On tour with Christ’s College cricket
14 May 2025
Incredible experiences and strong performances on the field have all contributed to a highly successful 2025 Christ’s College cricket tour to the UK and the UAE.
Despite the stifling conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, College – playing in mixed teams – delivered some impressive performances (including a century and a 50 by Flynn Holdem) against Malvern College, Dubai College, and some UAE club teams. James Hunter, James Parker, Louie Garry, and Henry Hiatt also scored 50s while Alessio Viettone-Smithson was in top form with a four-wicket bag.
After visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Yas F1 circuit, and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, the 26 student-strong touring party enjoyed a 4WD desert safari near Dubai before heading to England and settling into Bradfield College, near Reading.
The boys then faced a range of schools and club teams, with the College teams initially struggling with the cooler temperatures and strong opposition. Jack Fletcher, James Hunter, Jackson Grace, and Alessio made the most of their opportunities to notch up 50s while Flynn recorded the first five-wicket haul of the tour and Ben Campbell secured a four-wicket bag.
The touring party then moved on to London and was split into Senior and Development XIs. Facing Charterhouse, Liam Singer scored the second century of the tour for the Development XI in the College victory (sharing a 135 run partnership with Angus Laing who scored 73) while the Senior XI was defeated. Next up was Eton, where the Senior XI held on for a draw, following a surprise visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and the Development XI narrowly lost. At Rugby School – where William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it 202 years ago – both teams were defeated, despite Henry scoring his second 50 of the trip.
College then played Dulwich for the first time. The Development XI had a good win but the Senior XI could not get over the line in its T20 fixture, despite battling hard. In the final matches against Radley College, Blake Nation scored a 50 and Joe Chapman took a four-wicket haul in the Development XI’s comfortable win before the Senior XI lost its match.
In between the games, the touring party enjoyed visits to Lord’s and Wembley, a bus tour around the city, a trip to the West End to see Matilda the Musical, and a poignant hour at the Dawn Service in Hyde Park on Anzac Day. The boys also had the opportunity to explore Camden Market, Carnaby Street, Leicester Square, and Borough Market.
