TOP 50 PREP/JUNIOR SCHOOLS SALISBURY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL 1 The Close Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2EQ
Established 1091 Number of pupils 250 Director of sport James Kaminski Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U11A, U10A, U9 and U8 (Boys) 1st, 2nd, U11A, U11B, U10A, U10B, U9 and U8 (Girls) Girls’ cricket Is really beginning to develop and the school are going to make it the main summer term sport for girls next year. Historically the school has played it alongside rounders, but cricket is far more popular now Club/county affiliation Wiltshire,
SHERBORNE PREP SCHOOL Acreman Street Sherborne Dorset DT9 3NY Established 1858 Number of pupils 260 Notable fixtures Port Regis, Hazlegrove, King’s Hall Cricket professional Matt Pardoe (Worcestershire) is seconded from the senior school Teams Nine boys teams and Sherborne Prep have recently
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SALISBURY CAT HEDERAL SCHOOL // SHERBORNE PREP SCHOOL
Hampshire, South Wiltshire CC Facilities Three pitches, with the historic Salisbury Cathedral spire providing a glorious setting, three grass nets, three astroturf pitches and an indoor gym facility. Brief history Despite the strong musical background, sport is very much at the heart of the school. Salisbury Cathedral School is set in a glorious setting and arguably one of the best places to play prep cricket, with the cathedral providing a stunning backdrop. Founded in 1091, the school is steeped in history and cricket has been played for 927 years. Cricket is started at Reception through to Year 8 allowing pupils the chance to hone their skills at the earliest possible opportunity Future plans There are plans to improve the astroturf. Growth in girls’ cricket and making it the main
summer sport next year. Outreach to primary schools and to offer bursaries and sport scholarships Cultural cricketers Conservative MPs Robert Key and Michael Mates
started fielding mixed boys and girls, U8 and U9 teams. U10–U13 teams play 10 or 11 games, the U8– U9s play seven or eight Girls’ cricket Eight girls teams, including mixed cricket at the bottom of the school Club/county affiliation Dorset, Sherborne CC and Compton House CC Facilities Use of the sports hall throughout winter. Five pitches and three grass nets at school, and also use 10 nets at Sherborne Boys’ School and play one home game a week there. The 1st XI are fortunate to be able to use the The Upper, the (main square), at Sherborne Boys
for their home games Cricketers of note No professional cricketers alas in recent times, though Ralph Dorey came close. Last mention of his cricketing abilities was of him hitting the winning six over long on in the West Indies playing for a representative side. He regularly hit sixes out of the Lower Paddock and down the road or on to the flat roof of Westcott House (International College) Future plans In the process of redeveloping the sports hall and will benefit from a brand-new sports hall at the senior school. They will be able to host two indoor cricket
James Kaminski Director of sport
games simultaneously in their newbuild, and so the prep are hoping to have a winter programme of indoor cricket implemented in the next few years. A new bay of astroturf wickets is also in the pipeline Finest moment on the field Alex Cochrane-Dyet scored a doublehundred on the Lower Paddock a few summers ago and Dorey asked the then 1st XI coach if they could go and watch Somerset play if they knocked off the Pyrland Hall (now King’s Hall) total of 170-plus in under an hour. He did and they did! Extras The headmaster is former Somerset and Devon player Nick Folland. The school were fortunate to also have Richard Pyman (Dorset and Cambridge Blue) as a Latin master and cricket coach. Laura Harper (England Women) works with junior players alongside several other keen staff including Jeremy Acton who has coached prep 1st XI cricket and Huw Thomas who has worked with Senior 1st XI’s at Blundell’s and Glenalmond. Sherborne also provide regular cricket for every pupil, boy or girl Cultural cricketers On one notable occasion the Rev Andrew Wingfield Digby, one time Chaplain to the England team, conducted a service in the Boys’ School Chapel for the prep which involved him bowling a cricket ball down the aisle to one of the boys Sherbourne School: p56
