PLAYING

TOP 100 SCHOOLS
DULWICH COLLEGE
Dulwich Common
London
SE21 7LD
DR CHALLONER’S
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Amersham
Buckinghamshire
Established 1624
Notable fixtures MCC, Hampton,
St Albans, Berkhamsted, RGS High
Wycombe, Reading Bluecoat, Eton
Teams A and B teams (years 7 to 10,
plus occasional C-team fixtures).
Two senior teams, plus occasional
3rd XI fixtures
Facilities Two grounds, four
indoor nets
Club/county affiliation
Buckinghamshire
Brief history A state-funded
school where cricket has really
begun to flourish over the past
10 to 15 years. The junior teams
have recently made a habit of
winning the Bucks Cup and on a
couple of occasions the team
has gone on to the semi-final of
the nationals. The passion for
cricket comes from the headmaster
Mark Fenton. His enthusiastic
support led to major improvements
in facilities, including a relaid
square and new pavilion. This has
helped to raise the standard and
profile of cricket at DCGS and it is
now seen as the flagship
sport. Well-supported by a
committed PE team and club
cricketers on the teaching staff.
The school undertakes bi-annual
tours to the Caribbean, generally
St Kitts and Nevis, for the
under-14 and 15 teams, which
are extremely rewarding for all
involved. A trip to India is slated
Extras Without the level of
investment of most independent
schools, Dr Challoner’s compete
strongly against the top schools
in its vicinity. The number of
cricketers who carry on playing
for their local after leaving
school is a hugely positive
aspect of the school’s cricket
programme. England women’s
team captain Charlotte Edwards
and former Australia captain
Michael Clarke have visited the
school to take some coaching and
pass on tips in recent years.
Clarke held a Q&A with Samit
Patel, of Nottinghamshire who
is in the United Arab Emirates
with England this autumn, and
then said: “I could see some of
the students becoming potential
players for England in future
Ashes series”
Allrounder:
Chris Jordan did
his schooling at
Dulwich College
Established 1619
Notable fixtures MCC, Tonbridge,
Harrow, Bedford, Incogniti (125 years
standing)
Cricket professional Bill Athey
(Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex &
England)
Teams From year 3 to year 13 – 45 teams
in total
Facilities Eight indoor cricket lanes,
24 synthetic-grass nets, plus 11 cricket
squares including a main site and the
Trevor Bailey Sports Ground
Club/county affiliation Surrey, London
Schools, and club links with Spencer
CC, Dulwich CC, Old Alleynian CC
Brief history Dulwich College has
long been renowned for its excellence
in cricket, noted by PG Wodehouse
and many generations of schoolboys,
parents and teachers since. Cricket has
been played for more than 140 years
Cricketers of note Trevor Bailey (Essex
& England), Roger Knight (Surrey),
Ruel Braithwaite (West Indies), Chris
Jordan (Surrey, Sussex & England)
Extras There is a rumour that the
term ‘Cow Corner’ originated at
Dulwich. Nine Old Alleynians have
been capped for their country
and four have been named
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
20 / thecricketer.com