Whitgift School, an independent day and boarding school, is home to just over 1,500 boys aged 10 to 18. It was founded in 1596 by John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Cricket has been played at the School for over 150 years, shaping not only their skills on the field but also high academic success and a well-rounded co-curricular experience. Pupils are coached to play with passion, train hard, strive for improvement, and to put their team first whilst following the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) ‘Spirit of Cricket’ code of conduct.
Nestled in a beautiful 45-acre parkland, Whitgift enjoys some of the finest training and playing facilities available nationally. For over a decade, The School annually hosted first-class and List A matches. Cricket Australia and New Zealand have used these facilities as a training base on previous international tours. Cricket becomes a key part of school life during the summer term, fielding some 24 teams, from A to E, showcasing the breadth of participation. Students face strong opposition from top school teams throughout the season and can enhance their skills through the County Academy-style Cricket programme during the winter terms.
Head of Cricket, David Ward, a former Surrey player in the 80s and 90s with 14 years of experience, leads the Cricket department. Assisting him are Neil Kendrick, Head of Cricket Performance and former Surrey and Glamorgan left- arm spinner, and Simon Jackson, Cricket Academy Head Coach and former Jamaican first-class cricketer.
From First Form to Third Form, around 70 to 80 students participate in the annual Cricket Camp, held in Spain or Barbados. Senior cricketers also embark on major tours to cricketing nations like Australia or South Africa every few years.
Whitgift’s cricketing legacy is evident in the accomplishments of its former students. Test and international names such as Jason Roy, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley from Surrey County Cricket Club, have emerged from Whitgift’s ranks.
Currently, eight former Whitgift pupils actively participate in first-class cricket, with many having been part of the School’s National winning teams, including Jamie Smith, Ryan Patel and Laurie Evans from Surrey Cricket County Club.
Whitgift has won over ten National cricket titles since 1998 at U11, U13, U15 and U18 level.
