Derby Grammar School is celebrating its cricket success as eight pupils have been selected to play for district and county sides across Derbyshire and Warwickshire this summer.
Tomás Dickens is the youngest county player having been selected for the Derbyshire U11 Boys County Squad. Junior school pupil Tomás has been playing cricket since the age of eight when he started at the school, and in 2016 joined Quarndon Cricket Club. He said: “It’s the first time I’ve been picked for the County squad. I felt really happy when I found out I’d been selected. I love cricket, especially batting.”
Following success in the U10 and U11 squads for Derbyshire County Cricket, including being named the leading wicket taker in last year’s U11 side, Ayaan Aziz has been selected for the 2018 U12 Boys County Squad. He said: “I was so excited when I found out I’d been selected. There were lots of boys competing for places so I didn’t know if I’d get in. It’s so much fun to play cricket – I’d spend all of my life playing if I could.” Derby based Ayaan also plays for Ticknall Cricket Club, and captains the school’s U12 side.
Saevuk Atwal, Jasgobind Singh Virk and Will Eley have all been selected for U14 sides – South Derbyshire, Derby City and Derbyshire Dales. Jasper Grace has been selected for the Warwickshire County U14 Boys Squad. This is his first season playing for Warwickshire, but he is also a stalwart of the school side, recently scoring 100 against Wolverhampton Grammar School.
Year 10 pupil Daanish Azeem is playing for Derby City U15 Squad this season, whilst Aryan Kolhe is a member of the South Derbyshire District U15 squad and also captains the school U15 team.
Mr Whitworth, Head of Games and PE at Derby Grammar School, said: “We are delighted for all of our pupils who have been selected for district and county sides this season. They have worked hard over the winter with Kaizen Cricket who run the school’s programme for county and district players, as well as with their own clubs. These links are crucial to maintain and enhance the standard of cricket across the school.”
