Cricket North South winners

Cricket

Cricket Professional:

Deon Kruis

Master-in-Charge

Neil Bielby

Overview

Grey High School has a rich cricketing tradition dating back to the first game in 1861. Many great cricketers have since started there cricketing careers at the Grey. The legendary Pollock brothers, Aubrey Faulkner, Athol McKinnon, Spook Hanley, Dave Callaghan, Wayne Parnell and Johan Botha are just a few of the many Old Greys who have gone onto play cricket at the highest level. Graeme Pollock, Grey High’s legendary cricketer, became South Africa’s “Cricketer of the millennium”. Grey High has also been the nursery for South African Cricket Presidents in Joe Pamensky and Geoff Dakin, who played such a big role in the unification of South African cricket.

We continue to pride ourselves in achieving a balance between mass participation and excellence. We are proud to have 16 teams participating in the EP School’s Leagues and many of our top players gaining selection for Provincial and National teams. Grey has produced the most South African Schools players since unification. 2013 saw two of our 1st XI Cricketers, Lloyd Brown and Bradley Bopp been included in the South African under 19 team. Bradley went onto represent South Africa at the U19 World Cup in 2014, after having played SA Schools in 2013.

Currently we have many Old Greys making their mark in franchise and/ or International cricket. Internationally, Wayne Parnell (2007) is in the South African team, with former National player, Johan Botha choosing to ply his trade in Australia and there are a further five Old Boys contracted to the Warriors franchise: Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Craig Thyssen, Colin Ackermann and David White. David White has recently been included in the SA “A” squad.

Grey High School is fortunate to have Deon Kruis as the current Professional Coach, as well as a motivated group of teachers to form a quality group of coaches.

History

“Cricket played in true Sporting Tradition”

Grey High has a rich cricketing tradition, dating back to the first game in 1861. This report was found in Herald, Port Elizabeth’s local newspaper:

“The Grey Club and the 10th Regiment had a game yesterday – the former lost by nearly 50 runs. The 10th have some good players amongst them, while the Grey boys are all boys but one. Still they did pretty well for their maiden match – and next time they hope to do better. The fielding on the Grey side was not good, while on the part of the Military it was excellent.”

Many great cricketers have since started there cricketing careers at the Grey.

Ron Draper represented South Africa in the 1940’s. Atholl McKinnon, the charismatic, left arm spinner who assisted Peter Pollock to bowl out the English at Trent Bridge in 1965 to record South Africa’s first series win on English soil, was capped for the South Africa soon after School. Geoff Dakin(1956), who was to become the first President of the UCB of South Africa, captained the EP Currie Cup side for many years. Tom Dean, Grey High’s legendary Cricket Professional arrived in 1957 (retired in 1978), at the time when Peter Pollock was starting to make his mark at the School. A tigerish personality with real pace to back it up, Pollock was to rapidly rise through ranks from EP Schools to Eastern Province, South Africa and represented the Rest of the World.

Grey High School has played many seasons in the Eastern Province Premier league, although in recent times they have chosen to play Schools, but travel regularly all over the Country to ensure quality opposition and cricket. Tom Dean’s first objective on arrival at Grey was to win the men’s league, which they achieved in the 1960/1 season, with Graeme Pollock , in the fourth term, and Bill McAdam, 1st term, captaining the team. This era saw the emergence of Graeme Pollock, who was to become South Africa’s cricketer of the Millenium. It is difficult to explain to another generation the Pollock phenomenon. John Young, an Old Boy and author of “The Spirit of the Tower” explained; “Perhaps a combination of Adam Gilchrist’s power, Sachin Tendulkar’s timing and Brian Lara’s flair goes some way to describing his genius.”

It is with great pride that Grey High School along with King Edward School from Johannesburg has the most SA School capped cricketers (52 caps). Grey High School have, however comfortably the most caps in the post-apartheid era(1994 todate)

SA Schools 1970 – 1990

Keith Reid, Nigel Dutton, Gavin Cowley(2), Dennis Broad, Dale Robinson, Tim Seaman, Bryan Lones(2), Dave Callaghan, Morgan Morris, Pieter Strydom, Duncan Browne, David Mallett, Grant Morgan. With Peter Pollock pulverizing the Aussies, Grey boys were keen to follow suit. Nigel Dutton, Charlie Ahfeldt and Rupert Hanley gave Grey Captains lots of fire power. Hanley played for the Transvaal ‘Mean Machine” and won selection for South Africa against the rebel West Indians, where he achieved a hat trick at the Wanderers. Quality all-rounders became a feature of Grey cricket with Kith Reid leading the way. Reid and Gavin Cowley later played important roles for the EP Currie Cup team. Ian Howell finished at Grey in 1975. A very long and fruitful first class career for Border followed soon after. Since retirement he has become a respected International Umpire. The next Border Captain after Howell was another Old Grey in Pieter Strydom, who later played for the Proteas. Dave Callaghan had a brilliant school and first class career, he made his mark Internationally against New Zealand with a glorious 169 at Centurion Park

SA Schools 1991-2005

Greg Miller, Kevin Chree, Brendan Horan, Bruce Stigant, Machiel van Olst, Murray Creed, Michael Williams, Umar Abrahams(2), Johan Botha(2, once as Captain), Zwelibanzi Homani(2), Lazola Dipha, Craig Thyssen(3), Mpumelelo Slwana, Brett Thompson, Wayne Parnell(3) and Corbyn Dolley. Grey’s most productive period in terms of SA Schools caps began with Murray Creed’s selection in 1997 and reached a peak in 2000, when no fewer than 4 boys were selected. Johan Botha became the second Grey boy to captain SA Schools and won senior national selection in 2005. In 2007, Wayne Parnell became only the second Grey boy to win 3 SA Schools caps.

Click here to download pdf: A bit of nostalgia

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