Cricket

Cricket has long been one of the College's strongest sporting disciplines, the first St Georges team being formed as far back as 1897 whilst the school was still based in Bulawayo.  More recently the College has been known as the starting place for many great players' careers.These include players such as Zimbabwe batsmanTrevor Gripper, Gavin and John Rennie, Great Zimbabwean batsman and current Zimbabwean batting coach Grant Flower and current Zimbabwean players Malcom Waller and Keegan Meth as well as numerous County and District players who have left Zimbabwe to continue their cricketing careers abroad in places such as England, Australia and New Zealand.

St George's is also known for its facilities which are second to none. We boast two sets of cricket nets (one with grass and one new one with Astra Turf), and seven fields including :

Madden the 1^st  XI Field is situated on the left as you drive into the college and is well known as one of the best grounds in Zimbabwe. This field along with Weaver (U15) and Connell (U16) are the combined venue for the yearly CABS T20 Tournament which has become the leading Zimbabwe schools cricketing event of the year and is the place to be for all top flight Zimbabwe cricket schools 1^st teams and a select few from South Africa, this year including St Alban's, St Andrew's and Cornwall.  This tournament takes place in the week before the start of the 3^rd term with cricket also being played in the first term.

During the cricketing term the College prides itself on its balance between mass participation and excellence and boasts 12 cricket teams whilst keeping a 70% winning average over the period of the year. The highlights of this year's results are the 1^st XI's un-beaten 50 over record in Zimbabwe being done for the first time since Ray Gripper's legendary side back in 1955.

The various age groups this year include three Under 14 sides, three Under 15 sides, two under 16 sides and four  open sides all playing games as regularly as possible and all of the College's A sides taking part in yearly T20 tournaments. This year the U/14's, U/16's and the 1^st XI did the college proud by winning their various tournaments and our top players from these teams being selected to play for Zimbabwe in their age groups: three U14's, two U/16's and a remarkable  six  1^st team players were selected for open age groups.

Another event in the cricketing calendar is the 1^st XI South African tour which takes place in January before the start of the 1^st term. This year the boys travelled to the Eastern Cape and played schools such as Rondebosch Boys High, Grey High School and Cricket Clubs such as Woodridge. We also look forward to another tour to St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, again in January 2012.

Each home fixture the College relies heavily and gratefully on parental support to assist in hospitality for teas, lunches and to welcome and entertain visiting parents and supporters.

The College is very fortunate to have on offer the Zimbabwe Cricket Level 1 Courses that all of the College's individual coaches have been on to keep abreast with new cricket coaching techniques and ideas in order to maintain and improve their players' standards and abilities. Strict discipline, punctuality, dress code, hospitality, fairness and sportsmanship are maintained throughout the season as well as ensuring,  above all, that  players  are committed to the game  - but not so much so that winning means everything - but to believe in our St George's 'ethos' that it is 'how you  play the game' that counts ultimately. The College's coaches include:

1^st XI    Mr I. de Grandhomme

2^nd XI    Mr S. Black (assisted by Mr R. Macdonald)

3^rd XI    Mr J. McCarthy

4^th XI    Mr O. Chimutenga

U/16A  1^st term Mr S. Cameron;  3^rd term Mr R. Macdonald

U/16B  Mr O. Chimutenga