The Gray-Nicolls Trophy 2025 was presented last week at the 2026 Gray-Nicolls Product Launch at the Kia Oval.
Since 1977, the award has been given to the most improved schoolboy cricketer in the country, nominated for their performances at the Bunbury Festival, the event created by the legendary late Sir David English.
Previous winners of the Gray-Nicolls Trophy read like an all-star team of cricketers. From the inaugural winner Derek Pringle, Mark Ramprakash in 1986, Nick Knight and John Crawley in 1989 and 1990, Graeme Swann in 1996, Ian Bell in 2000, through to more recent winners like Dom Sibley, Tom Haines, Jacob Bethell and James Coles.
16 winners of the Gray-Nicolls Trophy have gone on to represent England at International level. In 2001 Tim Bresnan won the award, beating a certain Alastair Cook despite his record-breaking efforts.
This year, there was little doubt who should pick up the trophy.
Theo Lamey of King's College Taunton received the trophy from Sam Billings of Kent and England; with ESCA President, John Weitzel, introducing the award in the presence of Theo’s family, the Gray-Nicolls team and selected customers.Theo was nominated for the award for his stellar performances in 2025. He captained the South West side at the 2025 Festival for the second consecutive year; during which he was the highest run scorer and also set a new individual record score of 157.
As a result, Theo was the team managers' unanimous nomination as the most promising batter. Theo then made his first ever double century batting for Somerset Under 18s in their three day fixture against Gloucestershire. He made 213 off 196 balls which included 27 fours and six 6s before being run out after a stay of almost four and a half hours at the crease.
Playing alongside team mates who are three years his senior Theo batted at number 6 in the order and came to the wicket with the score on 201 for four in the 54th over. By the time he was eighth wicket to fall he had taken the score onto 575 in the 120th over.
He then went on to Loughborough to take part in the Young Lions Super 4, for during which he will be playing in two T20 matches, three 50 over games as well as being involved with two profiling days.
Theo is an all-rounder who is six feet three inches tall, lives in Devon and plays his cricket for Bradninch and Kentibeare. Theo made his Second XI debut for Somerset in 2024 and played through the Somerset Pathway system, joining the Academy in the autumn of 2024.
This the 48th presentation of the trophy also celebrated Gray-Nicolls 150 years of hand-crafting bats in Robertsbridge since 1875.
Gray-Nicolls Trophy for the most improved schools cricketer
- 1977 – Derek Pringle – Felsted School*
- 1978 – Mark Brearley – Ilkley Grammar
- 1979 – Gordon Lord – Warwick School
- 1980 – Neil Foster – Philip Morant School*
- 1981 – Hugh Morris – Blundell’s School*
- 1982 – Mark Gouldstone – Braintree College of F.E.
- 1983 – Keith Medlycott – Wandsworth Comprehensive School*
- 1984 – Ian Redpath – Banstable School, Basildon
- 1985 – Ricky Bartlett – Taunton School
- 1986 – Mark Ramprakash – Gayton High School*
- 1987 – Harry Trump – Millfield School
- 1988 – Nick Knight – Felsted School*
- 1989 – John Crawley - Manchester GS*
- 1990 – James Hodgson – Ranelagh School
- 1991 – Andrew Hall – Marple Hall School
- 1992 – William Kendall – Bradfield College
- 1993 – Timothy Mason – Denstone College
- 1994 – Anurag Singh – Kings Edwards School
- 1995 – Luke Sutton – Millfield School
- 1996 – Graeme Swann - Sponne School*
- 1997 – Ryan Driver – Redruth School
- 1998 – Richard Dawson – Batley Grammar School*
- *Age group changed from Under 19 to Under 16*
- 1999 – Alex Loudon – Eton College*
- 2000 – Ian Bell – Princethorpe College*
- 2001 – Tim Bresnan – Castleford Grammar School*
- 2002 – Mark Cummins (Not Awarded)
- 2003 – Ben Wright – Cowbridge School
- 2004 – Greg Wood - The Queen Elizabeth School
- 2005 – Sam Northeast – Harrow School
- 2006 – Zafar Ansari – Hampton School*
- 2007 – Imran Hassan – Duffryn High School
- 2008 – Sam Kelsall – Trentham High School
- 2009 – Wilf Marriott – Radley College
- 2010 – Kishen Velani – Brentwood School
- 2011 - Dominic Sibley – Whitgift College*
- 2012 – Haseeb Hameed - Bolton School*
- 2013 – Nick Hammond – Kings School, Worcester
- 2014 – Tom Haines – Hurstpierpoint College, Sussex
- 2015 – George Lavelle – Merchant Taylors’ School Crosby
- 2016 – Sam Dorsey – The Swinton High School, Manchester
- 2017 – Rishi Wijeratne – Harrow School
- 2018 – Jacob Bethell – Rugby School*
- 2019 – James Coles – Magdalen College School, Oxford
- 2020 – Not awarded due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
- 2021 - Farhan Ahmed – Bluecoat Wollaton School, Nottingham
- 2022 – Will Bennison – St Peter’s School York
- 2023 – Henry Rogers – Hurstpierpoint College
- 2024 – Luke Hands – Sutton Grammar School, Preston
- 2025 - Theo Lamey - King's College Taunton
* Boys who have gone on to represent England
