Over February half term a squad of U14 and U15 cricketers toured Cape Town in South Africa. It proved to be a trip of a life-time, with some fantastic games of cricket interspersed with cultural highlights and amazing scenery.
Two teams competed against the following opposition: Bishop’s Diocesan School, Boland Landbou High School, Wynberg Boys’ High School, Pineland High School, Bridge House School, Hoer Landbouskool Oakdale and Boland Cricket Club at Paarl Cricket. The teams acquitted themselves extremely well on the field, and with the A team winning 4 out of their 6 matches, including a trilling victory against Bishop’s on the final day of the tour. In between the cricket, the teams explored the highlights of Cape Town, including taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, exploring Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years and visiting Camps Bay. A mid tour break to a game lodge in the Western Cape, fortunately avoided any Noosa-style antics, and saw the players encountering the ‘Big-Five’ close up. The players are now in good shape ahead of the English summer with pre-season opening matches against Esher Cricket Club before facing Brighton College on the first Saturday of the summer term.
Meanwhile the 1st XI return to Desert Springs in Spain for the third year in a row at Easter to compete in the Hundred Ball pre-season competition. The team contains a host of players in county academy pathways including Fergus de Mestre (Surrey), Ranvir Puri (Leicestershire), Vishnu Datla (Hampshire), Tamash Raaj (Kent) and Yash Dashmana (Surrey). The former Leicestershire captain, Nigel Briers, returns for the 11th year as 1st XI coach.
