A small piece of history was made last week on the hallowed pitch at Lord?s Cricket Ground, as 18-year-old Rugby School pupil Maia Bouchier became the first girl to play there as a member of a school?s first XI, writes Charlotte Phillips
Although Rugby lost (by 30 runs to Marlborough College) Maia, whose bowling and batting averages put her in the top three players at the school, is clearly a rising star.
She is also one of a growing number of girls whose talents are being harnessed in mixed sports teams. Take Alleyn’s School in Dulwich, south London, which has been celebrating the achievements of its Under 12 cricketers. The combined talents of the team?s boys and girls resulted in victory in the London Cup after a thrilling finale when Alleyn?s beat Emanuel School to take the title. Above, Allleyns Under 12 cricketers who won the London Cup beating Emanuel and St Paul’s Cathedral schools
Alleyn?s has a long tradition of mixed teams in sports, ranging from water polo to football. But it?s cricket that has really taken off at the school. While the headline-hitting world cup victory by the England women?s cricket team has undoubtedly helped, the sport also lends itself to mixed teams, in part because success is about subtlety rather than brute strength. “It?s not all about power,” confirms Stuart Turner, head of lower school. “That said, the most successful girls are actually the fastest bowlers as well, so they are on a physical footing with th...