A strong tradition of excellence
There is a very strong tradition of cricket at Eastbourne College, with ten boys’ teams and six girls’ teams fielded every week during the summer term. Our cricket programme runs all year round, with players having access to 1-2-1 cricket sessions, squad sessions and specialised gym programmes to prepare them for a busy summer of fixtures.
The fixture list is highly competitive and includes the best schools in the South East as well as a number of club sides including the MCC and Sussex Martlets. The school also enters the national 20/20 cup and the county Blackshaw and Langdale 20/20 competitions. The College enjoys close links with Eastbourne Cricket Club and has a strong relationship with Sussex County Cricket Club. Here, several players have recently gained county representation in age-group sides, in the academy, and in the list A limited-overs and first-class XI.
Major tours are undertaken every three years, giving pupils an opportunity to play abroad in challenging environments while enjoying new cultural experiences along the way. Recent destinations have included Barbados, Dubai, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Eastbourne College cricket is a firm fixture in The Cricketer magazine’s annual Good Schools Guide Top 100 feature. Highlighting the crème de la crème of secondary schools for cricket, the College rubs shoulders with the best in the country; on a par with schools that are often highly selective. The Cricketer is the world’s best-selling cricket magazine. Established in 1921, the magazine retains its position as the most respected voice in cricket.
Peter Bibby Memorial Bursary
This award is in memory of Peter Bibby, a friend of the College and an Eastbourne CC stalwart. Peter was passionate about the educational benefits of cricket. The aim of the award is to give a local talented cricketer the chance to benefit from a College education. The first award winner was Harry Finch who is now playing for Sussex CCC and the third and current holder is in the Lower Sixth and a regular in his county age-group side.
MCC national hub
The College was approached by the MCC to run one of its national hubs in conjunction with Eastbourne CC; the scheme is about to enter its fifth year. Over 30 boys and girls from local schools who would not otherwise have had the chance to enjoy specialist coaching now train weekly. The sessions culminate in a summer festival of cricket at the College.
Recent Success
- 1st and 2nd XI County Cup Winners (2023)
- Emmanuel Bawa captained Zimbabwe in the U19 World Cup (2022)
- The U14 boys won the County Cup played at Hove County Cricket Club. (2019)
- Tawanda Muyeye scored his second double hundred for the College. (2019)
- Oli Carter, Harrison Tagg, Joe Pocklington, Jamie Atkins and Tawanda Muyeye were all selected to play for Sussex U18 in the 2018 season.
- In the 2017 season the 1st XI won 20 of 26 matches.
- Upper Sixth pupil Ben Twine (Sussex CCC Academy) scored more than 700 runs and took 35 wickets
- An extraordinary bowling achievement of six bowlers taking 25 wickets or more in one season
- Recent former pupil Harry Finch was awarded a professional contract with Sussex CCC. Former pupil Bethany Tagg played for Sussex Women.
- The Old Eastbournians play in the prestigious Cricketer Cup and, in 2017, were finalists with the youngest side ever to play in a final and with seven recent leavers in the team.
- Inspired by former pupils currently on the Sussex CCC playing staff, a number of College pupils have played representative cricket for the county. These include:
Bethany Tagg (2017)
Ben Twine (2017 leaver)
Brad Evans and Harry Lloyd (2016 leavers)
Joe Pocklington (Lower Sixth)
Oliver Carter, Ben Fox and Harrison Tagg (Year 12)
Daniel Ibrahim (Year 10)
