How a Cheltenham school brought professional-grade facilities to their cricket-obsessed students - rain or shine, dawn or dusk
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
The problem facing Dean Close School was one familiar to cricket programmes across Britain: unpredictable weather, shorter daylight hours, and an insatiable appetite for cricket that refuses to respect the calendar. While enthusiasm for the game continues its upward trajectory, the British climate remains stubbornly uncooperative.
For Mike Powell, the school's director of cricket and former Glamorgan and Kent professional, the frustration was personal. His students' passion for the game matched his own, yet nature's constraints were limiting their development. The solution would require innovation, investment, and the right partnership.
Building excellence from the ground up
Enter Dura-Sport, specialists in synthetic cricket facilities who collaborated with the school to design a practice centre that would tick every box: performance, durability, maintenance requirements, and budget considerations.
The result is a state-of-the-art six-lane practice facility that reads like a wish list for any cricket programme. ECB-approved DSi-pro Vision cricket pitches form the foundation, their consistency providing the reliable bounce and pace essential for skill development. Extended run-ups accommodate fast bowlers working on their rhythm, whilst DSi-grass synthetic surfacing in the surrounding areas maintains the aesthetic appeal of natural turf without the associated maintenance headaches.
Safety, paramount in any school environment, drove the specification of a robust cage structure complete with a full roof and backstop netting—ensuring errant deliveries stay within the facility rather than interrupting matches on adjacent playing fields. Heavy-duty perimeter fencing provides an additional layer of security, preventing unsupervised access whilst maintaining clear sightlines.
Let there be light
The masterstroke, however, came in addressing the tyranny of the clock. Ten floodlight columns—five flanking each side of the facility—were installed to ECB-recommended LUX levels, transforming the nets from a daytime-only resource into an all-hours training ground. Summer twilight sessions can now extend seamlessly into evening, whilst winter practices needn't conclude when natural light fades at four o'clock.
Completed on schedule and within budget during the 2025 summer holidays, the facility immediately proved its worth. Claire Rawlinson, the school's operations bursar, didn't hold back in her assessment: "The Dean Close Foundation are absolutely thrilled with the new cricket nets installed by Dura Sport. From start to finish, the team were professional, efficient, and knowledgeable. The quality of the whole facility is outstanding and the nets look fantastic.
"Our pupils are thoroughly enjoying the new provision, and the attention to detail in the installation has really stood out. We would highly recommend Dura-Sport to any club or school looking for a top-quality cricket net installation and excellent customer service."
The ultimate test
Service, design, quality, workmanship, aesthetics—all impressive credentials. But in cricket, performance trumps everything. As the first delivery pitched and zipped through, Mike Powell's assessment was characteristically succinct.
"Perfect," he confirmed, watching the ball bounce with metronomic consistency down each lane.
For Dean Close School's ground staff, the facility offers welcome relief, reducing pressure on natural pitches that can now be preserved for matches. For the students, it represents unlimited opportunity—a place where technique can be honed regardless of weather, season, or the position of the sun.
When the light goes, as it inevitably does, Dean Close School simply switches on. The game continues.
For more information about Dura-Sport's services, click here.
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