The Abingdonian 2019

64 The Abingdonian Cricket 2019 was a strong season for the Cricket Club with some outstanding team and individual performances across all of the age groups, including the 1st XI defeating the MCC for the first time in a long time! It was also a year in which we successfully piloted two-innings matches at Lower School and C team levels in order to provide greater opportunity and involvement for all of the players in these sides, and this is something we will continue to offer into next season. Amongst the most successful sides of 2019, the U12As won 9 of their 11 fixtures, and there is a huge amount of promise from this age group looking forwards, whilst Mr Pygott’s impressive U14Bs remained unbeaten until the very back-end of the season. The U15 age group, following a successful pre-season festival in Eastbourne, won 18 of the 26 completed fixtures and impressed enormously with the progress that they made collectively across the season, with a number of these boys having the opportunity to represent the 1st XI with great success later on in the season. In the senior sides, there were some thrilling performances over the season. 1st XI captain, Harvey Jupp, led from the front with an outstanding all-round performance over the course of the year, making 553 runs at an average of over 50, and taking 25 wickets at 14 runs apiece. Fellow wrist-spinning allrounder, Hector Chambers, was the leading wicket taker with 32 wickets at 16 runs, whilst also making 487 runs at an average of 31 with the bat. The leading run scorer across the Cricket Club was Freddie Smith, who made 570 runs at an average of 41; he should also be congratulated on being selected to represent the Oxfordshire 1st XI this summer. The final week of the term, saw a young 1st XI travel to St John’s Leatherhead to play in the annual festival. Despite beating Oundle and Brentwood schools on the first two days, the defeat to St John’s meant that we finished a creditable second again this year. That said, there were some excellent performances with both bat and ball over the three days, particularly the impressive innings of Matthew Fowler and Oliver Deans, against Oundle and Brentwood respectively. We look forward to being hosted by Oundle School next summer. Overall, the Cricket Club ended the 2019 season with a win percentage above 60%. Full colours were awarded to captain Harvey Jupp, Hector Chambers, James Coombs, Jamie Lawson and Freddie Smith, whilst half colours went to William Ginks, Eliot Hyman and Thomas Owen. Lower School full colours were awarded to Tim Fowler and Thomas Mennie, with half colours awarded to Ethan Barksfield, Elliot Broadbent, Sam Ferguson, Jack Veal, and Oliver Veal. Finally, a special thanks must go to all of the coaches who have worked with the boys over the course of the year. We look forward to welcoming Mr Richards to the team next year. James Golding