King Edward VI School named as one of the Top 100 schools for cricket in the country
We’re delighted to have been listed as one of the Top 100 cricket schools, by The Cricketer Magazine in their School Guide 2022. King Edward’s selection was based on our commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programme, coaching and the way in which we kept the game alive during the pandemic.
At King Edward’s, cricket forms one of our core sports and is taught in the Spring and Summer Terms. With fifteen boys’ teams and thirteen girls’ teams and there are approximately 120 fixtures per Summer Term, as well as pre-season training across all age groups and teams. A number of our players also play club cricket and some have gained selection to county squads. Our students benefit from some of the best facilities in the region, including our Wellington Sports Ground, which provides 33 acres of levelled playing fields which allows seven games to simultaneously play on high-class wickets.
We are also the official Education Partner for Hampshire County Cricket Club, allowing staff and students to access and benefit from the resources at Hampshire CCC, the Southern Vipers previously and now the Southern Brave in the new Hundred competition. The indoor nets at King Edward’s are used by the MCC Foundation for their Southampton Hub as well as a number of local cricket clubs for their pre-season training. In addition, we are also host venue for the Wicketz programme, the charitable arm of the Lord’s Taverners aimed at providing cricketing opportunities for young people in deprived areas.
Since leaving the school, several former students have continued in cricket, including Joe Weatherley, current Hampshire CCC player and ex England U19 captain in 2015, Iain Brunnschweiler the former right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper for Hampshire between 2000 and 2003 and more recently Jovan Dhariwal who gained a ‘blue’ at Cambridge in his first year.
Alex Penn, Head of Cricket, commented ‘Cricket at King Edward’s has gone from strength to strength. A personal highlight has been the launch of girls’ cricket in 2019 and seeing the quality and engagement through our girls representing the School’.
Looking forward to the return of Cricket in 2022, students will be coached by Alex Penn, Hampshire CCC coaches, Joe Weatherldey (OE) for the boys and Amara Carr (Sunrisers CC and London Pulse Player) for the girls.
