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[Julesoak]

There is a big hair issue though. Lovely lads - very good with my son when he was there a couple of times recently.

Sam is ridiculously young. Terrifying. Is the youngest on Surrey's books as well?

This may be tangential from the topic but I wonder how many of those lads were private schoolboys? I know it could be skewed by the fact that if you're handy you'll be getting a scholarship and 11/13/16 but I would be interested in people's thoughts, mainly from a selfish level.

My son is just eight is potentially shaping up to be a decent sportsman/boy (playing U11s cricket at 7 and going well this year, sub 20min 5k, good club swimmer and a very handy rugby player) and at the moment it's with a heavy heart that I'll have to tout him round the local private schools to find somewhere where he can get a chance to realise his potential, which is a shame. I know lots can change in the next couple of years but I need to get planning. And saving.

[TangoWhiskey]

There is a big hair issue though. Lovely lads - very good with my son when he was there a couple of times recently.

Sam is ridiculously young. Terrifying. Is the youngest on Surrey's books as well?

This may be tangential from the topic but I wonder how many of those lads were private schoolboys? I know it could be skewed by the fact that if you're handy you'll be getting a scholarship and 11/13/16 but I would be interested in people's thoughts, mainly from a selfish level.

My son is just eight is potentially shaping up to be a decent sportsman/boy (playing U11s cricket at 7 and going well this year, sub 20min 5k, good club swimmer and a very handy rugby player) and at the moment it's with a heavy heart that I'll have to tout him round the local private schools to find somewhere where he can get a chance to realise his potential, which is a shame. I know lots can change in the next couple of years but I need to get planning. And saving.

I wouldn't worry too much about private schooling. Make sure you get him into a club with a good academy and make sure he's available for area games etc. Steve Finn went to Parmiter's school which is a state school and he's not done too bad for himself.

[FattusCattus]

Surrey seem to have a great crop of real youngsters coming through. A mate of mine plays in their 2XI and is a phenominal talent, but is still behind the likes of Sibley and the asian opening laddie for a place in the ones. He's only 16 I think, but says he;s already mixed with Sanga, Mahmood, Batty, Meaker etc, and that the attitude towards the 'young 'uns' there is really good.

[FattusCattus]

I'm hoping Gubbins and Ravi Patel at Middx break through, as I think both of those deserve a run.

The likes of Malan, Stirling, Rayner etc ought to be looking over their shoulders!

[northernboy1987]

There is a big hair issue though. Lovely lads - very good with my son when he was there a couple of times recently.

Sam is ridiculously young. Terrifying. Is the youngest on Surrey's books as well?

This may be tangential from the topic but I wonder how many of those lads were private schoolboys? I know it could be skewed by the fact that if you're handy you'll be getting a scholarship and 11/13/16 but I would be interested in people's thoughts, mainly from a selfish level.

My son is just eight is potentially shaping up to be a decent sportsman/boy (playing U11s cricket at 7 and going well this year, sub 20min 5k, good club swimmer and a very handy rugby player) and at the moment it's with a heavy heart that I'll have to tout him round the local private schools to find somewhere where he can get a chance to realise his potential, which is a shame. I know lots can change in the next couple of years but I need to get planning. And saving.

I'm not sure private school is the be all and end all like TangoWhiskey alluded to, Steven Finn attended a state school as did Ben Stokes (same school as I went to!) and I'm sure there's others who have too.

[TangoWhiskey]

Exactly. I would suggest the myth behind private school boys getting selected ahead of state school boys would be more to do with the fact that as Cricket isn't played in State school the kids lose interest in it. If you keep him playing at all opportunities I can't see why he would be held back at all.

[123*]

As a PE teacher in a state school I disagree fully and would deffo be sending my kid to private school if they were talented!

[northernboy1987]

Exactly. I would suggest the myth behind private school boys getting selected ahead of state school boys would be more to do with the fact that as Cricket isn't played in State school the kids lose interest in it. If you keep him playing at all opportunities I can't see why he would be held back at all.

Exactly right, like I said Stokes went to the same school as me and came up through my local club and I'm from a VERY small town and the club's not exactly massive 3 Senior teams (just) and then age group teams 11s 13s and 15s if memory serves.

[TangoWhiskey]

As a PE teacher in a state school I disagree fully and would deffo be sending my kid to private school if they were talented!

Well to be fair if they can get a scholarship then why wouldn't you?

[northernboy1987]

As a PE teacher in a state school I disagree fully and would deffo be sending my kid to private school if they were talented!

Interesting, always good to get an opinion from someone more directly involved. Seems unfair that finances could potentially make or break our kids' futures but ain't that life!

[Kulli]

Interesting, always good to get an opinion from someone more directly involved. Seems unfair that finances could potentially make or break our kids' futures but ain't that life!

It's hardly something new, or restricted to sport, unfortunately.

[123*]

Interesting, always good to get an opinion from someone more directly involved. Seems unfair that finances could potentially make or break our kids' futures but ain't that life!

My school played a rather large (and expensive) private school in a fixture a few weeks ago. We turned up to an outstanding ground with top facilities with tea prepared. Upon talking to the players they practiced with a successful county cricketer two hours per day. We on the other hand have an astro turf pitch between football pitches and I am lucky if I can get 40 minutes per week at lunch time to practice with my kids!

As it happens the game was quite close but I think having those facilities and coaches on hand could certainly make the difference to a talented kid. Also, no matter how much you debate it, a recommendation from the head of cricket at a private school to a county is worth more than me having a quiet chat with a county coach. Kids can certainly flourish in state school but there's no way they'll receive the same opportunities sadly.

[smilley792]

Joe root. Former worlds no1 batsmen.
State schooled.

[Julesoak]

Joe root. Former worlds no1 batsmen.
State schooled.

"He attended King Ecgbert School, Sheffield and at 15 on a cricket sports scholarship, Worksop College in Worksop as a weekly boarder.[2]"

Guess it just depends how important you think those last 3/4 years were. Although i don't doubt he would have done the business anyway.

[ProCricketer1982]

Private school will produce more players because it brings out the talent far more regularly, if the same quality goes to each, then I'd back the private one to make it more often than the state one. Does t stop you of course but the teaching, the facilities, the time, the discipline (both ofmthenschool, teacher and kids ) are all far superior at private schools