The Hall School Cricket Tour of Sri Lanka

Dushy RANETUNGE

CRICKET: The Hall school cricket team tour of Sri Lanka begins today and are playing in Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

The school that is located in Hampstead, North London, is a preparatory school for boys up to the age of 13 and is a feeder school to Britain's leading schools.

The school has a keen team of cricketers who practice at nearby Lord's Cricket grounds.

The tour Captain is 13-year-old Michael Doughty a left-handed opening batsman and wicket keeper, with a top score of 51. He has won a sporting scholarship award to Harrow school.

Eddie Gilmore aged 12 is vice captain, a right-handed batsman and a right arm leg spinner. He was Captain of the Colts A Team last year and his leg spin bowling has looked particularly effective at Lord's. He hopes to go to Kings Canterbury School when he leaves The Hall.

Alex Hodgekinson aged 13 is a right-handed middle order batsman and right arm medium pace bowler. He is an accomplished cover fielder and has been ever present at the Lord's net sessions this term. He has won a sport scholarship to Upper Latymer.

Leo Suter aged 12 is a right arm fast bowler and right handed middle order batsman. He will open the bowling in Sri Lanka.

He hopes to go to St Paul's School after he leaves The Hall.

Freddie Wright aged 12 is a right arm fast bowler and a right-handed batsman. He was top wicket taker for the Colts A team. The team hopes that his aggression from the rugby pitch will find its way into his bowling.

He hopes to go to Radley when he leaves The Hall. Aashman Sharma aged 12 is a right-handed top order batsman and a right hand medium pace bowler.

He has been nicknamed "The Squid" by his teammates after his wicket taking celebrations. He will be leaving the school at the end of this year to go to Tokyo.

Daniel Croock aged 12 is a right arm fast bowler and left handed middle order batsman. His fast in-swinging yorker will be an important weapon both on tour and next season.

He hopes to go to Harrow School when he leaves The Hall. Sam Endacott aged 12 is a right-handed opening batsman and wicket keeper. He was leading run scorer for Colts A team last year.

He is wicket keeper for the London U12 team and will share duties with Michael Doughty and Angus Walker. He also plays for Hampstead and West District Cricket Clubs. He hopes to go to City of London School.

Harry Walker aged 13 is a right-arm medium pace bowler and right-handed batsman.

He is a specialist mid-wicket fielder. He hopes to go to Charterhouse after he leaves The Hall. 13-Year-old Angus Walker is a left-handed middle order batsman and wicket keeper. He also has the ability to bowl left arm medium. He also hopes to go to Charterhouse school next year.

Jack Cobbold aged 12 is a right-handed middle order batsman and right arm medium paced bowler. He has attended nets at Lord's since he was seven years old.

He hopes to go to Eton after he leaves The Hall. 12-year-old Thomas Smurfit is a right arm medium pace bowler and right handed middle order batsman. Both skills of the game have developed during his net sessions at Lord's. He is a maturing all-rounder. He hopes to go to Harrow after he leaves The Hall.

Julian Ranetunge aged 12 is a right-handed middle order batsman whose parents were born in Sri Lanka. He practises in the summer at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo under the guidance of Mr Mendis. He hopes to go to Winchester College when he leaves The Hall School.

Other than playing at Kandy, Galle and Colombo, the team will visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, the Temple of the Tooth, river rafting at Kithulgala and the turtle hatchery at Ahangama.

The team will also visit an orphanage in Ahangama, where the school is involved in some charity projects.

Matthew Foale, Richard Gorden and Ed Matten will be in charge of the boys during the tour. Matthew Foale is head of Games and tour organiser. Richard and Ed are first and second team coaches.