Cricket
Cricket is a key sport in the Summer term but there is also an off season training programme in place for all year groups. During the winter months a comprehensive programme of one to ones, squad session and nets are used along with a physical fitness programme to prepare our cricketers for the season ahead.There is a full fixture list comprising the likes of Oakham, Radley, Bedford, Oundle, Rugby, Bradfield College and Uppingham amongst others.
Stowe has enjoyed several successes in recent years with unbeaten seasons in 2005 and 2007 as well as reaching the semi-finals of the National Twenty/20 in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 and 2011 Stowe finished top of the National Cricket League. Also in 2011 the U15’s reached the semi finals of the National Twenty/20 competition. Stowe has produced several professional cricketers over the years and currently there are three on the circuit. Rob White and Ben Howgego are at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Graeme White is at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Ben Duckett is a current pupil on the Northants Academy and the U17 England Development Programme and over a dozen more Stoics are involved with counties around the country.Stowe - a magnificent setting for cricket
There cannot be many better settings for cricket than the North Front at Stowe. Northamptonshire regularly play 2nd XI matches here and during the 2005 season Stowe hosted a Sunday Totesport League game between Northants Steelbacks and Gloucester Gladiators. The School also host several county youth fixtures each year.
Overall Stowe is blessed with excellent facilities for cricket. There are seven squares, eight lanes of turf nets, ten lanes of Astroturf nets and an indoor sports centre with four lanes of nets. Set in acres of countryside Stowe has ample space for its pitches and is a truly magnificent setting for cricket. With plenty of boarding facilities the School is also able to host teams from overseas as well as other English schools, which we do on a regular basis during our end of term festivals.
Teams and Coaches
Stowe runs up to 15 teams, seven senior and eight junior. Our full time cricket professional is James Knott, who was a professional with Surrey County Cricket Club. Performance teams have two coaches available to them to ensure players get the individual coaching required for them to reach their full potential.
With the arrival of his sons at the School, Darren Gough (the former Yorkshire, Essex and England fast bowler who took over 200 Test wickets) has become a part of the Stowe coaching team. He joins us in the summer term and will be involved in all age groups, from U14 up to the 1st XI.
Once every three years the 1st XI embark on a major tour abroad. Recent tours have included Grenada, India and Dubai. Recently, the U15’s returned unbeaten from a tour to Cape Town, South Africa.
Cricket Professional: Mr James Knott