Cricket

There is an extensive winter training programme for our gifted and talented cricketers as well as various cricket activities for social players. We have 15 cricket teams, which provide all our girls and boys the opportunity to play in matches.

Cricket is the main summer sport for boys at Blundell’s. We have numerous teams who have an extensive range of fixtures over the course of the summer term. The 1st XI competes in a variety of formats, Declaration, 50 over and T20, which helps develop a range of match skills, required in the modern era of cricket. The main squares are Big Field and Mayfield, which have both hosted county fixtures, and provide our pupils with opportunity to play and practice on excellent grass surfaces.

We have well established links with both Devon County Cricket Club and Somerset County Cricket Club, which allow our pupils to play at a representative level. Many of our current pupils are involved with county age group sides and the Devon Emerging Player Programme. In addition, many our cricketers play for Heathcoat Cricket Club, which is just a couple of miles away from the school. The relationship between the school and the club is extremely strong, with numerous Old Blundellian’s going on to represent the senior sides.

In recent years we have been on a senior tour to Mumbai and Goa which allowed our cricketers to test themselves in sub continental conditions, and more importantly get to experience a range of different cultures and benefit from all the positives that touring offers. Our development squad have also been to Desert Springs in Spain for an intense 4-day pre-season training camp.

All pupils have access to good quality coaches with a large amount of both playing and coaching experience. We have members of the common room with first class and minor county playing experience and our cricket professional, Mark Davis helps lead our winter training programme. The winter training programme sees cricketers ranging from U12 to 1st XI players benefitting from 1:2/1:3 sessions. We also run sessions for our senior and junior development squads.

We have indoor practice facilities, with 4 outdoor artificial nets and numerous grass nets. Both junior and senior teams regularly have the opportunity for square practices, using our roll-on cages.

Notable Blundellians to go onto International honours include Vic Marks (Somerset and England), Hugh Morris (Glamorgan and England), and most recently Dominic Bess (Yorkshire & England).