Junior Cricket at STRS

With national examinations demanding and taking ever-increasing time from the summer term, senior cricket is virtually limited to a few often rain-affected fixtures during early May. The focus at Tommies therefore is, and needs to be, on Junior cricket, which since 2000 has seen quite a renaissance in popularity and skill levels, thanks in the main to the vision and drive of coach Phil Brown. Fixture lists are continually growing, restoring many of the traditional matches against the public and independent schools, which had been lost due to falling standards of play and facilities at Oakleaze.

Increasing opportunities are afforded to Tommies' budding test stars - a full programme of winter nets for the U13, U14 & U15 squads, a "B" squad at each age level with their own fixture list and coaching regime, the annual - and tough - tour to the beautiful Channel island of Jersey for selected members of the U13 & U14 squads, entry into local and county cup competitions, a growing fixture card against more schools with a strong cricket tradition and a wider experience of the various forms of the game - not just the 20 over "bash" but more emphasis on the longer matches that are vital to the proper development of the full range of individual and team cricketing skills.

Jersey Cricket Development Tours

This annual tour forms an important element in the school's development programme for Rich's young cricketers. It is the brain child of Phil Brown, who initiated the idea back in 2004 and who, with the help of Peter Lloyd and Rob Sims, established the Jersey Junior Development Tour as a regular feature in the school's cricketing calender.

Phil wanted to broaden the opportunities for the boys to play competitive cricket as well as create a space away from the hectic school schedule for talented boys to receive specialist and dedicated coaching. The fruits of these labours are now clearly evident in the raised playing standards throughout the school age groups, from U12 up to 1st XI teams, as well as the number of boys now regularly taking part in and enjoying to a good playing standard their cricket not only at school but also in the local club cricket scene.

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