Mr James Knott

Life before Stowe

I was the cricket professional at Kings College School, Wimbledon and before that I was a professional cricketer with Surrey and Somerset.

What do you enjoy most about your subject?

There are so many different facets to the game of cricket and it's this diversity - not least in the various formats of the game - that make it so interesting.

What do you enjoy most about Stowe?

There cannot be many better settings in the country for a game of cricket than the North Front at Stowe. There is nothing more enjoyable than coaching the 1st XI on a glorious summer's day and knocking over the likes of Radley or Bedford.  

What is your favourite Lesson?

I believe that one-to-one coaching is where you can have the biggest impact on a player's ability and confidence. Sometimes the winter preparation can be as rewarding as the Summer term as you see each player develop.

Other hats

Coaching cricket is my main responsibility and we train or play during all three terms, but I also assist the hockey department with coaching at Junior level. My other hat is as Sports Administrator, involving, amongst other things, fixture-making for a number of sports, co-ordinating publication of results, organising activity choices each term and the end of term sports report for the Headmaster's Assembly.

Passions

Although I still play the odd game for the MCC, I spend my free time in the summer umpiring these days. I've found this challenging but rewarding and it has certainly helped me look at the game in slightly different way. I have umpired up to County 2nd XI standard and was the main umpire for the MCC's 'A' tour to Canada in 2012.