Four ex-pros spark Surrey success at Emanuel School

Director of cricket hails "embarrassment of riches"

With four former professional cricketers on their school coaching staff, Emanuel School possess "an embarrassment of riches", so says director of cricket Wayne White.

The former Lancashire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire allrounder is joined by ex-Glamorgan wicketkeeper Tom Cullen, former Middlesex batter Adam London and one-time Lancashire captain Dane Vilas as part of a stacked cricketing staffroom.

Vilas was whisked away during the summer to become Middlesex's interim head coach, but White hopes that he will return to Emanuel if he doesn't take a full-time position at the county.

"It's just about making sure we're getting the kids in the right spot at the right time, with the right practice," added White. "We can't complain about how we've been invested in. We back ourselves to get every kid one per cent better in every session. If they want it and bring the right attitude, we'll push them on. They set their own standards in that."

Vilas worked mainly with the first team in 2025, while Cullen is now with the school permanently. London is more self-employed, working on a consultancy basis, alongside his role at Richmond Cricket Club.

"You could come in at year six and have the same contact hours with the same coaches as the first team," said White. "I don't think there should be any differential at all. A lot of the 11 and 12-year-olds don't know who Dane is anyway! Our kids don't look at stuff like that anymore; they're being coached by a Test cricketer without really knowing."

That work is seemingly paying off: the girls' first team reached the county cup final, while one Emanuel pupil was the leading wicket-taker as Surrey's under-18 side won the national girls' title.

Off the field, though, the investment in a refurbished indoor school has been hugely significant, 20 years on from its construction.

"We've managed to get a new five-lane setup in there, which has made a huge difference for us, because 20 years is quite a long time for the lighting and flooring," said White.

"So, we are really chuffed with it; it also allows us to do other sports in there and net at the same time. It is really useful for us – we actually have a climbing wall inside, but if you have that and nets going on, it can get a little bit lairy, so we've managed to set the net system up so we can do both at the same time. It has all been a real step forward."

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