Preparation for the cricket season starts in the winter months with net practice underway before school, during lunchtimes and after school. Whilst the first fixture of the season is not until after Easter, it is a great source of inspiration to discover that both our Prep and Upper Schools have been named, yet again, amongst the best schools for cricket in The Cricketer Magazine’s Schools Guide 2023. Our Upper School was listed in the top 100 senior schools, while our prep was named in the top 50 prep schools.
The official news was announced on The Cricketer’s website after “an exhaustive selection process that saw a huge number of schools submit entries for inclusion in the guide.”
All entries to The Cricketer’s Guide are judged against an extensive set of criteria, which included a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching.
Director of Cricket, Gary Steer, said of the accolade, “It is an honour to be selected out of so many excellent schools across the UK. Our sports teachers, professional coaches and grounds staff all work extremely hard all year round to give all boys a challenging and enjoyable cricket programme to take part in, as well as first-class facilities to play on.”
We are delighted for all our staff in the cricket department whose hard work really has paid dividends, not only with recognition such as this, but also particularly, in the quality of play and development of the boys into fine young cricketers.
The magazine is now available in print, and we have copies here at school if you would like one. As well as the schools guide, the magazine also features an interview with Gary Steer. Please pop into the Bell Room and grab your copy (limited supply available).
Bedford School Cricket Facts:
- We have approximately 80 boys in the Upper and Prep School who play county cricket for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire.
- We have two boys in county first class emerging players programmes.
- Two of our boys have signed as professional cricketers at Northamptonshire CCC within the last six months.
- A large number of Prep School boys receive 1:2 coaching with our Director of Cricket as part of their standard PE lessons.
- Boys are able to train in the nets before school, at lunchtime and after school.
- We have five bowling machines, one Merlyn spin machine, six brand new indoor nets, eight cricket squares and 18 outdoor nets.
- We have biennial cricket tours to Cape Town for our Prep School and every three years in the Upper School to various countries around the world. For example, in the past, the Upper School have toured Barbados, Australia, Dubai, South Africa and will be touring Barbados again this October.
Old Bedfordians who are currently playing professional cricket:
- Sir Alastair Cook (98-03)
- Alex Wakely (96-07)
- Charlie Thurston (07-14)
- Emilio Gay (11-18)
- Harry Gouldstone (12-19)
- Gus Miller (15-20)
Facilities include:
- 18 outdoor cricket nets (8 grass, 10 artificial)
- 6 indoor cricket nets
- 8 cricket pitches
We can also boast an abundance of talent from our current staff members:
- Gary Steer, Director of Cricket played for Derbyshire CCC
- James Hodgson, Head Master, played for Surrey 2nd XI and was awarded his Cambridge Blue in 1994.
- Simon Lincoln, Keith Thomson, Ross Wise and Will Montgomery have all played (or are still playing) cricket to a high club standard.