The Chronicle, Spring 2019

46 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Cricket Tour Peter Swainson, Master i/c Cricket, writes: The February Half Term might seem an unusual time to be undergoing a cricket tour in the sense of a traditional English schools’ cricket season, but after a thorough and impressively productive winter pre-season it was the perfect foil to refocus the minds for the season ahead. Equally, there is no better time to tour in the Caribbean, and the challenges of playing in Barbados against types of players not so regularly found on the English circuit is an invaluable experience for our boys. Playing six fixtures in nine days across different formats might have proved a challenge, but I am pleased to say that it was one the touring party rose to admirably, and meant we could ensure every member of the squad gained playing time and benefited fully from the experience. The added bonus of watching England beat the West Indies in the first ODI at Kensington Oval was no bad thing either and something for us all to savour. Away from the wicket, the warm hospitality (and weather) was an exceptional breeding ground for reinforcing the togetherness and camaraderie of the squad. Moreover, the chance to spend a few days soaking up the passion for the sport among a community for whom cricket is in every person’s heart and soul is a gratifying way to stoke our own appetites for the season ahead. A full report on the Barbados Cricket Tour will follow in the summer issue of the Chronicle . Pictured are, among others, Peter Ades, Stanley Brown, Jamie Regan, Tom Leeson, Kunal Barman, Jack Barrett, James Marsh, Ben Jacobs, Charlie Keen and Alex Horton.