Jack and Lucas awarded 1st XI caps at Annual Dinner

We were delighted to recognise the achievements of two of our current Junior players, Jack Ellis and Lucas Smith, with the award of their 1st XI debut caps at the annual Brentham Cricket Club Dinner earlier this month.

The 17-year-olds were presented with their caps by former England Test Captain Chris Cowdrey at a packed event at Sudbury Golf Club.

Jack, who has been at the club since the age of eight, made his debut against Enfield on 8 July, a week after Lucas, who joined from Ealing CC in 2021, had made his bow against Indian Gymkhana.

The pair were among 25 of our current juniors, from Under-13 to Under-18, who played adult cricket during the 2023 season in our Saturday MCCL, Sunday Chess Valley, and friendly sides.

Head of Juniors, Ciaran Brett, said: "I'd like to congratulate Jack and Lucas on a magnificent achievement in making their 1st XI debuts last season.

"At Brentham, we don't just talk about a pathway through to adult cricket, we live it. So to have two 16-year-olds in our 1st XI, alongside a number of other junior graduates, is the perfect encapsulation of everything we are about as a club.

"The caps are a very visible reward for many years of hard work, both by our coaching team, but also by Jack and Lucas themselves"

"With so much more talent coming through in our younger age groups, we can't wait to present many more caps in the coming years."

More than 85 current and former players, and friends of Brentham, were at the dinner, cementing its place as one of the highlights of the Middlesex Cricket social calendar.

Guests were entertained by Chris Cowdrey, telling stories from his 16-year career in professional cricket, which saw him play six tests for England, including one as captain against the all-conquering West Indian team of the 1980s, and his post-playing career in the media.