A Searle: England's real Cricket Academy (1 Jul 1998)

1 July 1998

England's real Cricket Academy

By Andy Searle

It is more than 25 years since I last stepped through the gates of Manchester Grammar School; a nervous 11-year old and sole representative from my Primary School at the Part II entrance exam. My recollections, somewhat hazy through the intervening years I must admit, are of a stuffy, over-bearing school populated by sadistic prefects and anachronistic masters. There was not a hint of sport and I had few regrets when I failed that exam.

How times have changed. A beautiful early summer morning graced by a highly competitive cricket match was my first sight on entering those gates again. I had been invited down to the school to watch the Manchester Grammar School 1st XI entertain Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School of Blackburn by David Moss, the Master in Charge of cricket at the school. His boys were taking something of a pasting from Michael Brown, the 16-year old opening batsman from Burnley in the Lancashire League.

There was little surprise in that, however. The track - as usual - was a beauty, Blackburn had won the toss and had no hesitation in batting in the sure knowledge that a big score was on the cards. Meanwhile, the under 13's stood by the gate waiting to travel to Blackburn for their game and Moss - mobile phone to ear - was busily trying to solve a tricky transport problem. I wandered around the ground passing groups of pupils sketching pictures of the scene; others I overheard discussing Greek philosophers, whilst a large group of uniformed third years were spending their break time in the nets. Suddenly, an army of first years appeared for their games lesson, directed courteously but firmly by their master in charge. The atmosphere was supremely relaxed. If only this school had had a similar atmosphere 25 years earlier. Maybe I would then have tried that little bit harder and found a place here, as cricket was already my abiding passion. But then 25 years ago there was no David Moss.

Moss arrived at Manchester Grammar School as an assistant master in the physics department in 1977. He was 22-years old and a Cambridge graduate. As a Yorkshireman and useful club player he offered to help out with the cricket. At that time Manchester Grammar School had very little in the way of cricketing tradition. Fifth formers were regularly chastised when results were read out at school assemblies for sniggering, whilst team selection for away matches tended to depend on a player's access to a car rather than his ability. Within a decade Moss had transformed the place into the finest cricket academy in the country.

The real upturn in the fortunes of Manchester Grammar School Cricket Club came in 1979 when three 11-year olds arrived at the school and who, under the tutelage of David Moss, put the school firmly onto the cricketing map. Michael Atherton, Gary Yates and Mark Crawley were not only in the same year, but also in the same form as well and their rise to prominence in the school's cricket team during the 1980's was to make Manchester Grammar School, arguably, the top cricket school in the country. Michael Atherton was certainly the school's jewel in the crown. From an early age he was seen as someone extra special and was thrust into the MGS 1st XI at the age of 13, which was unheard of. He was a success right from the start. In 1982 he scored more than 500 runs at an average above 35. The following season he again scored over 500 runs, this time averaging more than 67, and was joined in the 1st XI by Mark Crawley and Gary Yates, who contributed to an unbeaten season for the school's team for the first time for many years. In 1984, Atherton's 1,013 runs was a record by a player at the school, and he added 61 wickets with his leg spin. During the same season he played at the national schools' festival and made his Lancashire 2nd XI debut. The following year he blasted four successive unbeaten centuries to finish with an average of 187. After his final year at the school in 1986 he had scored nearly 3,500 runs at an average above 65. From there, it was Cambridge and, of course, the rest is history.

What of the other pair in that class of 79? Mark Crawley was overshadowed by his more illustrious classmate during their time at MGS. A fine footballer as well as cricketer, his talent blossomed later in his school career, so much so that he eclipsed Atherton's record of runs in a season in their final year by scoring 1,123 at an average well above 100. He also joined Lancashire but failed to break into the powerful side that was being assembled at the end of the 1980's. Eventually he moved to Nottinghamshire, who considered grooming him for the captaincy. The runs dried up, however, and after two seasons he left the First Class game to work in the City of London, but still plays in the Surrey Championship. His disappointment was to be more than made up for by the success of his younger brother John. Perhaps one of the proudest moments for David Moss was to see Atherton as Cambridge captain against Crawley as Oxford captain in the annual Varsity match; proof positive that the school's reputation had reached the highest levels. And the comparisons with their contemporaries on the county circuit were there for all to see as the pair were integral parts of the Combined Universities' superb run in the Benson and Hedges Cup which almost led to a place in the semi finals.

Gary Yates' MGS career epitomises David Moss's aim of not letting cricket get in the way of a person's academic development. He received special tuition in order to play regularly for the school team, scoring more than 1500 runs and taking over 100 wickets. The highlight of his time in the school 1st XI was undoubtedly a magnificent school record 207 in that glorious 1986 season. He also made his way to Lancashire where he is still an integral part of the one-day side and has helped greatly towards the recent successes of the 2nd XI.

It would be hard indeed to follow the highs of that particular class but David Moss continued the production line into the late 1980's and 1990's with the discovery of Mark's brother John. In many ways John was considered the best of the lot. He was a naturally gifted cricketer, whose run accumulation at the school was every bit as prolific as that of his predecessors. He followed Atherton's route to Cambridge and Lancashire and on to the England team. His recent disappointments in the West Indies will no doubt show up his strength of character, the foundations of which were laid by David Moss at Manchester Grammar.

Atherton, the Crawleys and Yates were undoubtedly hard acts to follow, but the Manchester Grammar production line has continued. Lee Marland, the son of former Brooklands captain and stalwart league cricketer Jeff, captained England at under 15 level and Lancashire Federation under 19's. The highlight of his MGS career was a magnificent 208 not out against local rivals William Hulme, which beat Yates' record for the highest individual score at the school. There were high hopes of him making it to the highest level, but not everyone ends up an Atherton or a Crawley, which is why David Moss is so keen on making sure the boys concentrate on their academic lives. Marland has recently been dropped from the Lancashire staff but continues to score prolifically for Brooklands in the Cheshire County League. Mark Chilton, however, is still on the Lancashire staff and is beginning to make his mark at the highest level. He produced some outstanding performances for the Combined Universities in this season's Benson and Hedges Cup and has broken into Lancashire's strong one-day side. The highlight of his school career came in 1995 when he broke Mark Crawley's record number of runs in a season. He passed 50 in 13 of his 16 innings, and 100 in seven of those, to score 1,316 runs at an average well in excess of 100. Great things are expected of him in the future. The current captain is Jonathon Lee, the new potential star in the Manchester Grammar firmament. Lee is a hard-hitting batsman who plays for Didsbury in the Cheshire County League and he could well surpass the 1,000 runs he scored in 1997, even bettering Chilton's three-year old record. Lee continues a tradition that was put in place by Moss that the captain is responsible for all cricket at the school; a heavy burden but certainly character building.

For all the high profile players that have passed through Manchester Grammar School, there are more lesser known players who have made an impact on cricket in the region. One of Moss's first pupils was Jon Bean, the former Alderley Edge player who now plies his trade for Bootle in the Liverpool Competition and for Cheshire. Another former player Michael Ward plays for Eagley in the Bolton League. More recently Scott Richardson, son of former league professional and Romida Sports proprietor Mike, set the school alight with his all-round performances and has joined the professional ranks. Of the current team, Nick Murrills, son of former Bowdon and Cheshire batsman Steve, looks to have a bright future in the game. Many others still continue playing the game they grew to love at MGS for clubs throughout the country. Cricket throughout the country should give thanks to the enthusiasm and skill of David Moss.

South African Cavaliers v M.G.S. Invitation XI

Sunday 5 July 1998, 11.00 a.m. start, 50 overs a side.
Sponsored by Addleshaw Booth and Co.

There is limited seating at the school. You are welcome to bring your own seats to sit around the boundary. Plenty of parking is available. Bar and refreshment facilities will be available

Admission: Adults £2.00, U16s £1.00

Source: The League Cricket Review