As the winter draws in and we watch our national team struggling Down Under the English cricket season seems a long way away. However, indoor nets have been running regularly at Eltham College for senior players and selected others. Having our Cricket Professional, Yasir Arafat, available all year round is extremely valuable and players from the Junior School up to our 1st XI captain have been benefitting from his expertise this term.
Many of our students were also taking part in county trials throughout October and a huge congratulations to Akhil Venugopalan (U12), Aditya Kumar (U13), Charlie Smith (U14) and Sam Smith (Associate Academy) on their selection for County squads in 2018. Well done also to Josh Hutchings who recently won the ‘Best Batsman Award’ at the London Youth Games this year. Furthermore, a special mention to Joseph Bilsby who was selected to tour South Africa at October half term with London Schools.
Most recently though, Eltham have joined together with Kent County Cricket Club as part of a new ‘School Hub’ partnership. Kent are looking to build relationships with schools around the county and along with four other schools Eltham were selected as a venue for additional coaching opportunities. Although the partnership is very much in an early stage at the moment it is likely to grow over time and will help cement Eltham’s position as one of the top cricketing schools in the county. In the first instance, members of Kent’s performance squads from U12-U15 have been invited to take part in sessions run at the school by Yasir once a week either side of Christmas. Although some of the attendees are our own students it is also great to welcome other talented young cricketers from South East London to use our facilities and be coached by a former International Test and One Day cricketer in Yasir as well as current Kent cricketers.
Further details can be found at the Kent Cricket website.
We look forward to building this relationship with Kent Cricket over the coming months and years.
Indoor nets will start for all boys in the Lent Term as we look forward to Summer 2018!
