Cricket teams embark on exciting tour to South Africa

While the vast majority of Salopians were preparing for a well-deserved rest over Exeat, an intrepid party of 31 cricketers and staff boarded the Virgin Atlantic flight at Heathrow for the 12 hour flight to sunny Cape Town.  

The 1st XI boys' and girls' squads took on the challenge of going head-to-head with some of the best school sides in the world, as well as regional opposition in one of the toughest touring destinations in world cricket. 

In temperatures exceeding 35 degrees, the Salopians were also fielding one of the youngest touring parties ever to have travelled overseas - the boys featured no fewer than six U16 players as well as an U15 (Arjan B (SH, IV)), while the girls included Third Former Anna H (M). Considering that the bulk of the opposition were U18, this meant that the already daunting challenge was exacerbated further. A sickness bug also ripped through both squads, with the majority of players laid low at some point. 

The girls achieved victory in two of their matches, the pick being a magnificent win over the a fine Western Province side, with Aamna K (M, V) hitting a fluent 58*. Millie P (MSH, V) and Cerys T (QEH, IV) both struck 30 in a superb advert for the women's game. All the girls shone at various stages of the trip, with the aforementioned Third Former Anna H claiming a match-winning catch in a narrow 7 run victory.  

The boys were defeated in all of their fixtures, but were well placed to win three of them. Captain Teix B (Rt) was the sole Upper Sixth representative in the party, and led the side superbly throughout. Freddie O (Ch, LVI) starred with the bat, with his 215 runs including a brutal 88 against Bishops, while Harrison V (O, LVI) took 13 wickets at an average of 10. 

The players enjoyed excursions to some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa, whilst also savouring the culinary delights that Cape Town's wide range of dining establishments had to offer. They were also able to donate Worcestershire CCC playing kit to some of the opposition players who hailed from the Townships of the legislative capital, and the experiences that they have enjoyed will stay with them forever.  

A huge thank you must go to Director of Cricket Will Hughes, who worked tirelessly in ensuring such an enormous undertaking ran without a hitch.  

We now continue our preparations for our next sojourn, as we look forward to taking two U15 sides to Dubai in April. 

Adam Shantry

Cricket Professional