Cricket

The first recorded cricket match on the school ground was in 1898 and the Australian cricket team played a warm-up game at Downside School before the 1936 Ashes series. The iconic 1930’s Sheldon Pavilion, placed centrally between three main cricket squares is the focal point of Downside Cricket and the balcony overlooking the 1st XI square offers glorious views over the School, Downside Abbey and the Mendip Hills beyond. We provide great opportunities to our students ranging from an extensive 1st XI schedule, playing both longer formats and T20s, to students trying the game for the very first time and we field five competitive teams for boys and two competitive teams for girls.

Cricket takes place all year round starting with various winter training programmes. These are for players further along in their cricketing journey, through to soft ball development sessions for many younger students. We are also pleased with the direction of our girls’ programme where the numbers of keen cricketers continue to increase, thanks to recent success in the Indoor Lady Taverners competition and the emergence of two hard ball teams at U15 and U18 level.

Downside School is extremely proud of our connection with Somerset County Cricket Club. Annually we host multiple county age group fixtures and training days, as well as hosting the MCC Foundation Hubs during the winter to provide many young cricketers in the local community with a structured coaching programme to help support their development in the game. Several Downside coaching staff also deliver sessions for SCCC and coach County age groups sides.

The 1st XI undertakes an annual tour to North Yorkshire, playing T20 and declaration fixtures against a range of schools, the highlight being the fixture against Ampleforth College. Other competitive inter-school fixtures are organised throughout the summer term for all age groups, against opposition including Wells Cathedral School, Monkton Combe, Bryanston, Warminster, King’s Bruton, Westonbirt, Stonar and Leweston, as well as the traditional 1st XI fixtures against MCC, Emeriti CC, The Forty Club and the Downside Wanderers who celebrated their centenary in 2022.

ALEX TAYLOR
Cricket Development Lead and Coach. ECB Level 3
ataylor@downside.co.uk