Master in charge: N E Briers (Captain Leicestershire CCC 1990-1995)
Cricket is the major game for boys in the Summer Term and has a long history at the College. Gregor Macmillan (formerly of Leicestershire) is a recent full time addition to the staff.
The season reaches its climax with the two day Colours Match with Rugby School - a fixture that dates from 1855 and which, until 1972, was played at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Famous Old Boys include A G Steel (Captain of Lancashire & England in the 1880s and President of MCC in 1902); R H Spooner (England from 1905 until 1912) and M G Griffith (Captain of Sussex in the 1960s).
Facilities
The XI plays on one of the most beautiful school grounds in the country and there are seven more cricket grounds and fourteen artificial cricket nets on site.
In addition to excellent outdoor facilities there are five indoor nets within the Sports Hall complex and winter coaching is aided by the use of two bowling machines.
Matches, Competitions and Events
Seventeen teams compete in the big block fixtures against major schools which include Eton, Radley, Wellington and Winchester; there are five teams at Yearlings’ level, four at Junior Colts, three at Colts and five Open XIs.
Tours to Cape Town have contributed to notable successes, especially the 2006 team which won twelve out of their fourteen completed matches. The Junior Colts 1st XI also plays in a festival at the end of term along with Eton, Shrewsbury and Uppingham and has had success in the Lord’s Taverners Competition. In recent times, the Colts 1st XI has enjoyed post examination tours to the south coast to play against teams from Eastbourne College and Brighton College.
Recent Marlborough leavers have represented Middlesex, Gloustershire 2nd XIs, England U19 Development XIs as well as Durham UCCE XI.
Keen cricketers in the Sixth Form also have a unique opportunity to do the ECB Level 1 Cricket Coaching Course under the tutelage of an experienced ECB Coach. Many also return to play for the Marlborough Blues (OMs) who have had a good run in the Cricketer Cup in recent times.