Cricket festival stumped due to Olympics

The South Croydon school holds a Surrey County Cricket Club game each year at its grounds in Haling Park.

But the London Olympics has meant Surrey have had to change their fixture list at their home the Kia Oval in Kennington.

Their usual mid-August test match has been moved to mid-July meaning it misses the usual date for the independent school’s cricket festival.

And in a further blow, the number of T20 games played by Surrey CCC has been reduced from eight to five meaning there will be no T20 game at the school either.

A spokesman for Surrey County Cricket Club said: “Surrey are committed to taking first-class cricket around the county but sadly – due to circumstances beyond our control – it was not possible to host any matches at Whitgift School this year.”

John Pitt, second master at the school, said: “At Whitgift, we are disappointed that the new leadership at Surrey CCC has informed us that they wish to review the cricket festival which has been held at Whitgift School annually since 2000.

“As a consequence, the management of Surrey CCC has decided not to repeat the Festival in 2012 while this review is underway.

“We had a particularly enjoyable and successful Festival last summer, which featured a one-day victory for Surrey in the CB40 competition, an exciting, four-day match against Essex, and Croydon’s first T20 match which highlighted Surrey’s bright new stars, including former Whitgift pupil Jason Roy.

“Players, spectators and umpires have all commented each year upon the excellent wicket and wonderful ground and matches have been broadcast live on Sky Sports on two occasions to large viewing audiences.

“The festival has brought first-class cricket to Croydon each year and given large crowds, including many Croydon residents, an opportunity to enjoy watching some wonderful cricket.

“We hope that Surrey CCC will return to the School in the future, but in the meantime we are also considering other possibilities.”