CRICKET TOUR
Mr Nic Cahill reports:

The 1^st cricket squad enjoyed a very successful tour to England during the recent holiday.

We were blessed with wonderful weather ? only one of the 12 fixtures was affected by rain ? and enjoyed some fine performances on the field. It was particularly encouraging to see how the young members of the squad were encouraged; this had a very positive influence on the all round performance of the team.

We arrived in London on 26 June 2009 and spent six nights in Leatherhead in Surrey. Our first taste of English school grounds was the marvellous field at Sevenoaks where we met up with Chris Tavare (former England batsman who had brought a school team to Michaelhouse some years ago) and Old Boy and Senior Prefect, Matt Fendick (2000). The remainder of the time in Surrey was spent playing in a Festival at St John?s where we met a number of South Africans teaching/nursing in the U.K. Our boys were pleasantly surprised at the hospitality and friendliness of their schoolboy counterparts.

After Leatherhead, we travelled to Woburn Sand outside Milton Keynes where we were based for five nights. We were able to explore the area, enjoy a 20/20 Festival at Stowe school and we are most grateful to parents, Peter and Patrice Critchley, for their wonderful hospitality. They went out of their way in so many ways and we are indebted to them for their involvement and kindness. Again, a number of Old Boys travelled to watch the cricket and this was appreciated.

We then travelled to Tonbridge in Kent where we took part in a Festival involving top UK teams where we acquitted ourselves very well.

The players were competitive throughout and there were a number of outstanding performances. The boys were also fine ambassadors for school and nation; they were helpful, interested and behaved like true gentlemen and sportsmen. I was proud of them.

We ended with three days in London, the highlight of which was a tour of the Houses of Parliament where we were guests of Lord Richard Scott (Old Boy 1951.) We were privileged to have had this opportunity to meet this remarkable man ? a Senior Lord in the Highest Court in the U.K. We are most grateful to him for his time and generosity.

Throughout the tour, the accompanying parents were wonderfully supportive and helpful and this also contributed to the success on and off the field. I thank them sincerely for their presence and help. A wonderful tour ended safely with our arrival at Oliver Tambo Airport on 13 July 2009.

I would also thank Mrs Susan Dawson of the Bursary Department for the enormous amount of time and effort she gave us. Her expertise and enthusiasm played a significant role in ensuring that all arrangements were in place.