This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Cricket
Haileybury has a rich cricketing heritage, with the sport having played a key role in school life since the 1800s.
Cricket is a focus sport at Haileybury for both boys and girls. Our fabulous cricket facilities are located in stunning grounds with modern practice nets at XX Acre and brand new Dalwood nets at Hailey Field. We boast one of the most picturesque cricket grounds at ‘Pavilion’ and we regularly feature in The Cricketer’s Top 100 Schools Guide.
Old Haileyburian Sam Billings has represented England in all three international formats and Michael Levitt has burst onto the scene playing for The Netherlands, breaking batting records aged just 20. Several current pupils are on the County Emerging Player Programmes at Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.
Coaching
Cricket is an all-year-round sport for performance cricketers on our High Performance Programme. Players take part in a Winter Programme which includes Group and one-to-one sessions covering technical, tactical, mental and lifestyle coaching. Sessions with our full-time Strength & Conditioning Coach also play a key part in each player’s development. Guest coaches deliver specialist sessions and masterclasses in addition to the skills training and age group sessions already on offer.
The Indoor House Cricket Competition provides out of season matches and open sessions offer opportunities for all. We have fixtures down to E and F teams and there are two staff overseeing each side.
Facilities
In addition to our five grass squares which include several state-of-the art hybrid pitches, we have three artificial pitches, indoor nets with a Merlyn and four BOLA bowling machines. We have also added two additional hybrid wickets on Terrace as the demand for cricket grows further.
Tours
Our senior boys and girls embark on a major tour every two years. 2024 saw an U15 Boys squad take on the best schools in Cape Town whilst the Girls U14s headed to Desert Springs for pre-season. In 2023, the senior boys XI travelled to Cape Town, whilst the girls enjoyed a tour in Dubai.
The U14s and U15s boys squads enjoy an annual festival and the U14s tour Jersey each July, whilst the Lower School girls and boys alternate tours every year. These have recently included the West Country, Isle of Wight and Desert Springs.
Fixtures
Our fixture against Uppingham began in 1868 and still continues to the present day. We also play Cheltenham in an annual two-day fixture and our school fixture list also includes Tonbridge, Stowe, Merchant Taylors School, Berkhamsted and Bedford. We play midweek fixtures with Felsted, Wellington College and Harrow.
The highlight of our Speech Day is the 1st XI boys and girls who play the MCC. Sunday fixtures are enjoyed against OHs, XL Club, Privateers and Hermits. We often welcome touring sides from overseas and recently hosted schools from South Africa and Haileybury Melbourne for a T20 Razzmatazz Tournament.
Pre-season
As well as touring, we proudly host annual pre-season festivals at Haileybury for 1st XI, U15 and U13 age groups. This is the perfect way to prepare for each school season and we play a variety of opposition including county sides, top cricketing schools and touring teams.
Expert coaching
Rupes Kitzinger, Haileybury’s Director of Cricket, is a ECB Level 4 Coach and has previously coached on the England Women’s Development Programme. He coached Sussex Women to the County Championship title in 2010 and used to be part of the Surrey CCC coaching staff.
As a player, Rupes had a long career with Dorset CCC having been a Surrey YC. Rupes is an MCC member and is current Head Coach of the MCC Schools side who play at Lord’s every year.
“My experiences as a young cricketer have shaped my coaching and Haileybury is a wonderful environment for cricketers of all abilities to fulfil their potential and enjoy their sport.” – Rupes Kitzinger, Director of Cricket
Isabelle Collis, Haileybury’s Assistant Director of Cricket, enjoyed a career in Cricket playing for Sussex, Southern Vipers, England Academy and captaining England U19. Having toured numerous countries including India and South Africa, Izzy has a wealth of experience particularly with batting, as well as game management. Since leaving Loughborough University, she has completed a Masters in Sports Psychology which equipped her with invaluable knowledge in coaching and mindset in performance. Since taking a step back from playing, Izzy has coached at Sussex CCC and leverages her vast knowledge and skills to drive the girls’ and boys’ programmes forward.
“Our coaching programme is all year round and is tailored to the needs of the individual. We have a proud history but are excited about what we can achieve in the future.” – Isabelle Collis, Assistant Director of Cricket
Fixtures, results and further information
To learn more about our forthcoming matches, recent results as well as our Sports Scholarships and High Performance Programme, please follow the links below: