Ten Leinster schoolboys are currently residing in South Africa taking advantage of their school Transition year to spend time in schools and playing cricket at a high standard.
Over the past 10 years Cricket Leinster has assisted young cricketers to find appropriate schooling arrangements at various venues around the country. The experience gained is invaluable with most returning as better cricketers and having experienced first-hand the strong South African schools cricket set-up.
Ireland youth internationals David Delany and Rory Anders made their debuts for Muir College 1st X1 in their game against St Andrew's College in Grahamstown last weekend. The other Leinster boys played on the school 2nd X1 with Danny Hogan and Cameron Shoebridge scoring 20’s. Last Saturday’s 1st X1 fixture (which included all four Leinster boys) was against York in George, South West District with Rory Anders contributing 2-18 and 63 in the three wicket win by Muir.
Fixtures in the coming weeks will involve games against other strong Eastern Cape cricket schools like Woodridge, Grey College, Union High, Brandwag, Queen's College, Daniel Pienaar and Sterling High School.
Capped players at senior level Andrew Balbirnie and George Dockrell along with Ireland ‘A’ player Barry McCarthy have spent time at Muir College recently and it is hoped that the current crop of players spending time there can follow in their footsteps and gain higher honours in the years to come.
Below is a list of the Leinster players currently in South Africa:
Rory Anders (Castleknock Community school & Phoenix CC), David Delany (Belvedere College & Clontarf CC), Danny Hogan (St Mary’s College & Terenure CC) & Cameron Shoebridge (St Andrew’s College & Malahide CC) at Muir College, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape.
James Cox, Matthew Coll & Callum Gillespie (CUS school programme) at St Alban’s College, Pretoria.
Karl Millar, Niall Hunt & Dylan O’Halloran (CUS school programme) at Kearsney College, Durban.
Photo - Leinster youth provincial cricketers at Muir College.