Free School Lane Notable fixtures MCC, Cambridge Crusaders, Bedford School, Oundle, Norwich, Haileybury, Ipswich, Stamford Cricket professional Head of Cricket Sean Park, ECB Level III); Jason Coleman (Australia – Parammatta Cricket Club) Teams U12 (A-C), U13 (A-C), U14 (A-C); U15 (A-B), U16, 2nd XI & 1st XI Girls’ cricket Offered 2016 provided the first ever 1st XI girls’ team at the school. The strength of girls’ cricket continues to grow with success at regional levels, particularly at U13 and U15 age groups Facilities Six indoor nets (facility large enough to play indoor cricket tournament for seniors in Lent term). Six outdoor astro nets. Three grounds, with pitches on the upper school, prep school and Abington playing fields off-site Club/county affiliation Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bury St Edmunds CC, Saffron Walden CC, Cambridge Granta CC, Foxton CC Cricketers of note Chris Pepper (Essex Academy) Extras The Perse hosts Cambridgeshire youth fixtures Finest moment on the field In the late 1990s the 1st XI enjoyed a nail-biting tie against much-fancied opponents, Eton
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL Holbrook Ipswich IP9 2RX
THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, WORCESTER Upper Tything Worcester WR1 1HP
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Established 1291 Notable fixtures MCC, all Royal Grammar Schools (RGS Festival), King Edward’s Birmingham, King’s Worcester, Monmouth Cricket professional Phil Newport (Worcestershire & England) Teams 11 – 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB, U13AB,U12AB Girls’ cricket Girls play in boys’ teams; U12 girls’ team started this year with the view to building to all age groups Facilities Five-lane indoor sports hall, 12 outdoor nets, two main grounds at the senior school (four pitches in total) and a 16-acre site at the prep school used mainly for B team matches County affiliation Worcestershire Brief history Cricket has been played at Flagge Meadow for 130 years. Originally teams made up of masters and pupils played matches against local clubs. Then in the early 20th century matches for pupils only were started against Cheltenham Grammar (now Pate’s Grammar), KES Stourbridge, KES Birmingham and Wolverhampton GS. And cricket has flourished since, the highlight of the season now being the RGS Festival involving the six Royal Grammar Schools across the country Cricketers of note Imran Khan (Worcestershire & Pakistan), Tim Curtis (Worcs & England), Dean Headley (Worcs, Kent & England), Paul Bent, Steve McEwan , Chris Eyers, Neil Pinner (all Worcs) James Schofield (Hampshire), Tom Mees, Roy Woodcock, Kevin Griffith Extras Flagge Meadow is now the second ground for Worcestershire should New Road be unfit for first-class cricket, they host 2nd XI and academy matches, ECB county women’s matches as well as many youth fixtures
Established 1712 in Greenwich, London, moving to its current site in 200 acres of Suffolk countryside overlooking the River Stour in 1933 Notable fixtures 1st XI v MCC, XL Club and touring size from New Zealand (Mount Albert Grammar); U15 English Schools Cup v Haberdashers’ Aske’s; Minor Counties Festivals U11 and U12 Cricket professional Graham Napier (Essex) Teams 15 age groups – 1st, 2nd 3rd and A B and C for U15, U14, U13 and U12. Girls’ cricket Introduced last year and growing, particularly at U13 and U15 Facilities Six grounds, two pavilions, six grass nets, four indoor nets and bowling machine, strength and conditioning gym, fitness suite and indoor pool Club/county affiliation Essex CC Brief history Today the school is an HMC boarding and day school for more than 300 boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years, but it still continues to provide support for seafaring families. Cricket has grown in reputation under the expert mentoring of Don Topley, formerly Essex CCC and Zimbabwe coach, for 23 years. He has now handed over the reins to Graham Napier, who joined full time in September Cricketers of note Don Topley and
Reece Topley. The latter had played for Essex representative sides since the age of nine, but immediately after his England debut in a T20I against Australia in 2015 he announced he was on his way. At 21, his childhood county lacked, in his eyes, the ambition to sustain him, comfortable with Division Two of the Championship and unable to turn its excellent wins ratio in the limited-overs game into trophies. Topley headed for Hampshire, whose success in the limited-overs game was undeniable. As a tall left-armer with an ability to swing the ball at a decent lick, his appeal was obvious Extras Graham Napier Cricket Academy with the aim of establishing a high-profile centre of cricketing excellence which develops young cricketers to fulfil their potential as well as promoting participation at all levels and at all ages Finest moment on the field U15 tour to Sri Lanka in 2009 to visit partner schools. The tsunami of December 2004 killed more than 40,000 people in Sri Lanka and devastated the southern coastal areas of the island. This spurred RHS to do something meaningful to help by supporting a school building project in the tsunami-ravaged region
Graham Napier Cricket professional
TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
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London Rd Tonbridge TN10 3AD Established 1553 Notable fixtures Cowdrey Cup – Eton, Harrow, Wellington, Radley, Charterhouse. Annual cricket festival with Millfield and two touring sides – King’s Parramatta (Australia) and St David’s (South Africa) in 2016, St Andrew’s (South Africa) and Newington (Australia) in 2017 Cricket professionals Ian Baldock and Mark Dekker Number of teams U16ABC, U15ABCD, U14ABCDEF. 230 boys, 19 teams, 172 competitive fixtures in 2016 plus three fully fledged house cricket competitions. They are extremely proud of the number of boys they turn out on a Saturday and believe the are not far off unique in terms of being able to do so. All their teams have a member of teaching staff in charge, meaning that cricket is tied almost inextricably to the life of the school, and to the boys’ wider education and development,
Patrick Sadler Head of cricket regardless of talent or ability level Facilities Seven grass squares, two astro wickets, 15 grass nets, 10 artificial nets, five indoor nets Club/county affiliation Close links with Kent – three players in academy and one academy graduate recently signed professional (Zak Crawley, 2016 1st XI captain), provide Kent U13 coach and assistant coach. Close links with local clubs to ensure a life in the game after school – Tunbridge Wells CC, Sevenoaks Vine CC, Holmesdale CC in particular Cricketers of note Professionals produced, including seven England players among 67 firstclass cricketers, with 49 county cricketers. John Hartley, Ken Hutchings, Colin Cowdrey, Roger Prideaux, Chris Cowdrey, Richard Ellison and Ed Smith. Current county players include Fabian Cowdrey and Zak Crawley (Kent). The annual old boys match has
been renamed the KL Hutchings memorial match. His finest hour came as he went on the England tour of Australia in 1907/08. He nade 126 and 39 at Melbourne in the second Test Extras The school believes the all-round package they provide is what sets them apart. They offer an almost unique combination of high-performance cricket at the top end, and mass participation at the bottom, and the lack of sixth-form entrants allows boys to follow a pathway through the age groups in to the 1st XI. Their 1st XI ground, ‘the Head’, is renowned both locally and nationally, and having first been levelled for cricket in 1838 has been used ever since. They have had 67 first-class cricketers and seven Test players, have won the old boys’ cricket tournament more than twice as many times as any other school and have also been in the losing finalists more than any other school. They have won the Lord’s Taverners’ Kent Schools trophy nine out of the last 10 years. They have two Kent staff members (Cowdrey and Crawley) and four Kent Academy members. Finally, they have beaten Eton seven years in a row Finest moment on the field Multiple contenders for the title – Tonbridge won the Lord’s Taverners Kent Cup nine out of the last 10 seasons. Won The Cricketer Cup and been second more times than any other school, and the only side to win it three times in a row (2002–04). Annual fixture against Clifton College at Lord’s between 1914 and 1967 – a fixture proudly reinstated in 2014 as part of the Lord’s 200 bicentenary celebrations Cultural cricketers Tim Rice-Oxley of the band Keane was in the 1994 1st XI. Sir Herbert Baker, Imperial and Commonwealth War Graves architect, captained the 1st XI in 1880 and 1881 thecricketer.com | 57
TOP 100 SCHOOLS
TRENT COLLEGE Derby Road Long Eaton Nottingham NG10 4AD
Established In 1868, and two cricket matches were recorded the next year Notable fixtures MCC, strong circuit including Oakham, Uppingham, Rugby, plus Derbyshire U17 Cricket professional Paul Johnson, plus Chris Read (Notts & England) during the winter Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U15 ABC, U14 ABCD, U13 ABCD, U12 ABCDE Girls’ cricket At U13, U15, U18 level Facilities Four indoor lanes, 11 grass nets, four grounds plus junior Club/county affiliation Strong links with Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire Brief history Trent had a top side by 1872, although it included five teachers. The star was Holyoake who took 68 wickets for 276 runs Professional cricketers Russell Cobb (Leics), Noël Gie (Notts), Ben Spendlove (Derbyshire), Akhil Patel (Notts & Derbyshire) Shane Julien. Simon Webster, Michael Tilcock, Connor Marshall and Tim Wyatt on Notts’ books Extras Notts and Derbyshire 2nd XIs play at Trent College
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TRINITY SCHOOL Shirley Park Croydon CR9 7AT Established 1596 Notable fixtures Whitgift, Hampton, King’s Canterbury, KCS Wimbledon, Brighton College, Eastbourne College Cricket professional Ian Salisbury (Surrey and England) Teams Twenty Girls’ cricket Trinity has just become co-educational in the sixth form and have just had their first female represent the school 1st XI Facilities Four cricket squares, four astro turf nets, three grass nets, three roll-on cages, two indoor sports halls with the main hall having five nets, fitness suit and a strength and conditioning gym Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history Old Mid-Whitgiftians CC was formed in 1908. In 1930 the 1st XI recorded 10 wins, four draws and two losses. In 1966 the first fixture was played on the new site at Shirley Park against Alleyn’s. In 1987 Mark Butcher scored 152 and took 9 for 17 including a hat-trick against Alleyn’s, averaging 152 with the bat that year. In the 1990s Trinity dominated school cricket in the
area, with Richard Nowell scoring 4,250 runs and taking 232 wickets. The 1st XI recorded six undefeated seasons within this period. Between 1992-96 Trinity 1st XI played 102 fixtures, losing only five fixtures. In 2013 the under-11s became Surrey eight-a-side champions, South of England champions and were sixth on National Finals Day. In 2014 the under12s became Surrey county champions for the 1st time. The following year the 1st XI reached the London and South-East T20 semi-finals, the under-15s became Surrey T20 winners, the under-12s were county champions and the under-13s reached the South of England semis Cricketers of note Mark Butcher (Surrey & England), Gary Butcher (Surrey & Glamorgan), Scott Newman (Surrey, Middlesex & Kent) Extras Salisbury is an ECB Level IV coach, England U17 and U19 spin coach and England disability coach. He works with two other Level III coaches. Trinity believe this is the best possible coaching boys can receive. Trinity offers sports scholarships for cricketers
UPPINGHAM SCHOOL High Street West Uppingham LE15
Established 1584 Notable fixtures MCC, Repton, Haileybury, Shrewsbury, Rugby and Oundle Cricket professional? Trevor Ward (Kent & Leicestershire) Teams U18ABC, U16AB, U15ABC, U14ABCD Girls’ cricket An Uppingham girls’ team played twice in 2016. One girl plays for the U15A team
Facilities Seven pitches, 20 grass nets, five indoor nets Club/county affiliation Leicestershire Brief history There is a strong sporting tradition at Uppingham, which has been enchanced by the new Sports Centre, opened by Lord Coe in 2011. Cricket tours take place regularly and 15 boys toured India in 2013 over a 13-day period Professional cricketers Shiv Thakor (Leicestershire & Derbyshire), Jonathan Agnew, James Whitaker (both Leicestershire & England), Percy Chapman (Kent & England) Extras The Upper is one of the finest grounds in the country. Several of the school’s fixtures are more than 100 years old
Simon Francis Cricket professional
WARWICK SCHOOL Myton Road Warwick CV34 6PP
Established Warwick School is a leading independent day and boarding school for boys aged 7-18, dating back to 914 Notable fixtures MCC, Rugby, Woodhouse Grove, Oakham, King Edward’s Birmingham Cricket professional Simon Francis (Hampshire, Somerset, Nottinghamshire & England A), Geoff Tedstone (Warwickshire) Teams 15 (U12ABC, U13ABC, U14ABC,
U15ABC, 3rd XI, 2nd XI, 1st XI Facilities Three grass squares, one temporary grass square, two artificial wickets, four indoor lanes, three fully enclosed artificial nets, two mobile cages, four low-grade open artificial nets Club/county affiliation Warwickshire Brief history Warwick School is a leading independent day and boarding school for boys aged 7–18, dating back to 914, making it one of the oldest boys’ schools in the
country. Set in 50 acres, Warwick School is located adjacent to the River Avon, within Warwick town, just 10 minutes’ walk from the train station. Warwick School has a great extra-curricular programme with extensive sporting facilities available to the students, with national success achieved in many different sports alongside successes in numerous academic fields Cricketers of note Neil Smith (England & Warwickshire), Gordon Lord (Worcestershire), Geoff Tedstone (Warwickshire & Gloucestershire), Gary Montgomery (Lancashire), Charlie Mulraine and Huw Jones (both Warwickshire) Extras One of the most stunning modern pavilions in Warwickshire for watching cricket on the school’s 1st XI oval. Warwick continue to challenge the top cricket schools regionally without sports scholars Finest moment on the field In 2013 the under-13s came second in the National Bunbury Cup. The same year group then reached the U15 Midlands final in limitedovers cricket, and Midlands semi-finals in the National T20 Cup Cultural cricketers Dan Dalton, Conservative MEP, attended the school 1987–92 and played for the Warwickshire Cricket Board; High Court judge The Hon Sir David Foskett, was at Warwick 1956–67; Chris Guyver, MCC Committee, attended the school 1969–80
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TOP 100 SCHOOLS
WELLINGBOROUGH SCHOOL London Road Wellingborough NN8 2BX Established 1595 Notable fixtures MCC, XL Club, Oakham, Oundle Cricket professional David Sales (Northamptonshire & England A) Teams U14A, U14B, U15A, U15B, 2nd XI & 1st XI Girls’ cricket In the prep school. Wellingborough hope this will filter up into the senior school Facilities Two indoor nets in the sports hall (to become four this winter). Seven artificial nets, which will be added to with at least five more this winter. Four cricket squares for practice and match days Club/county affiliation Northants CCC is less than 10 miles away and the school enjoys positive links Brief history Wellingborough was the founding fixture of the XL Club back in 1936. WG Grace’s doorstep from his Bristol home adorns the bottom of the steps of their thatched pavilion on the 1st XI square known as The Grove Cricketers of note Paul Coverdale (Northamptonshire). The school’s 2012 and 2013 captain Charlie Macdonell
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scored a century for Durham MCCU against Warwickshire as a first-year student, and later scored a century against Gloucestershire. He has had offers from three first-class counties Extras Ian Botham scored one of his finest hundreds (175 not out) in a one-day game for Somerset against Northants at The Grove. Len Hutton also scored 269 not out for Yorkshire against Northants in 1949. Wellingborough are one of very few schools to still have a traditional thatched pavilion. Wellingborough is a relatively small school with approximately 240 boys, yet are competitive. Voted East Midlands School of the Year for 2014/15 based on performance and match-day hospitality Finest moment on the field They reached the last four of the HMC T20 competition in 2009. An unbeaten season for the 1st XI in 2013 also ranks highly, as well as Emily Ablitt captaining the 1st XI in a match to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the XL Club’s inaugural game in 2011
WELLINGTON COLLEGE Duke’s Ride Crowthorne RG45 7PU Established? 1859 Notable fixtures MCC, Eton, Harrow, Tonbridge, Radley and Charterhouse in The Cowdrey Cup. The BOWS Festival with Brighton, Oakham and Sedbergh. A two-day fixture with Malvern. Overseas tour every two years Cricket professional Dan Pratt Number of teams Four seniors teams, three U16s, four U15s, five U14s Girls’ cricket Six to eight games a season, and will begin a girls’ festival from 2017 Facilities Nine grounds, 15 grass nets, 14 artificial nets, five indoor nets and a new purpose built indoor school is in the late stages of planning Club/county affiliation Surrey and Berkshire History Cricket has always been the summer boys’ sport since 1874. Cricket at Wellington was firmly placed on the public schools map from 1880 onwards, largely due to the efforts and talent of Prince Christian Victor, after whom the college bowling prize is awarded Cricketers of note Ed Young (Surrey & Gloucs), Tom Curran, Sam Curran (both Surrey) Extras Wooden pavilion from 1861–1901 before being demolished due to damage caused by rats. New pavilion opened as replacement, refurbished and painted pink in 1994. A handful of Wellingtonians have played Test but none since 1930, when Maurice Allom took four wickets in five balls in the first Test played by New Zealand, and when FT Badcock, another Old Wellingtonian, bagged a king pair on debut Cultural cricketers Will Young, Christopher Lee and Rory Bremner attended the school
WHITGIFT SCHOOL Haling Park South Croydon CR2 6YT
WELLINGTON SCHOOL Wellington Somerset TA21 8NT Established 1837 Notable fixtures Blundell’s School, Queen’s College, Plymouth College, Exeter University 2nd XI, Somerset U17, Wales U15 and Cornwall U17 Cricket professional Steffan Jones (Somerset & Gloucs), Paul ‘Sid’ Lawrence and Caroline Foster (née Atkins) Teams Nine boys’ cricket teams and two girls’ teams, 11 teams in total. They have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Colts (U15) A, B and C, Junior Colts (U13) A, B and C Girls’ cricket Run by former England opener Atkins. Two girls’ teams with some of the girls playing in the boys’ teams Facilities Four indoor lanes with excellent lighting and enough room for any fast bowler to fit a full run up in; nine grass outdoor nets; four all-grass pitches Club/county affiliation Across the West Country – Somerset, Devon and Cornwall Brief history A small school that has made massive improvements over the last three years. Wellington have a fantastic cricket programme in place that is second to none; as a result the quality of cricketer across the board that is being produced at the school is improving year on year. This year they have 16 players from the school being represented at county level Extras An outstanding total of 16 Wellington senior school pupils have been selected to represent their county’s age-group teams. They hold Somerset girls’ winter district training programme and some of the Somerset girls’ county age-group matches
Established 1596 Notable fixtures Harrow, Wellington College, Cranleigh, Tonbridge Cricket professionals? Neil Kendrick, David Ward (both Surrey) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15ABC, U14ABCDE; U13ABCDE, U12ABCDE, U11AB Facilities Five pitches and six indoor lanes with 25m bowler run-up Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history Whitgift, a leading day and boarding independent school for boys aged 10–18, was founded in 1596 by John Whitgift, Elizabeth I’s last Archbishop of Canterbury, and opened in 1600, making it Croydon’s oldest school. The headmaster, Dr Christopher Barnett, is the 26th in the school’s history. Haling Park, to which the school moved in 1931, was at one time the home of Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral of the Fleet sent against the Armada, and it retains the appearance of an attractive country estate. Whitgift’s state-of-the-art boarding house was
opened in 2013, by the School’s patron, HRH The Duke of York, KG. The first recorded match held on the school ground occurred in 1898 when the school played University College School. Since 2000, the school has hosted several first-class and List A Surrey matches. Its maiden first-class match was when Surrey played against Nottinghamshire and, from 2003 to 2011, Whitgift hosted no fewer than nine firstclass matches. It has also hosted 13 List A fixtures between 2000 and 2011 Cricketers of note Raman Subba Row (Surrey, Northants & England), Jason Roy, Tom Lancefield, Freddie van den Bergh, Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley (all Surrey), Matthew Spriegel (Surrey & Northants), Laurie Evans (Surrey & Warks) Extras 12 years of T20, 50-over and fourday festival cricket hosted here by Surrey Finest moment on the cricket field Shane Warne taking 5 for 12 for Hampshire against Surrey in 2006 Cultural cricketers England rugby star Danny Cipriani
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The Manchester Grammar School A true adventure for boys with enquiring minds For your personal tour of MGS, request an appointment with our Director of Admissions, Michael Strother.
matter One of the leading academic schools in the UK for boys aged 7-18 27 Oxford and Cambridge offers 19 Durham offers 80 London offers (including LSE, UCL, KCL and Imperial) For further information contact Kath Heathcote 0161 224 7201 Ext 234 or k.heathcote@mgs.org
MGS.org @MGSmagic
The King’s School in Macclesfield
Independent education for 3 to 18 year olds
• • • • •
Rated ‘excellent’ in all aspects in ISI inspection Inspirational teaching from Pre-School to Sixth Form One of the top performing independent schools in 2016 A huge range of extra-curricular activities Bursaries and Scholarships available
The King’s School in Macclesfield - 01625 260000
WILSON’S SCHOOL Mollison Drive Wallington SM6 9JW
WINCHESTER COLLEGE College Street Winchester Hampshire SO23 9NA
Established 1615 Notable fixtures MCC, Whitgift, Epsom College, Trinity, City of London Freemans, Tiffin, Reigate Grammar, KCS Wimbledon, RGS Guildford Cricket professional Chris Bullen (Surrey) Teams 13 – 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15A, U15B, U14AB, U13ABC, U12ABCD Facilities There are two indoor nets at the school plus two indoor nets used at the Change Foundation ground, five outdoor non-turf practice nets, one grass square plus one non-turf match pitch. The school has a partnership with Cheam CC where 1st X1 matches are played and also uses grass pitches for younger age groups at the nearby Wallington Sports Ground. Use of grass wicket at Cricket for Change Ground near the school Club/county affiliation Surrey Brief history Wilson’s run a strong Saturday and midweek fixture list with more than 150 matches throughout the season, with a notable 1st XI Established William of Wykeham started building in 1382, and we opened in 1394. Notable fixtures MCC, Eton, Harrow, Radley, Bradfield, Charterhouse Cricket professional Paul Gover – once on the staff at Hampshire, a former England Under-19 (but no relation of the legendary coach Alf Gover) Teams 13 Facilities A sports hall with four nets,
fixture against the MCC. Many boys have represented Surrey at junior age groups, and many ex-pupils figure in 1st XIs in the Surrey Championship Leagues. The school runs biennial tours, including Dubai and Barbados in recent destinations. They maintain a strong link with the Old Wilsonians CC, in the Kent County Leagues Cricketers of note Neil Kendrick (Surrey) Extras Wilson’s provides exceptional cricket provision for state pupils in a private-dominated area. Over the
course of the season the spilt of these fixtures is close to 50 per cent state school and 50 per cent private schools. This offers our pupils a good range of fixtures and opportunities. Each team (A and B in each age group) trains in their games afternoon (unless they have a game) and once after school. They are seeking to push the cricket on even further, with the recent employment of head coach Bullen, a former county player, and further Surrey Cricket Board coaches John Fry, Andy Iga and Ian Yull
11 artificial nets outside, seven pitches – including a walled ground, replete with in-boundary trees, the Meads, perhaps the most beautiful 2nd XI pitch in the country Club/county affiliation Hampshire (a number of Hampshire’s coaching staff of recent vintage, including the current director of cricket, Giles White, have coached at the college Brief history Cricket in some form was played at Winchester from the 17th century. The first inter-school match was in 1825 and the first recorded game against Eton was in 1826. Winchester played annual matches at Lord’s against Eton and Harrow from 1826 to 1854. Today, the school 1st XI is still known as Lord’s XI . The earliest recorded match played at Winchester College was is 1776 between College and Commoners, but the earliest match for which they have a score is College vs Commoners in 1825. College refers to the scholars’ boarding house, Commoners to later boarding houses Cricketers of note Douglas Jardine, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Hubert Doggart, JR Mason, JC Clay, HD Reed, J Shuter, Sir Henry Leveson-Gower, AJ Evans and
DCH Townsend were all Old Wykehamist Test players and are commemorated in the pavilion, Hunter Tent. Away teams, including Australian touring sides, lunch under the portrait of Jardine, captain on the Bodyline tour of 1932/33 Extras The matches against Eton and Harrow were played at Lord’s but Winchester were reputedly banned for 100 years for an incident which resulted in a fire being started in one of the stands. Hampshire played one first-class game at the college, against Kent in 1875 Finest moment on the field Perhaps the 2009 and 2010 seasons, with 15 and 14 wins respectively. Last year, DA Escott broke the Nawab of Pataudi’s season aggregate record, totalling 1,096 Cultural cricketers Willie Whitelaw (Tory home secretary); Tim Brooke-Taylor (actor) thecricketer.com | 63
WOODHOUSE GROVE SCHOOL Apperley Lane Bradford BD10 0NR
WORKSOP COLLEGE Sparken Hill Worksop S80 3AP
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Established 1812 Notable fixtures MCC, Manchester GS, St Peter’s York, Durham, Ampleforth College, Lancaster RGS, GSAL, Warwick, QEGS Wakefield, Bradford GS, Stockport GS, Ashville College Cricket professional Arnie Sidebottom (Yorkshire & England) Teams U12, U13, U14, U15, 2nd, 1st. Plus a dedicated cricket programme at Bronte House, the junior school Girls’ cricket Kathryn Leng was a pioneer for girls playing with and against boys in HMC cricket on the Northern circuit and she went on to represent England Ladies from
1994–2000. Current player Rebecca Newark is a member of the Yorkshire Women’s 1st XI Facilities Set in the heart of the Aire Valley they have four grass pitches, six artificial practice nets and one artificial pitch. Purpose-built sports centre includes four indoor nets Club/county affiliation Yorkshire Cricket Board – they regularly welcome Yorkshire and England players to our cricket presentation evenings and sports dinners. Master in charge Ian Frost is also manager of the Yorkshire Under-19s Brief history Cricket at Woodhouse Grove has grown significantly over the past 30 years and the fixture list now includes top cricket-playing schools in the north. The school has undertaken overseas tours since 1998 in Zimbabwe. In March 2016
the 1st and 2nd XI squads enjoyed a successful tour Grenada and St Lucia. They enjoyed their most successful summer in 2014 when the 1st XI won all 18 fixtures and became the first northern school to win the National Schools T20. Captain Dylan Budge received the Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year award for 2014. The school were also North of England T20 finalists in 2012 and 2015 Cricketers of note Craig Rika (Northants), Andrew Bairstow (Derbyshire), Uzair Mahomed (Durham), Ajmal Shahzad (England), Dalton Polius and Larry Edward (Windward Islands), Dylan Budge (Durham & Scotland A) Extras U14 Lords Taverners: Yorkshire Champions – 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 (runners up). U15 T20: Yorkshire champions 2011, 2013
SPECIAL MENTIONS The following schools committed time and effort to being part of what was an exhaustive list of cricketing schools. On this occasion they did not make the top 100 but are all strong ambassadors for the game, worthy of mention or inclusion another year
Established 1890 Notable fixtures MCC, Shrewsbury pre-season festival – Millfield, Shrewsbury, Worcestershire Academy, Notts U17, Leics U17, Lincs U19 Director of cricket Neil Longhurst (Yorkshire 2nd XI & Cumberland), Ian Parkin (Derbyshire 2nd XI) Teams Six (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 15A, 14A, Colts) – this has now been expanded to eight or nine teams with the inclusion of years 7 and 8 from September Girls’ cricket Individuals are integrated into the boys’ teams Facilities Four pitches, four-lane indoor
school, 18 lanes of outdoor grass nets across the campus Club/county affiliation Strong link with Nottinghamshire, through academy director Chris Tolley, and EPP director Matt Wood. Link with Notts CCC, their academy and the EPP allows them to act as a satellite point for boys to have further training with Notts Academy coaches, hosted at Worksop College. They have hosted Notts 2nd XI fixtures, along with the county age-group fixtures; the junior sides also playing against the equivalent county age-group team Brief history The school has a fine tradition of cricket played in its 300-acre grounds. Joe Root is a famous son Cricketers of note Joe Root (Yorkshire & England), Samit Patel (Notts & England), Richard Kettleborough (Yorkshire & Middlesex), Phil Sharpe (Yorkshire & England), Brett Hutton (Notts), Billy Root (Notts) Extras Worksop College is a small school in relative terms, but its cricketing prowess stands up there with the big boys – a real David v Goliath Finest moment on the field The 1st XI completed an unbeaten season on their regular fixture card in 2008, and reached the last eight of the National T20
Bancroft’s School, Bloxham School, Cheadle Hulme School, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School, Christ’s Hospital, City of London Freemen’s School, Colchester Royal Grammar School, Dollar Academy, Downside School, Elizabeth College Guernsey, Ellesmere College, Eltham College, Fettes College, Glenalmond College, Gordonstoun School, Gresham’s School, Hampshire Collegiate School, Ipswich School, Kimbolton School, Kind Edward’s School Birmingham, King’s School Chester, Kingswood School Bath, Kirkham Grammar School, Loughborough Grammar School, Monkton Combe School, Monmouth School, Norwich School, Pocklington School, Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital Bristol, Ratcliffe College, Reading Blue Coat School, Reigate Grammar School, Rydal Penrhos, Shiplake College, Simon Langton Grammar School, St Albans School, The Edinburgh Academy, The Glasgow Academy, The Grammar School at Leeds, The High School of Glasgow, The John Lyon School, Tiffin School, University College School, West Buckland School, Westminster School, Wolverhampton Grammar School, Woodbridge School, Worth School, Wycliffe College
GETTY IMAGES
TOP 100 SCHOOLS
THE TOP 100 SCHOOLS 1 Aldenham School 2 Ampleforth College 3 Bede’s School 4 Bedford Modern School 5 Bedford School 6 Bishop’s Stortford College 7 Blundell’s School 8 Bradfield College 9 Bradford Grammar School 10 Brentwood School 11 Brighton College 12 Bristol Grammar School 13 Bromsgrove School 14 Canford School 15 Charterhouse School 16 Cheltenham College 17 Clayesmore School 18 Clifton College 19 Cranleigh School 20 Dauntsey’s School 21 Denstone College 22 Dr Challoner’s Grammar School 23 Dulwich College 24 Durham School 25 Eastbourne College 26 Emanuel School 27 Epsom College 28 Eton College 29 Felsted School 30 Forest School 31 Framlingham College 32 George Watson’s College 33 Haberdashers’ Aske’s 34 Haileybury 35 Hampton School 36 Harrow School 37 Hurstpierpoint College 38 Hymers College 39 King’s College, Taunton 40 King’s College School 41 Lancaster Royal Grammar School 42 Lancing College 43 Leicester Grammar School 44 Lord Wandsworth College 45 Loretto School 46 Magdalen College School, Oxford 47 Malvern College 48 Marlborough College 49 Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood 50 Millfield 51 New Hall School 52 Nottingham High School
53 Oakham School 54 Ormskirk School 55 Oundle School 56 Portsmouth Grammar School 57 Prince Henry’s High School 58 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield 59 Queen’s College, Taunton 60 Radley College 61 Reed’s School 62 Repton School 63 Royal Grammar School, Guildford 64 Rugby School 65 Sedbergh School 66 Sevenoaks School 67 Shenfield High School 68 Sherborne School 69 Shrewsbury School 70 St Edward’s School, Oxford 71 St John’s School, Leatherhead 72 St Paul’s School 73 St Peter’s School, York 74 Stamford School 75 Stewart’s Melville College 76 Stowe School 77 Taunton School 78 The John Fisher School 79 The Judd School 80 The King’s School in Macclesfield 81 The King’s School, Canterbury 82 The Leys School 83 The Manchester Grammar School 84 The Oratory School 85 The Perse School 86 The Royal Grammar School, Worcester 87 The Royal Hospital School 88 Tonbridge School 89 Trent College 90 Trinity School 91 Uppingham School 92 Warwick School 93 Wellingborough School 94 Wellington College 95 Wellington School 96 Whitgift School 97 Wilson’s School 98 Winchester College 99 Woodhouse Grove School 100 Worksop College
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