Cricket

There can be few more delightful settings for cricket than the grounds at Canford. The school Cricket Club aims to ensure that all pupils who enjoy the game have a fulfilling and memorable school cricket career in these wonderful surroundings.

The Club pursues this mission by providing as much competitive cricket as possible through a challenging school fixtures list, as well as keenly fought house match competitions. These fixtures are designed to provide an outlet for talent at all levels. Recent school results have been highly encouraging, including victories against schools with a much larger pool of players from which to draw their teams.

The Club aims to ensure that each cricketer develops his skills to their full potential. A number of present and former pupils have played at junior level for county and area teams, and for their local clubs. There is a programme of winter coaching in the Sports Centre at both squad and individual level. During the season, training takes place in both grass and artificial nets, and there are regular middle practices on the five pitches within the school grounds. Facilities are excellent and a range of activities and equipment are employed throughout the club.

Expert coaching is provided by Michael Griggs (ECB level 3 coach and coaching assessor; Spirit of the Game co-ordinator and former Chairman of Selectors for England womens’ victorious Ashes side). Michael joined Canford in 2008 from his 'winter' job as Director of Coaching to a New Zealand premier league club. His role is principally with the 1st XI, though he and Julian Shackleton work with all age groups and abilities. Julian (formerly of Gloucestershire and Hampshire) has been with the school many years, as was his father, Derek Shackleton, before him. The Shackleton Trophy is contested every year between the 1st XI and the Dorset U19 Development XI. Our team managers (a number of whom are keen and talented cricketers themselves) encourage the development of technical skills, tactical awareness and a genuine affinity with the spirit of cricket: we ensure that sportsmanship, positive play and an identification with team achievement are seen as at least as important as individual success.

There has been much recent interest in overseas touring. In 2006 the club enjoyed a developmental tour to St Lucia in the Caribbean. In 2009 the club voyaged to South Africa with great success, winning five out of seven matches and learning a great deal about different styles of cricket. Canford is the only English school to have won the Sir Garry Sobers cup and is considering a return visit there for 2011.

The Cricket Club is also keen to encourage interest among Canford girls, entering local paired-cricket competitions. In addition, the Under-10 Prep School Tournament in June is a fast and furious festival of emerging talent that each year introduces a new generation to the delights of cricket at Canford.