Arnold School Cricket & Facilities
The facilities for cricket at Arnold School are exceptional!
After the rugby season is over, the main focus for the boys at Arnold School is cricket. From years 7 to 10, all boys will take part in cricket and they are given ever opportunity to take part in either the A or B teams that compete throughout the Summer Term. Arnold's fixture list is impressive and is one that tests the boys every Saturday when block fixtures are played from U12A to 1st XI.
Over ten staff help to run the various teams from Monday to Saturday, with many more friendly fixtures and Lancashire Cup matches played during the week. The U12B, U13B, U14B and U15B all take part in the local Fylde & Wyre Cricket League, taking on A team opposition from the local state schools. These fixtures provide yet more opportunity for more boys to take part, improve and succeed with the B teams winning many matches each season. In 2009, over 150 boys played for the school in all teams in over 90 fixtures. The cricket season is certainly a busy and productive one!
At senior level, the school regularly fields a 1st XI and 2nd XI, with a new 3rd XI taking part during the last two years; such has been the number of boys wanting to play.
The Proctor Sports Hall provides the school with some of the best indoor cricket facilities on the Fylde Coast with three indoor cricket nets. These are used extensively throughout the academic year, with specialist coaching taking place between September and March in preparation for the cricket season.
Outdoors, the facilities are equally impressive. Three grass nets, two artificial astro turf nets and three mobile cages give the boys every opportunity to improve their skills. The three artificial wickets, in addition to the magnificent main square, give ample opportunity for fixtures regardless of the weather.
The main square is one of the best surfaces in the area with up to ten different strips available throughout the season.
The Cricket Department is also lucky to be blessed with a wide array of training aids and equipment, including two bowling machines, to help with every aspect of a young cricketer's development. 2009 saw the introduction of a top of the range automatic, remote controlled bowling machine. This was used for all cricketers from U12B to 1st XI. Its automatic feeder helps to further enhance the ability of our cricketers and, weather permitting, it is usually out every day during the Summer Term.
Please feel free to look through all of the cricket pages, where you will find information on our Code of Conduct, teams, fixtures, statistics and much more.