We enjoyed an exceptional summer of cricket this year with so much to celebrate. Director of Cricket, Pete Sanderson, said:

A Talent [Cricket] Pathway is a key element of a sporting ecosystem in providing a pipeline of exceptional talent for a thriving domestic game and winning England cricket teams. [ECB] know that an effective Talent Pathway will also contribute broader benefits to the game, such as the improvement of recreational cricket. Collectively, the Cricket Talent Pathway can be thought of as a series of progressive stages and programmes that identify and develop young recreational cricketers through to becoming professional players.

The Talent Pathway system in England and Wales incorporates 39 Counties (18 First Class and 21 National Counties) as well as England representative programmes and teams to develop high-quality players for our professional game. The focus and intensity of the programmes increase from ‘County Age Group’ to ‘Emerging Player’ and ‘Academy Programmes’. This can be seen in aspects such as the programme contact time, volume and form of individual support and the range of development opportunities afforded to the players with the greatest potential (England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB], 2024).

This summer saw over 50 Taunton School pupils playing in ‘Pathway Cricket’ for Somerset, Cornwall and Devon as well as internationally with Hong Kong. As well as playing ‘Pathway Cricket’ these players represented local club teams.

Featuring some of our key players is always a challenge in case we miss any of the amazing players off the list; we congratulate everyone who has played cricket for local clubs, county sides, or just for fun in the park, however some key moments stand out.

Across the Senior School:

Year 9s – Lewis (Evans) scored his first county 100 Vs Cornwall; Maxi (Wills West) represented Somerset and was a club cricket champion; Felix (Marshall) achieved good scores for county and club; Theo (Evans) represented U13s with aplomb, best bowling 4-19; Jacob  (Wills East) represented Cornwall, scoring over 1,000 runs! And Beatrice (Jenkin) played for Somerset girls U13s

Year 10s – Bertie (Evans) games included a 56 Vs Cornwall; Will (Evans) included a 70 Vs Wales and a 4-wicket haul in one over; Byron (Wills West) played county cricket and scored his first club 50; and Megan (Bevan) played for various Somerset teams

Year 11s – Grace (Woodyer) scored two county 100s, both Vs Gloucestershire; Jess (Bevan) captained Somerset u15s and scored a 50; Harriet (Besley) played well for Somerset 15s and Harvey (Evans) scored his first county 100 Vs Gloucestershire

Year 12s – Jack (Evans) played U16s and U18s for Somerset and made his debut in a championship winning team at Taunton Deane CC; Theo (Marshall) represented Somerset U16s, and Luca (Marshall) scored a massive 64 Vs Devon. Will (Wills East) took 10 wickets in a match for Somerset U18s Vs Worcestershire with 5 wickets in both innings; Ben (Fairwater) took wickets for  Cornwall 1st XI, Somerset U18s and 2nd XI; Arlonzo (Fairwater) scored his first senior 100; Charlotte (Besley) scored half centuries with a top score of 79 and set a highest first wicket stand for Somerset U18s, 232; Lily (Jenkin) played men’s club cricket taking a 5 wicket haul and also scored an unbeaten 43 for Deane Women.

Year 13s – Oscar (Evans) scored his first county 100 Vs Hampshire and two more for club as well as three 5 wicket hauls; Ben (Wills East) played for the South West in Super 4s at Loughborough, as well as playing Somerset 2nd XI matches and U18s

Our recent leavers, now Old Tautonians – Kian (Goodland) and Elle (Woodyer) – had significant successes over the summer. Kian finished his 7-year school journey by making his professional performances for Somerset in List A where his debut was against Lancashire and followed this by excelling giving a match winning contribution Vs Sussex. Elle scored her first academy 100 Vs Glamorgan which gained her a selection to the South team for England U19s trial.

Extra Successes – Somerset 2nd XI summer was dominated by our student’s cricket successes with Kian, Ben C, Oscar, Will and Ben S featuring. Charlotte scored an unbeaten 50 to move Somerset U18s girls to a National Semi Final, she also top scored in the Semi Final and Lily was another member of the team who made this journey. Ben (Fairwater) played for Southwest at Bunbury as well as playing Somerset 2nd XI, Cornwall and gaining a place with the Somerset Academy.

Visits to some of these matches made Mr Sanderson very proud, not just because these players were showcasing such a tremendous attitude but because that drive and determination was also replicated by the non-pathway players who had matches for their clubs.

Across the Prep School – Mr Sanderson and Mr Roberts took great pleasure in going to watch prep school pupils playing their pathway and club matches but also, watching from afar, seeing them getting scores and successes.  Of note were Nicholas, Viaan, Louis, Arthur, Hedley, Theo, Harry, Henry, Bertie, Esme, Cate, Gigi, Erin, Maddie, Kiki, Oscar, Albie, Graham, Oscar, Eloise, Imogen, Peyton, Dylon and Jade. However,  if we left your name off the list be sure you have been noticed and are truly congratulated on your efforts.                                        

Finally, with summer cricket all but over and the winter series looming, it has been great to re-start the cricket programme this term across both schools, with some changes taking place. Most significant changes are in the Prep School where the school pathway programme has been extended, in conjunction with Mr Roberts’ extended remit. In the Senior School all pathway players have had the opportunity to do extra cricket before winter kicks in, and it has been fantastic for them to have Mr Trescothick back for a month, before his tour to New Zealand and then the Ashes. We wish him all the best.