Cricket
Head of Cricket: Mr Carl Greenidge
Cricket is a thriving and inclusive summer sport at Bancroft’s, enjoyed by pupils across the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. Both girls and boys take part in a wide range of fixtures, competitions and coaching opportunities, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, skill development and sporting enjoyment.
Participation and Fixtures
Bancroft’s fields a large number of teams each year, offering opportunities for players of all abilities.
For boys, the school regularly fields ten sides across the age groups:
• 1st XI and 2nd XI
• U15A and U15B
• U14A and U14B
• U13A and U13B
• U12A and U12B
Girls’ cricket continues to grow year on year, with teams entered across the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. Participation is strong and pupils benefit from the same access to coaching, fixtures and facilities as their male counterparts.
The main square at school hosts senior matches, while Junior and Middle School fixtures take place on the two squares at West Grove.
Our friendly fixtures include regular blocks against leading Essex and London schools such as Brentwood, Forest, Chigwell, Haberdashers Aske’s, Merchant Taylors’ and Colfe’s, ensuring high quality competition for all our teams.
Competitions
Bancroft’s enters boys’ teams from U12 to U15 into the Essex Schools’ Cup and also fields girls’ teams in the same competition. Both programmes have achieved strong results over the years and continue to build on this success.
A number of Junior and Middle School pupils, both girls and boys, are selected for county age group pathways in Essex and Kent. This reflects the depth of cricketing talent across the school.
Tours and Enrichment
Touring is an important part of cricket at Bancroft’s. Senior squads have travelled to destinations such as Namibia, South Africa and Barbados, gaining experience of playing in different conditions and cultures.
Younger teams also enjoy touring opportunities. The annual U12 tour within Essex is a highlight of the summer, while girls’ squads have taken part in mini tours to locations such as Suffolk. These experiences strengthen team spirit and broaden pupils’ understanding of the game.
Coaching Philosophy
Our coaching aims to develop independent thinking cricketers who apply their skills and knowledge with confidence. While individual ability is supported, our focus is on building strong teams where players make good decisions, support one another and contribute positively to shared success.
Cricket at Bancroft’s is designed to ensure that every pupil, whether girl or boy, has the opportunity to learn, grow and enjoy the game.
