All Cranleighans invited to Cricketer Cup final

From Guy Waller and John McDermott

The Old Cranleighan Cricket Club has reached the final of the Cricketer Cup. To do so, in only its second year of entry in this prestigious competition, is a considerable achievement and reflects greatly on the current health and strength of Cranleigh cricket.

The 2008 Cricketer Cup final will see the Old Cranleighans playing the Old Malvernians at Richmond Cricket Club (Old Deer Park), on Sunday, August 17, 2008.

The Cricketer Cup sponsor, Rensburg Sheppards, is very kindly offering a complimentary lunch for the first 100 guests at its barbecue. Additionally, free Pimms sponsored by Cranleigh School will be served from 4.00pm to 7.00pm in the OC Society marquee.

Now in its 42nd year, the Cricketer Cup has enabled the leading cricketing schools to compete annually against each other in knock-out competition. Not included in the original 32 schools selected, Cranleigh has had to wait until 2006 to be invited to replace Blundells in the competition.

Last season, after the great win in our first match v Harrow on the Jubilee, the toss of a coin on a wet Sunday in a Fulham pub finished our hopes v Highgate. This season the OCCC have recorded convincing wins v Lancing, Clifton, Cheltenham and Dulwich.

Cranleigh School has long been proud of its cricketing tradition. Following convincing investment in cricket facilities and resources, the 1st X1 enjoyed unbeaten seasons in 2006 and 2007 against the likes of Tonbridge, Radley, Winchester, Wellington and Charterhouse. In 2008 Seren Waters broke the record for runs scored in a Cranleigh 1st X1 career. Several recent players have gone on to shine at university, county and even national level. All these are playing now in the OCCC Cup team.

Furthermore, Cranleigh remains committed to the future development of such potential. 2008 saw Cranleigh School host the first ever Spirit of Cricket event held outside Lords. 2008-9 will not only see the redevelopment of the much-loved Cricket Pavilion on the Jubilee under a joint OC Society and Cranleigh School project, but also the creation of dedicated indoor nets to complement the newly improved outdoor nets. The refurbishment of the Prep School Pavilion ensures that the School's youngest talent, too, can be nurtured, with facilities that are now the envy of many of the Schools we play.

The School's commitment to cricket, and subsequent achievements, have in turn enhanced one of the strongest ever eras of Old Cranleighan Cricket. Over the past 15 years, the OCCC has travelled on 12 international tours across all continents. It has been victorious in 4 national knockout cups and is proud to still host probably the strongest and most enjoyable annual Old Boys cricket weeks in the country on the Jubilee.

Malvern can boast a total of 10 appearances in the final, five as winners. Only Tonbridge has a slightly superior record to Malvern in the competition's history. It certainly will be a challenge and also a great occasion.

The match starts at 11.30am, so bring a picnic and spend a wonderful day supporting this Cranleighan achievement and don't forget to get there on time for the free BBQ which should start at about 2.00pm.

For directions to the grounds, click here.

Cranleigh eyes up Craddock

Charlie Craddock, a 13-year-old pupil at Cottesmore Preparatory School in West Sussex, almost single-handedly saw his 1st XI side to victory over St Aubyn's in a Twenty20 match, scoring 119 off 56 balls (including 13 sixes) and taking six wickets - four in four balls - to earn his school colours. Craddock starts at Cranleigh in September.

Annual OC Ladies cricket match?

It is hoped to have, at the very least, an annual OC Ladies' cricket match against the School. Interested OCs please contact May Millburn-Fryer: MayMillburn-Fryer@hotmail.com or call 07837 352759

England cricketers to debate at Cranleigh

England cricketers past and present will form a distinguished panel at a forthcoming MCC Spirit of Cricket event, sponsored by Artemis Investment Management and being held at Cranleigh School, Surrey, on Monday 21st April.

Former Test captain Chris Cowdrey will host an evening of lively debate and will be joined by England spin bowler Monty Panesar, Middlesex captain Ed Smith and the National Selector, Geoff Miller, in discussing the spirit of cricket and issues affecting the game today.

The MCC Spirit of Cricket evening at Cranleigh is a spin-off of the hugely popular annual Cowdrey Lecture (first delivered by Richie Benaud in 2001) - an event that has quickly established itself as an important date in the cricket calendar.

The invited audience will be comprised of young school and club cricketers and their coaches. In what promises to be an entertaining evening, the host, Chris Cowdrey, said:

"I'm proud of my father's achievement, along with Ted Dexter, of setting out a vision for the spirit of cricket. It was terrific for this to become part of the Laws of Cricket but the challenge now is to make this relevant to cricketers of the future. Cranleigh School has set us the challenge of having a fun evening which also gets to grips with some of the big questions facing the game today. At such a busy time of the cricketing year, we are extremely grateful to Monty, Ed and Geoff for giving up their time to debate these issues with us, and to Artemis Investment Management for sponsoring the event."

MCC Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, said: "MCC retains a passionate commitment to promoting the spirit of cricket. The Cowdrey Lecture serves an important function in discussing the cricketing issues of the day and the evening at Cranleigh School promises to be an exciting extension of this. I am particularly pleased that the event will be held in the early season and will be attended by a young audience. With such an impressive panel, I'm sure that the topics raised will inspire each young cricketer as they approach the beginning of their own cricket season."

Managing Director of Artemis Fund Managers, Dick Turpin, said: "Artemis is delighted to support such an important venture. The Spirit of Cricket must play a central part in the future of the game worldwide".

Guy Waller, Headmaster of Cranleigh School, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting this event. Those of us involved in Schools' cricket like to think that we play the game in the best possible spirit but it is never something to be complacent about. "