Cricket
A wide range of opportunities for all levels and all ages
Cricket is the major summer game at Millfield Prep. In recent times, more and more games for younger pupils have been arranged, with U8s playing matches since 2002. The school currently has a total of 13 sides. The 1st XI, U12s, U11s and U10s all have regular fixtures against county age-group teams such as Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, as well as those from South Wales. Indoor winter coaching sessions are arranged where possible and in the Autumn and Spring terms there are cricket ‘club' activities for all age groups. The school makes excellent use of its two bowling machines. The Annual Tour to Devon and Cornwall, started by previous Head of Cricket Bryan Lobb in the 1980s, still continues, while in February 2000 and December 2002 tours to the Cape Town area of South Africa were undertaken.
A proud history of great successes
The 1st XI has regularly entered the Somerset Schools U13 Knock-Out competition, of which they were the very first winners in 1985. The captain that year was Aftab Habib who, in 1999, twice played in Test matches for England. In the last 17 years the County Shield has been won 15 times. In 1997 the school were the first winners of the National Calypso Cup. Since then, we have won again in 2000 (against Nottingham High School) and have twice won its successor, the National David English/Bunbury Cup, in 2004 and 2006. During the latter final game, skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond completed 1,050 runs for the season - a record which may last for many years to come (although Cameron Steel came very close with a total of 1,036 runs in just 20 innings in 2009). Daniel is now a successful member of the England U19 team - as is Ben Duckett who left in 2005 - while Cameron, who has emigrated to Australia, has captained the Western Australia U15 state side. The 1st XI has also won the National Joint Educational Trust Shield for Preparatory Schools five times since 1997 and been runners-up on no fewer than seven occasions since 1992. In the 2004 success, Ross Jenkins scored a superb 102 not out. In 2009, the 1st XI became the first-ever winners of the inaugural National Prep Schools Twenty20 Competition - with coloured clothing, white balls and black stumps. This was our thirteenth National success in as many years. We have been national champions in the National 8-a-side U11 Hardball Competition four times since 1998. The 1st XI enjoyed an unbeaten season in 2010, winning 20 and drawing 5 of their 25 fixtures. In 2011-12 Millfield Prep entered, for the first time, the National Girls U13 Indoor Competition. After winning at District, County and Regional level, we triumphed on Finals Day at Lord’s in London on 8 May. A great achievement.
Over the years, many school players have represented county sides (mainly Somerset) at U13, U12 and U11. Some have gone on to represent their region and their country.
Level 3 Coach David Beal is the Director of Cricket Coaching for Millfield Prep. David has been at the Prep School since 1999, is a former Somerset professional and is the county’s longest-serving youth coach. David Beal is supported by Chris Twort as Head of Cricket, who brings over 20 years experience to the role.
