Cricket History

Cricket was played from the school’s inception. In 1902 the school moved to Kaiser Wilhelm Street in Joubert Park and a net was used in the back yard of the premises. Of the net in the back yard, a staff member, CT Elliot, wrote: “As there was some difficulty about the net, we built one of wire netting in the school grounds. It served its purpose admirably, but as thee was no room to get out of the way, a hard drive back to the bowling stump occasionally lamed one of those lesser nimbleness”. The Union grounds were used as the school cricket field. The first match was against the No 13 Military Hospital at Norse Mines in 1902 and the first Old Johannian match was played at the Wanderers in 1906. It is notable that many of the sides played by St John’s no longer exist. There were matches against Bank of Africa, Bishop of Pretoria’s XI, English A Mens’ Church Society Chemists, Railway lads, St Augustine’s Choir, St Mary’s Choir and the Bellevue Cricket Club.

 

Coaches

The early history refers to “Atfield of Lord’s”, a coach employed from the early times of 1914 and remunerated by Sir Abe Bailey, members of the academic staff and old boys such as J Zulch assisted, but in 1935, Major HMW Yates joined the staff.

Since that time eminent cricketers such as “Dickiei Bird”, John Waite, Richard Lumb and Richard Reid (New Zealand) have coached the first eleven.

The Mitchell Field

Originally known as the “A Field”, the main field was a sloping ground surrounded by a golf course. It was renamed in 1978 in honour of Bruce Mitchell, the great South African cricketer who played in 42 tests, scoring 3421 runs and taking 27 wickets.

 

Famous Old Boys – South Africa

John Zulch	1910 – 1921
Neville Lindsay	1921 – 1925
Bruce Mitchell	1929 – 1949
Ronnie Grievson	1939
Russell Endean	1950 – 1958
Clive Rice	1970 – 1992
Michael Rindell	1992 –
Jean Symes	(2005)	Selected Captain of the Gauteng Coca-Cola U19 team SA Schools who played Border Invitation side U19 World Cup team to tour Shrilanka in 2006
Warren Swan	(2001)	Currently plays for Boland
Brett Tucker	(1997)	Selected to play in the Snr SA ‘A’ side to play New South Wales in 2006 Played cricket for Griquas and Eastern Province Represented South Africa at Hockey
Mathew Street		Represented the Strikes
Graeme Marais		Represented Boland

NB: Warren Swan and Jean Symes have been selected to attend the 2007 National Academy.

 

Current 1st class cricketers

Jean Symes	(Lions)
Omphile Ramela	(Boland)
Devon Conway	(Dolphins)

• Other old boys who attended Prep, but not College include Michael Melle and Adrian Kuiper
• South African Schools’ caps: 13
• Nuffield caps: 92