Sport > Cricket 

Origins

The School was initially known as Johannesburg College and in 1910 changed its name to King Edward VII School. It is situated on the Houghton Ridge and has 1050 learners with 300 boarders. Cricket began with the arrival of AJ Atfield, a former Gloucester player who established cricket at King Edward VII School. In 1906, College played against the RGL Austin’s XI who were dismissed for 112. College made 292 for 2 with Howes making 129 and extras 75, because “Mr Austin’s stumper missed the train.” In 1909 Atfield resigned and was replaced by Fred Glesson who had played for Leicestershire. 1911 saw King Edward’s first Springbok cricketer, Sid Peglar.

Old Edwardians cricket club

On November 9, 1919, three Old Edwardian cricket teams played agaist the School and a record number of 85 people turned up for the Old Edwardians dinner out of which the Old Edwardian Club arose. Within three years the Old Edwardians XI had won the Transvaal League Competition.

In 1922 Springbok Buster Nupen decided to play for Old Eds rather than the more established Wanderers Club and ever since then talented Old Edwardians have followed their hearts back to the club. This was particularly the case in the 1980s when National players Kevin McKenzie, Hugh Page, Ray Jennings and Lee Barnard all returned to play for their club. Neil McKenzie, Adam Bacher and Stephen Cook represented Old Eds during the 2005/6 season.

The batting line-up (top five) for the Gauteng Lions at a specific time during the 2005/6 season read as follows: Adam Bacher, Stephen Cook, Neil McKenzie, Vaughn van Jaarsveldt and Matthew Harris – ALL Old Boys from King Edward VII School!

The 1930s and 1940s

Jack Board, who kept wicket for England, was the cricket professional between 1920 and 1924. He started the trend of the School producing good wicket-keepers. E van der Merwe kept wicket for South Africa and L Duffus, S Inchbold and P Loeser all kept wicket for Transvaal in the pre-war years.

The post war period produced Paul Winslow, who as captain of the First XI, scored 440 runs in 7 innings with the highest score of 232.

The 1950s to the 1970s

In 1952 Gary Player was the hero against St John’s (221 for 9). Player and Hoffman got together at 144 for 9 and the took the score to 222 for 9 with Player scoring 29 not out.

Mr John Hurry joined the School in 1953. An Old Edwardian, he had played for the First XV (Full back) and First XI. He moulded King Edward cricket over the next four decades. It was his meticulous attention to detail and his loyalty to the School and the learners that made him so successful.

A rising star appeared in 1957 when a 15-year-old Ali Bacher headed the First XI batting averages and made 102 not out against St John’s. He went on to become the School’s second South African captain. Kevin McKenzie, the First XI captain in 1966 was one of many stars who emerged in the 1960s and 70s and later represented South Africa. Other international players who come from this era includes Hugh Page and arguably South Africa’s best wicket-keeper, Ray Jennings, who also coached the Proteas with great success!

The 1980s and 1990s

King Edward continued to produce wicket-keepers of high class and produced four South African School’s wicket-keepers. Three sides stand out in the 1990’s. The 1991 side, under the captaincy of Anthony Pollock, was undefeated and was dominated by very aggressive batting from Nic Pothas who scored 728 runs in 12 innings. When Ryan Watson’s side lost their last game of the 1994 season, it was the first loss in two seasons. Ian Jeffrey captained SA Schools in 1990 and Anthony Pollock and Nic Pothas won SA Schools caps the following year. In 1993, Neil McKenzie, current SA ‘A’ and Gauteng Lions captain, was selected for SA Schools and captained the side in 1994.

The late 1990’s saw King Edward’s current Protea captain, Greame Smith, play an important role in the success of the team, capping his great performances with selection for SA Schools in 1999. Current Gauteng Lions player, Stephen Cook captained the First XI in his last year at the School. 

The new millennium

The fourth term in 2000 saw the emergence of another great talent, Vaughn van Jaarsveldt. As a Grade 9 learner Vaughn scored 843 runs at an average of 60,2 for the First XI. The outstanding team of the new millennium was definitely the team that played from the start of the fourth term in 2002 to October 2003. In an amazing run of success the First XI played 33 matches and were beaten once in a Johnny Waite Knockout semi-final match against Jeppe. They also became the first holders of the Chubb Eight Over School Boys’ Challenge that takes place annually at the Wanderers.

Surely the highlight of this era was in a fixture against Jeppe High School for Boys in 2003. Vaughn van Jaarsveld scored 240 not out from just 157 balls and so doing set a new King Edward record for the most runs scored by a batsman in a single innings, breaking Paul Winslow’s record of 232, which was scored against Parktown Boys’ High School in 1947.

Three players represented South Africa at Junior World Cup competitions during this time: Vaughn van Jaarsveldt, Blake Snijman and Richard Das Neves.

With some exciting developments in the pipe line like an indoor centre that will cater for indoor nets and an upgrade of the current turf nets, King Edward cricket looks healthy and ready to impress once again!