Cricket
Cricket is the major game for boys in the Summer Term and has a long history at the College. Each season reaches its climax with the two-day Colours Match against Rugby – a fixture that dates from 1855 and which, until 1972, was played at Lord’s. Girls’ cricket has evolved quickly since its introduction in 2016, with rapid expansion continuing.
There is a strong emphasis on culture. Success on the pitch is important, but not at the expense of the spirit of the game. A healthy respect for the values of cricket is nurtured. The onus is on learning, self-reflection, aspiration and, most importantly, enjoyment.
An excellent group of staff invest enthusiasm, energy and time into making the experience as enjoyable as possible. The coaching programme is led by Uzi Qureshi, who played for Wiltshire in the NCCA for 12 seasons.
The College boasts charmingly scenic grounds set against the backdrop of the rolling Wiltshire countryside. It hosts Gloucestershire 2nd XI, Wiltshire and England Over 50s matches, and was the venue for the Women’s Ashes warm-up game between Australia and England Academy in 2019.
Mike Bush
Master in Charge, Cricket
Facilities
The XI play on one of the most beautiful school grounds in the country. The Pavilion was designed by Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse and built in 1874. There are ten more cricket grounds, 19 artificial nets and three cages on site. Coaching is aided by the use of a TrueMan Bowling Machine.
In addition to excellent outdoor facilities, a new fully enclosed, covered training hub facility was opened in 2024. There are also five indoor nets within the Sports Hall complex.
Fixtures and Tours
A total of 17 boys’ teams compete in block fixtures against major schools, including Bradfield, Cheltenham, Eton, Radley, Sherborne, St Edward’s, and Winchester. There are five teams at Yearlings level; four at Junior Colts; three at Colts; and five Open XIs. Girls cricket has been running for nine seasons, and over 60 girls play. There are currently five XIs with a vibrant fixture schedule that includes Bradfield, Cheltenham, Lord Wandsworth, Rugby, Shrewsbury, St Edward’s & Wellington.
The Boys’ XI compete in the John Harvey Cup (which they won in 2026 for the third time in the last four years) and the HMC National Schools T20 Competition. The College also enters the National U17 Boys Cup and National Girls U15, U17 and 100 Ball Cups. The Junior Colts take part in the ESCA Lord’s Taverners U15 Competition (where they were semi-finalists in 2026) as well as the National U15 T20 competition. The Junior Colts won the prestigious Clark-Williams Trophy Festival against Eton, Shrewsbury and Uppingham in 2025 (their fourth title in five years). The Yearlings 1st XI have been U14 Wiltshire Champions in each of the last 17 seasons.
A successful tour to Barbados in 2024 saw the College win four out of six matches. The tourists played a T20 under floodlights at the Isolation Ground and had the opportunity to meet West Indies legend Gordon Greenidge. The inaugural mixed boys and girls tour to South Africa in February 2020 saw the boys playing against the best of the Cape Town schools and the girls against representative sides from Western Province. There is another mixed tour scheduled for the 2026-27 academic year to Sri Lanka.
Collaborations
Marlborough has strong links with local cricket clubs and hosts training and matches for Wiltshire age groups and the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Emerging Player Programme. Current pupils are involved in the Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex & Wiltshire youth programmes.