Cricket at St Helen’s has had another fantastic year of growth and success on and off the field in the 2024-25 season.
Participation numbers have never been higher with over 150 players taking part in cricket fixtures across the school and many more in clubs throughout the year. We have entered teams into nine indoor and outdoor competitions across the year, reaching more later stages across the board than ever before. Our fixture programme has developed to include ever more competitive weekend blocks and ensuring all teams get opportunities throughout the weeks to take part in the sport. Fixtures against new opposition such as Wellington and Canford, as well as familiar foes of St Edward’s and Haileybury saw exceptional team and individual performances and development opportunities for the future.
Our indoor teams all reached the ECB Schools Indoor County finals with our U13As losing in the final to the eventual 2nd placed team nationally and our U15As once again progressed to the national finals at Lord’s where they placed 2nd overall.
Indoor success translated to the outdoor season. It’s hard not to start with our U15 team who have become double national cup finalists in the Cricket Paper 100 Ball and School Sports Magazine t20 Cup, having already placed 2nd nationally indoors. An amazing season! The squad has been led by captain and top run scorer Niamh (Y10) who has led by example with bat and ball as well as in the field. Top wicket taker Eloise (Y10) opened the bowling. The team placed 3rd overall in the 100 Ball finals day at Merchant Taylor’s and followed up a week later with 3rd place in the SSM T20 Cup at Berkhamsted. The team have shown true HelKat spirit on an off the field, supporting and getting behind each other at every opportunity, celebrating individual performances and sticking together in tight games and tough situations. They are a great inspiration for younger years to aspire towards.
Our U18 team had tough early round draws against Rugby (eventual winners) in the 100 Ball competition and old friends St Edward’s in the T20 cup, sadly losing out in competitive games. They bounced back in their wide range of weekend block fixtures as well as in the Smile Travel U17 competition where they came out as Plate Winners at Haileybury School. The team was captained by Ceci (L6), top wicket taker Amelia (L6) and top run scorer Felicity (L6).
The U13s had the first ever opportunity to take part in the inaugural U13 School Sports Magazine T20 cup, reaching Round 4 until losing to a strong Redmaid’s team. The team has gone from strength to strength this year in a huge number of competitive friendlies across the season with some individuals playing their first ever cricket fixtures this year.
The U12s have had a brilliant first season at SHSK, with huge numbers attending the extracurricular clubs all year round and we saw the benefit of that in the summer with exceptional results.
Our Juniors have had weekly fixtures with local prep schools and our U11A team have ended the season unbeaten! The U10A team performed well at the annual Teddies 10s tournament. Lots of lessons have been learned for a long future of cricket at SHSK.
36 SHSK students have been selected for the Oxfordshire County Pathway in the summer squads, making up over a third of the entire Women & Girls Pathway!
One of the most significant additions to the cricket programme at SHSK this year has been the introduction of 1:1 provision for students in Year 10 and up. Open to students during their free periods across the week, this allows them to have targeted, specific programmes led by the individuals to take ownership of their own game. Students who engaged with this programme the most have reaped the rewards in the summer with outstanding individual performances and contributions to cricket in the school. Further to this we have had students take leadership roles during a range of sessions across the year, thanks specifically to Felicity (L6) and Florence (Y10) for their early Monday morning help every week this year, as well as Duke of Edinburgh volunteers Eleanor, Emma, Olivia T and Ellie T, Emily and Mary (all Y10).
One of the most significant additions to the cricket programme at SHSK this year has been the introduction of 1:1 provision for students in Year 10 and up. Open to students during their free periods across the week, this allows them to have targeted, specific programmes led by the individuals to take ownership of their own game. Students who engaged with this programme the most have reaped the rewards in the summer with outstanding individual performances and contributions to cricket in the school. Further to this we have had students take leadership roles during a range of sessions across the year, thanks specifically to Felicity (L6) and Florence (Y10) for their early Monday morning help every week this year, as well as Duke of Edinburgh volunteers Eleanor, Emma, Olivia T and Ellie T, Emily and Mary (all Y10).
Congratulations to the following players who have all achieved 50s this summer:
Fallon (Y7), Eleanor, Emily, Niamh, Mary and Ellie (all Y10) and Felicity (L6).
My thanks to everyone who has played even a small role in cricket at SHSK this year.
Mr Herbert
Head of Cricket
Cecelia, L6, about the Senior 1XI team
"Throughout games this season we worked hard as a team and integrated players from the years below as part of a strong team spirit. The future of the U18 squad at St Helen’s looks exceptionally bright with a strong Year 10 cohort coming up to join us for our final cricket season at SHSK. To conclude the season, we travelled back to Haileybury to take part in the Finals Day of the U17 Smile National Plate Competition to play two T20 matches. In the end, Felicity scored the winning runs with over nine overs to spare. It felt like we had saved our best till last! It was a great way to finish our season, reflecting the resilience and determination of the team, collecting our medals and the plate – another one for Mr Herbert’s trophy cabinet!"
Francesca, Matilda, Sophia, Chloe and Clio (Y6)
"This year we have been unbeaten against our own age group and have really come together as a team. All the teachers encourage us to do our very best as well as helping others to get better. In lessons we practise a whole range of skills, and this year we have worked on some really challenging parts of the game which has helped us prepare for more hardball fixtures next year."
