Celebrating rising stars in Schoolboy Cricket for nearly 50 years, the Gray-Nicolls Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in school cricket, presented annually to the most improved schools cricketer in England and Wales.
The award not only recognises talent but serves as a springboard for promising players to develop their careers. To date, 16 winners have gone on to represent England on the international stage and past recipients have included celebrated names like Ian Bell, Dom Sibley, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, and most recently Jacob Bethell. The Gray-Nicolls Trophy has become synonymous with excellence and potential in English youth cricket.
Origins
First presented to Derek Pringle the Essex and England all-rounder in 1977, the Gray-Nicolls Trophy was created in memory of the former Gray-Nicolls Managing Director and Sussex player Len Newbery, known throughout the cricketing world as Mr Cricket.
Unlike awards based purely on talent, Len was keen that the Gray-Nicolls Trophy should emphasise improvement, grit and potential. It is awarded to the player who has shown significant development, impressive skills, and standout performances.
For the first 22 years the Trophy was awarded in association with the English Schools Cricket Association at Under 19 level. However in 1999, Gray-Nicolls and ESCA decided to switch the award to Under 16 level, based on players performances at the Bunbury Festival.
The Festival had been established in 1987 by David English, a former music producer, and keen cricket enthusiast, as an under-15 cricket tournament that brought together the most promising young players from across the nation. David was truly the driving force behind the success of Bunbury and a close relationship was formed between Gray-Nicolls, ESCA and David which flourished for over 20 years until he sadly passed away in 2022.
His legacy lives on as the David English Festival, re-named in his honour and now under the management of the ECB.
2024 winner
Indeed we are delighted that the ECB’s nomination for 2024 - selected by David Graveney based on his performance at the 2024 Festival – is this Year’s winner: Luke Hands of Hutton Grammar School.
Luke is a talented young cricketer from Hutton Grammar School in Preston. Known for his aggressive style and fearless approach, Hands has made a name for himself as an exciting middle-order all-rounder with the potential for a bright future in the game. His standout performances at this year’s Bunbury Festival, combined with his rapid improvement over the season, earned him this honour. His selection not only acknowledges his raw talent but also his dedication and growth, marking him as one to watch in the years to come.
A Lasting Legacy
The Gray-Nicolls Trophy, continues to be a defining feature of English schools cricket. With each new winner, the trophy reaffirms its role as an essential part of England’s cricketing journey, inspiring young players to reach for the stars and chase their cricketing dreams. Not content to rest on its laurels, as the game develops and youth cricket evolves, so will the trophy. We hope we will witness the first female winner in the near future.
