Cricket

We no longer compete just at County and Regional level but are currently considered to be one of the top cricket schools nationally.

We provide a comprehensive, year-round cricket programme with opportunities for all pupils. During the off-season, players can engage in up to eight hours of dedicated contact time per week, complemented by a highly competitive summer fixture list against notable schools like Cranleigh, Eton, Whitgift, and Tonbridge.

The programme is structured around academies for pupils in Years 9-13. A key feature is the option for pupils to exchange a GCSE for a player-centric cricket performance programme. This intensive training takes place in superb indoor facilities and on unrivaled outdoor pitches. The coaching team is highly experienced, including five former first-class cricketers with county and international experience. They also have strong ties to County Junior pathways. The coaching philosophy is a holistic and empathetic player-centric approach, supporting both performance and personal growth. This emphasis on player development has yielded significant results: since 2010, 28 Bede's students have played first-class cricket, with five going on to represent their country.

Our cricket provision is extensive, with the opportunity for pupils to train at least three times a week and play matches throughout the Summer Term, alongside an indoor cricket programme in the winter months.

Photograph is credited to Sarah Williams Photography.

To enhance player development, Bede's organises bi-annual tours and bespoke overseas training camps, fostering links with international academies and clubs. Pupils also benefit from specific, tailored masterclasses delivered by external cricket specialists and guest speakers, including legendary figures like Sir Viv Richards and Joe Root. The school provides a full Strength and Conditioning programme, giving players access to a gym, specific nutritional guidelines, and injury prevention strategies. Beyond the field, the program focuses on building essential life skills such as leadership, resilience, and character, ensuring that pupils are well-prepared for life after cricket.

A high percentage of Bede’s players are selected for National and Representative programmes, including Sussex CCC and England. Cricketing alumni include Shai Hope, Barbados and West Indies; Sarah Taylor, England; Luke Wells, Sussex; Delray Rawlins, Sussex and Bermuda; Ollie Rayner, Middlesex and Sussex; Callum Jackson, Kent and Sussex; Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Derbyshire and Sussex. During the 2018/19 season, six Bede’s pupils or alumni were in action for either the Sussex 1^st or 2^nd XI.

Junior Academy

Bede’s Junior Cricket Academy works to develop aspiring cricketers long before pupils are eligible to join us in the First Year.

On Saturday mornings, for example, elite cricketers from Bede’s Prep School and from outside the Trust join our Junior Academy and take part in a comprehensive training programme.

Beyond this, when talented cricketers apply to join Bede’s in the First Year, our Head of First Year Liam Backler identifies those children who have signalled a passion for cricket. Alan Wells then identifies from those pupils’ references who qualify to join our unique Junior Cricket Academy.

The Academy sees promising players attending training inside their academic timetable twice a week, during which they receive personalised coaching depending on their needs, talents and any other requirements.

Within the Academy schedule, the players also receive Strength and Conditioning from our Head of Strength and Conditioning Tony Morriss and elsewhere we provide training every lunchtime, during activity time three days a week and on Saturday mornings.

In any given week, an elite Junior Academy cricketer could receive anything up to 10 hours of practice year-round, depending on their other commitments.

Those pupils who show sufficient promise to follow cricket into a career pathway then have the option, as they head into the Lower Fifth, to drop a GCSE option and replace it with individual cricket development.

Senior Academy

Senior cricketers, particularly Sixth Formers at Bede’s, can enjoy a number of benefits beyond the core Academy programme. The cricket team offer one-to-one coaching during free periods which can boost weekly training programmes by up to three additional hours in addition to 10 hours weekly training available irrespective of fixtures.

Our training sessions are about more than just the tactical aspects of cricket; we physically and psychologically shape our players to ensure they are prepared for success on and off the pitch.

Players are given a rigorous personal training programme through which specific personal needs are identified and three sessions a week are organised to increase the physical attributes of their game.

The Academy runs throughout the year. The Academy runs year round and has consistently seen Bede's players transitioning from the Senior School 1st XI through the England U19s or County professional cricket and beyond.

Girls Cricket

Wherever possible, we do not distinguish between Girls’ and Boys’ Cricket at Bede’s, with our elite girls training with and at times playing in the boys’ teams from a Prep School age right up until 1st XI Level.

During the Summer Term, our junior and senior squads train at least twice a week with the A team taking an additional session of training and throughout the academic year, with additional sessions also running throughout the year outside of the Activities timetable.

During the season, two girls-only age group sides then play fixtures, with the U15s and U18s drawing in girls from all ages, including many First Years, to take part in a number of indoor and outdoor friendlies, shields and cup competitions.

In September, the Bede’s U15 Girls Cricket team were declared National Champions for the second time in 2019 when they won the National Schools Sports Magazine Final.

This year, Freya Kemp became the first Bede's girl to score a century, securing her place in the England Women's Senior Academy.

All of our female players are also invited to all other cricket training during activity time throughout the summer. To further the girls' development, our most passionate girls are also selected to represent the boys' teams.

We are also delighted to welcome former England cricketer Sarah Taylor as Sports Development and Life Skills Coach, who we know will be a fantastic addition to our Cricket and wider Sports department.

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