09-12 May 2024
The number six has a special significance in cricket. Six: the number of balls in an over. Six:
the perfect shot; Six: Highest grade you can achieve in a subject In Switzerland schools. On
their tour of Surrey in England on the Ascension weekend, the Switzerland national under-11
team achieved their own significant six by winning all six of their six matches..
Primary goal of this tour is to provide opportunities to all our under 11 players and prepare
them for upcoming County Cricket Festival participation in Summer. While we are extremely
excited with the result, we are even more happy about achieving the goal of providing every
player enough chances to shine. Each player finishes the tour with happy memories.
Addition to the matches, players also enjoyed a couple of excellent training sessions with
some focused drills on fielding from. The way everyone was complimenting each other it
never looked like they were playing together outdoors for a long time.
Match 1 : vs Twenty20 CC
Switzerland U11S 62-8 (Krishh 21, Siddhant 7*, Rithwik 6 , Olly 2/2 ) bt Twenty20 CC U11
61/Allout (Aditya 18, Archie 14, Arav 7, Jasper 7; Parth 3-20, Rithwik 2-9, Alfie 2-5, Siddhant
1-4) by 2 wickets – Match Stats
Match 1 : vs Twenty20 CC
Switzerland U11S 62-8 (Krishh 21, Siddhant 7*, Rithwik 6 , Olly 2/2 ) bt Twenty20 CC U11
61/Allout (Aditya 18, Archie 14, Arav 7, Jasper 7; Parth 3-20, Rithwik 2-9, Alfie 2-5, Siddhant
1-4) by 2 wickets (https://www.crichq.com/matches/1147604/1st_innings)
After winning the toss and Switzerland U11s opted to bowl first, Twenty20 CC U11s made a
solid start, scoring 24 runs in the first 4 overs with both openers handling the pace bowling
effectively. Captain Krishh then brought on spin bowling attack, Siddhant, who made an
immediate impact by taking a wicket with his third delivery.This marked the beginning of a
dominant display by Switzerland U11s’ spin attack.
With this breakthrough, the young spin wizards of Switzerland U11s began weaving their
magic. Aadyanth bowled a tight spell and did not let the pressure off. Parth continued the
spin magic by taking 3 wickets in two overs. Switzerland’s fielding was exceptional, and the
turning point came in the eleventh over when Parth and Krishh executed a stunning double
act. Krishh took three catches off Parth’s bowling, including an incredible full-length dive to
his left. Alfie & Rithwick too joined the amazing team display of bowling by getting two
wickets, hardly conceding any runs.
Krishh and Alfred started positively by scoring 10 runs in the first over, but their promising
start was halted by back-to-back wickets. mastering the low bounce Krishh’s run-a-ball 21,
along with solid support from Ritwik, ensured that the required run rate did not spiral out of
control on a difficult pitch. However, Switzerland U11s faced a predicament when both Krish
and Rithwick were dismissed in quick succession with the score at 36/4. With Siddhant
anchoring one end securely and the batters ensuring that the scoreboard kept ticking despite
losing wickets, Siddhant eventually sealed the victory with 14 balls to spare.
Switzerland had not managed to win much on their previous visits to England, so this was a
huge breakthrough and testament to the improvement and development of these young
players.
Match 2 : vs City of London Freemen’s School U11
Switzerland U11S 118-8 (Rithwik 21*, Alfie 16, Siddhant 11, Siddharth 7 , Mikaeel 3-8 ) bt
CLFS U11 47/All Out (Harry 7, Adhyanth 3-8, Siddhant 2-6 Elliot 2-2) by 71 runs – Match Stats
There was little time for the team to bask in their success, as day 2 brought another round of
training sessions and consecutive matches. The first match took place at the scenic City of
London Freemen’s School. After winning the toss and batting first despite a shaky start at
9-3, The catalyst of this recovery were Captain Rithwik(21*) and Alfie(16). In the process
Rithwik became the first player to retire on this tour. Alfie’s positive batting gave a perfect
partner for Rithwik. Both ran extremely well between the wickets. Another small collapse
meant Switzerland were 78-4 however another partnership between Siddhant(11) and
Siddharth(7) helped Switzerland to recover and set an imposing target of 118-8.
The opposition found themselves unable to contend with the diverse bowling attack of the
Swiss team. Thomas got the first wicket and a remarkable performance from spin twins
Siddhant and Aadhyanth, who claimed three wickets in just six deliveries (including two in
two for Siddhant), turned the tide in Switzerland’s favour. Elliott also made a notable
contribution, taking two wickets in two balls and sealing the win with a characteristic piece of
sharp fielding for a runout. Kirshh bowled a wicket maiden as well.
Elliotte, Thomas & Alfred further added to the mix with couple runouts, ultimately helping
Switzerland secure a commanding victory by 71 runs.
Match 3 : vs Horsley and Send U11
Switzerland U11S 125-5 (Siddharth 23, Alfie 21, Neelabh 11, Siddhant 10* , Mikaeel 3-8 )
bt CLFS U11 47/All Out (Harry 7, Adhyanth 3-8, Siddhant 2-6 Elliot 2-2) by 71 runs – Match Stats
Later the same evening, the team headed to the wonderful Horsley and Send club grounds.
This was one of the toughest teams on the tour itinerary to play against. After losing the toss
and put in to bat on a good pace bowling pitch Switzerland had a decent start of 20 in 3
overs with both Krishh & Rithwik showing excellent technique and positive batting intent,
however the team were in spot of bother after losing both the openers in span of 6 balls. The
foundation was set in the first innings when Switzerland again recovered from a troubled
start, on 36-3, with some inspired batting. Alfie with support of Neelabh and Parth again led
the rescue mission with a measured and unbeaten 21 that saw him rotate the strike with
typical energy at the start before unleashing some booming drives down the ground.Alfred
lifted the team’s spirits by smashing the first six of the tour with a lofted shot over deep
midwicket. This energised the entire team and provided a crucial momentum shift. In the
final three overs, Siddharth (23) and Siddhant (10) formed a dynamic partnership, adding
28 runs to the total. Their collaboration gave the innings a significant push and tilted the
momentum firmly in Switzerland’s favour.
With a par score of 110, H&S U11s were confident in their ability to chase down the target,
boasting a strong top six batting lineup. However, Switzerland’s pace bowling attack had
different plans. Neelabh made a decisive impact after the break, delivering the wickets he
had been threatening throughout the tour. In a remarkable display, he claimed three wickets
in a row, achieving the first hat-trick of the tour. His inspired form continued in the third over,
with three clean bowled dismissals consecutively, the final delivery shattering the stump
and igniting jubilant celebrations. Neelabh concluded with figures of 4-4.
Despite horror start at 16/4, the H&S U11s remained confident, especially with the presence
of Captain Jack (22*) at the crease and several capable batters waiting in the dugout. They
began to stage a recovery, gradually opening up and reaching 45/4 after 10 overs. However,
the tide turned again with Siddhant captaining the side, introducing himself into the attack.
His immediate impact was felt as he dismissed Jack on the first ball, eventually claiming
three wickets in his over. Alfie, Parth, and Krishh also contributed with one wicket each.
In the end, Switzerland emerged victorious by 47 runs with two overs to spare, despite the
H&S U11s’ valiant efforts to stage a comeback.
Match 4 vs Rokeby School A
Switzerland U11S 94-6 (Alfred 31, Thomas 13 , Alfie11, Jack 2-2) bt Rokeby 1 U11 92/8
(Sam 16, Copp 16, Elliot 2-6, Siddharth 2-13) by 5 wickets – Match Stats
The first of a double-header at the Rokeby School grounds saw Switzerland field
Thomas got the first breakthrough and Neelabh joined soon. Siddharth B with his 2 wickets
made sure Rokeby were not able to string together a partnership. Elliot’s two wickets in 8
balls got the crucial breakthrough when the team needed the most.
Starting chase of 93 on current form looked to be a cake walk, however suddenly the Swiss
U11s slumped to 15-4 in their replay, facing defeat for the first time on tour, but two
astonishing partnerships between Thomas, Alfred, and Alfie saw the visitors take control.
The eleventh over was the high point, as Alfred hit four successive fours straight down the
ground to turn the match on its head.
In the end, Switzerland won by five wickets with 14 balls to spare.
Match 5 vs Rokeby School B
Switzerland U11s 107-7 (Adhyant 17, Siddharth 16, Rithwik 14 , Alfie11, Jack 2-2) bt
Rokeby B U11 39 all out (Rahul 14*, Alfie 16, Elliot 2-6, Siddharth 2-13) by 68 Runs – Match Stats
The second match against another Rokeby selection was more straightforward but not
without its drama. In continuous effort to provide everyone exposure of English conditions
and grass wickets with everyone performing amazingly well, Neelabh(7) and Siddharth(16)
kicked off the Swiss innings with 22 runs in 4 overs at the top of the Order.
Few quick wicket rocked the charge and despite Parth’s magnificent effort at 72-7 with just
4.3 over left in the innings, a smaller total looked more likely on the cards, however fine
35-run stand between Aadyaanth(17), the youngest champ in our team and Rithwik(14) at
the end of the innings set a target of 108 to win.
A decent target looked impossible as the brilliance of Swiss bowling and fielding proved too
much for the opposition. Ever reliable Krishh opened the bowling was his usual best with
2-2-0-2 figures and equally supported by Thomas 2-0-3-2. The win was effectively sealed in
the fifth over as the home side. Still there was decent batting left however they had no
answer to Alfie’s spin. First, he induced a false stroke for another catch for Krishh, one of
two in the innings, and then teamed up with Alfred who took two fine stumpings as Alfie took
a brilliant hattrick and four wickets in five balls.
Rokeby were duly dismissed for 39 runs, as Switzerland won by 68 runs.
Match 6 vs Thames Ditton U11s
Switzerland U11s 216-7 (Siddharth 27, Matthew 24, Krrish 19* , Parth 19, Rithwik 15) bt
Thames Ditton U11s 85 all out (Lewis 21, Dylan 12 ; Adyanth 3-13, Alfei 2-10 Krishh 2-1) by
68 Runs – Match Stats
On Sunday morning, thoughts might have been turning to flights of even drives back to
Switzerland, but the Swiss team kept their focus to complete their clean sweep at the
expansive Thames Ditton grounds. Playing in bright sunshine and with a pitch with a notably
truer bounce than seen in earlier matches, Swiss put on a batting masterclass to post 216/7
in the first innings.
Innings began with a formidable opening partnership between Krishh & Alfred. Facing some
quick short pitch bowling both players took to the opposition with multiple boundaries. Krishh
continued mature innings after a couple of quick wickets and made sure the team was never
under pressure. Eventually retiring at 19*. The key was an unbeaten stand of 58 runs
between the eighth and the sixteenth over featuring Mathew Kelly (retired on
24), Rithwik, and Siddharth.
With loss of a couple of wickets there were chances for Dittons to come back in the game
but Parth’s best batting performance, playing with amazing intent, with 3 boundaries gave
perfect launching pad for end overs.
Siddharth finished the innings with a flourish with a typically graceful 27 from 23.
Thames Ditton put up a valiant response but 3/13 and a great runout from Aadhyanth set up
the win, with Alfie also claiming 2/10, while Neelabh pulled off a stunning reaction catch.
Elliott achieved the rare feat of bowling a wicket and taking a stumping in the same innings,
both coming within 19 balls of each other. The team finished on a high and they excelled in
every discipline on the tour, which was also noticeable for the deep contributions from all
players and the palpable team spirit among the players.
Conclusion
Opportunities for all are the cornerstone of sustainable development in any team sport. By
giving every player the chance to shine, we are not only nurturing their love for the game but
also laying a solid foundation for their future in cricket. These young athletes have shown
immense potential, and with continued support and encouragement, they will develop into
skilled players who embody the true spirit of sportsmanship.
Looking ahead, we are confident that the experiences and lessons learned from this
tournament will positively influence their approach to the game and life. By promoting
inclusivity and equal opportunities, we are not just shaping better cricketers but also
responsible, confident, and resilient individuals.
From the Coaching team, we want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who
contributed to making this a success.
To the parents, your unwavering support, encouragement, and dedication to your children’s
development have been invaluable. Your involvement is crucial, and we deeply appreciate
your commitment.
A special thank you to our scorer(Sandeep) and umpire(Chris) for their professionalism and
dedication. To Adrian for inputs with the tournament report. Russel L. for helping with Social
media updates.
To all the volunteers, your hard work behind the scenes has not gone unnoticed. Whether
assisting with kits, logistics, refreshments, or other tasks, your contributions have been
essential to the tour’s success.
Thank you all for being an integral part of this journey. Together, we are fostering a love for
cricket and building a supportive community for our young athletes.
The Journey Continues… see you at Kings !!!
For Cricket,
Nilesh & Srini
U11 Coaching team !!
