Chronicle 687

64 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Cricket By Ed Ellis, Head of Cricket

JJ Kane, Tino Mutekwa, Bertie Gowen, Alex Corbett and Barney Villiers

Northam, Suri Shah, Barney Villiers, Pasca Mutekwa and Ed Adnitt fifties. Henry Myers took a five-wicket haul and Suri Shah, Ollie Rogers, Zac Hartley and Torin Togher three wicket hauls. A huge thank you to all the Teddies staff who made this incredible tour possible: Mr Morgan, Mr Bond, Mrs Gowen, Mr Simpkins, and Ms Law. We’re also deeply grateful to the amazing Sri Lankan team who looked after us throughout, including our brilliant tour leaders and bus drivers. Following the return from Sri Lanka, the Cricket Club wasted no time getting back into action, launching into an intensive pre-season programme. Spanning five days and involving over 70 pupils from across all year groups, much of the training took place on-site but both 1st XI squads were lucky to benefit from a day at the iconic Wormsley Cricket Ground. Across the pre-season period, we played 13 fixtures against a range of strong opponents including Wellington, Bloxham and Portsmouth Grammar School. A standout moment of the week was the return of the DDB XI for our annual fixture – a tightly contested game which saw the old boys narrowly edge out the

shown by the local people who helped make this experience so special. The Boys’ 2nd XI went unbeaten with five wins from five matches. Henry Myers took 13 wickets and Eliot Northam scored 160 runs at an average of 35. The team improved enormously from the first to last game and their dramatic final match saw them win by 7 runs, taking the last 5 wickets for just 15 runs. The Girls’ 1st XI won half their fixtures with a balanced squad made up of younger players and four Sixth Formers. Aimee Diab scored 207 runs at 3 and Suri Shah 70 runs and a 4-wicket haul in the opening game. A nail-biting 1-run loss in the final fixture capped a brilliant tour. The Boys’ 1st XI came away with four wins from five games with Alex Corbett scoring 277 runs at an average of 69. There were strong performances across the board, with players stepping up and seizing opportunities. Jimmy Cecil, Ed Adnitt and Oscar Danby made their debut for the 1st XI. There were plenty of individual achievements to celebrate on tour with Alex Corbett and Tino Mutekwa scoring centuries, Aimee Diab and Alex Corbett each scoring two fifties and Elliot

Our 2025 cricket season started during February’s Exeat when, for the first time ever, both boys’ and girls’ teams took part in a combined cricket tour of Sri Lanka, spending 11 action-packed days exploring this incredible country. From start to finish, the tour was full of unforgettable experiences, cultural immersion, and competitive cricket. The journey began with a climb to see the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya at sunrise – a breathtaking start to the adventure. This was followed by an elephant safari where we had the amazing chance to see these majestic animals up close. We travelled to Kandy, visiting a tea factory and the famous Temple of the Tooth, before heading south to the stunning west coast to enjoy the beautiful beaches and vibrant local life. Our teams played a total of 16 matches across a mix of school and public grounds, facing strong opposition and adapting to tough playing conditions. The progress and commitment shown by all players from their first game to their last was truly impressive – they were a credit to the Cricket Club. One of the most memorable aspects of the tour was the incredible generosity and hospitality