Bede's aim to add to county and England production line

Sussex school has yielded 28 professionals in 14 years

Bede's School have produced so many first-class cricketers in the last 14 years, even head of cricket Alan Wells is taken back.

"We continue to surprise ourselves a little bit," the 62-year-old former Sussex, Kent and England batter tells The Cricketer. "Since 2010 we have had 28 Bedians play first-class level and above, which is quite exceptional for any school; but for a smallish rural school tucked away in the heart of the East Sussex countryside (in Eastbourne), which is a co-ed, we punch above our weight.

"We have three girls playing for England: Alice Capsey, Freya Kemp and Ryana MacDonald-Gay. It is unprecedented really. We are really proud of them – it shows it’s not just our boys having success.

"We run an exceptional programme. When students come into senior school in Year 9, they can choose cricket as part of their curriculum. You still have to do the proper subjects, but they can also come into our cricket academy, in place of a GCSE if they like – if we feel they have the potential to have a career in cricket, or they need their weekly fix of cricket.

"That means they can have eight hours of cricket practice a week. It is because we know that the sport can help youngsters cope with the rest of their studies as well. Then in the GCSE years (10 and 11) they can carry on with it, if their parents are happy. We want to help them fulfil their dreams."

Former Sussex captain Wells works with Petch Lenham, wife of his former team-mate at Hove, Neil, in the nets with the youngsters; and Jamie Hall, who opened the batting for the county between 1990–96, has just been appointed head of cricket at the prep school. Neil is Wells’ assistant at the senior school.

Wells played for Sussex between 1981–96, then saw out his career with Kent until 2000. His single Test and ODI caps came in 1995. Does he miss playing?

"Watching my son (Lancashire's Luke) now, I’d love to have had a go at T20. Every game seems like a cup final, in front of big crowds.

"I think it would have really developed my game. The one-day cricket when I played was rather formulaic.

"The openers go in and bat in an orthodox fashion. You would accelerate in the middle, then have a dip at the end. T20 is so instant, you go from ball one. I also loved my fielding, so I could have developed that side of my game even more."