Cricket

Cricket is one of our three major sports, with full training program built in all year round. Each Summer Term, the cricket programme has a full fixture card across every team at every age group.

We provide cricket for all ages and stages starting with soft ball Kwik cricket in J4-5 (age 9-10), before transitioning into a mix of hard and soft ball cricket from I Form upward. At every age group from U13 to U18 we have a complete slate of fixtures for both A and B team, highlighting demand and popularity of the sport in the school. The winter programme further underpins the continued success and commitment of cricket in the School. These sessions start after the October half-term break and run all the way through until end of the Spring Term. A detailed off-season programme is led by Mr Evans (Head of Cricket, ECB Level 2 qualified coach) and Mr Gilmour (Level 4 qualified coach) focusing on both skill and athletic development. The 1st XI and U15 XI regularly have both international and local tours. The 1st XI completed a very successful tour to South Africa at Easter 2023.

The 1st XI and U15 both compete in the Scottish Schools National Cup, with great success. The 1st XI are the current holders of the U18 T20 Scottish Schools Cup, having been runners up the year before. The U15 XI have also traditionally had success in winning the T20 Scottish Schools Cup on two occasions. The two further Senior XIs, and two teams in every year group up to U15 level, makes twelve teams across the school getting both mid-week and weekend fixtures.

Boys of all age groups are often selected for regional and national teams. We currently have pupils in the U17 Scotland Squads.

Recent Merchistonians, are also doing very well in the world of international and professional cricket. Chris Sole has been a regular in the Scotland squad over the past number of years and current holds a central contract with Scotland having also previously earned himself a contract with Hampshire. He was also the first Scottish player to be drafted into one of the major global franchise tournaments, being involved in the 2023 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). His brother Tom Sole has also reached international and professional honours for Scotland and Northamptonshire. Oliver Hairs also represented the full national Scotland team whilst still at school – a remarkable achievement and also part of the Scotland squad that qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Also, part of that squad was Tom Macintosh. Tom is also currently and professional cricketer with Durham, having work his way through their Academy System, before breaking into their senior squad.