Sun, Sport and Souks: U15 Cricketers enjoy unforgettable UAE Tour

An intrepid group of Third and Fourth Form cricketers jetted off to the sun-drenched UAE for a cricketing and cultural experience of a lifetime over the Easter break.   

The party consisted of an U15A team alongside a U15 Development side, with both groups featuring numerous Third Form entrants. Both squads played at some of the finest cricket grounds in the region, with multiple floodlit fixtures proving a highlight for players and staff alike.   

The A team recorded impressive victories against Malvern, Tonbridge and Merchant Taylors', as well as a local academy outfit, while the Development team also notched two fine wins alongside some narrow defeats, with opposition including the national UAE U13B team! Both squads enjoyed 5 matches each as well as a training session at the ICC Academy. Cultural excursions were plentiful, with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, bartering challenges in the historic local markets (souks), excursions to local beaches, a floodlit round of golf, and dinner under the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. 

Our players are now ideally placed to commence their season on English soil, and following our pre-season festival at Shrewsbury, have experienced as many as 9 matches ahead of the domestic fixture programme. 

We would like to place on record our gratitude to Mr Hughes, who has worked tirelessly over the winter period, organising not only this tour, but the February senior cricket visit to Cape Town. The feedback from all the staff on tour was unanimously resoundingly positive, and our young players are incredibly fortunate to have benefitted from two incredible overseas trips. Thank you, Mr Hughes! 

Adam Shantry

Cricket Professional