Reed's School focused on future with no stone left unturned for developing cricketers

The Cobham based school in Surrey played host to The Cricketer's bat testing day with students joining ex-pro Alex Tudor in trying out a range of cricket bats

If it’s good enough for Rajasthan Royals..

The cricket set-up at Reed’s School in Cobham is impressive by any standards.

Two scenic outdoor pitches, and a superb five-lane indoor facility that was the venue for The Cricketer’s bat-testing day in 2024.

Bola bowling machines, the Merlyn spin versions, and PitchVision analysis equipment means no stone is left unturned. It is why the IPL side staged academy sessions there, attracting visits from Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and the late Shane Warne.

The school has also just started a new programme for any pupils keen on the game in the first three years. It lasts for five weeks, and follows in the footsteps of the already established tennis academy.

^{Throwdowns in the nets at Reed's School. [Paul Carroll]}

^{Keith Medlycott and Malcolm Dunn. [Paul Carroll]}

Malcolm Dunn has been in charge of cricket there for 24 years. The professional is Keith Medlycott, the former Surrey left-arm spinner who was coach of the county during the Adam Hollioake-led glory years around the turn of the Millennium. He also went with England to West Indies in 1989/90. Former 1st XI captain Nathan Tilley makes up the coaching triumvirate.

Among the cricketers who have graduated from the school are England’s Phil Salt, Oskar Kolk and Dan Douthwaite, who “hit the IPL players everywhere,” says Dunn. 

Ben Choy is a great prospect as a left-arm spinner, a fifth-former, he took 9 for 21 on his 1st XI debut!

The first XI play 15–18 matches a summer. On their circuit is RGS Guildford, Tiffin School, Hampton School, St Paul’s School, Hurstpierpoint College, St George’s (Weybridge), Charterhouse and KCS Wimbledon. They hope to re-establish ties with Merchant Taylors’ School. They also play MCC, and have a longstanding fixture with the Stock Exchange, which sounds fascinating. One trusts they are never short of a number-literate scorer.

“The season is likely to be a test of scoring enough runs for the 1st XI as we have lost our main run-scorer, Stuart van der Merwe, who left last summer,” said Dunn. “We will be looking to our captain Sebastian Dunn, Yusuf Afzal, Max Towers and Charlie Balls among others, to develop consistency so that they amass a greater number of runs than in previous seasons. We also have a few lower-sixth players such as Archie Jenkins and Ben Cooper, who will hopefully start to develop into substantial run-getters.

^{Admiring a bat on The Cricketer's testing day. [Paul Carroll]}

^{Reed's School has plenty to offer. [Paul Carroll]}

“The bowling will be led by Sebastian Dunn, who will have a new opening partner. This is likely to be George Hennessy. Our spin options are healthy with Yusuf Afzal heading up the attack with his accomplished offspin. Ben Choy is a great prospect as a left-arm spinner, a fifth-former, he took 9 for 21 on his 1st XI debut! Gryffyn Stuckey is our leggie. Arun Bates is another lad worth mentioning, a fourth-form wicketkeeper.

“The sides in the younger age groups are blessed with some amazing talent, so we are hopeful that the school will have another strong season at all levels, whether that be the A team or the D team!”