Royal Hospital Cricket Academy

The hazy, lazy days of summer, with their soundtrack of the thwack of leather on willow, still seem a long way off. However, The Royal Hospital School is already looking beyond this summer’s cricket season, recently announcing the launch of the Graham Napier Cricket Academy in September 2016.

Essex County Cricket Club stalwart Graham Napier plans to retire from the professional game at the end of the 2016 season, with the intention of establishing a high profile centre of cricketing excellence at this English boarding school, which will develop young cricketers to fulfil their potential, as well as promoting participation at all levels and ages.

Napier has enjoyed a number of career highs, such as equalling his own world record 16 sixes in a mammoth 196 made against Surrey in 2011 and his four wickets in four balls against the same opponents in 2013, when he was also crowned Player of the Year. Now says: “I feel the time is right to move on and give back to the game that has given me so much. I have loved every second of playing for Essex [but]… the opportunity at RHS is one that I could not turn down.”

Headmaster of RHS Simon Lockyer comments: “We are delighted that Graham has agreed to work with the School… With [his] extensive experience, the Academy will take provision at RHS to the next stage, widening access to the sport for both girls and boys throughout the region.”

Photo courtesy of The Royal Hospital School