Shrewsbury School maintains proud record of producing Worcestershire players

Thirteen alumni have played first-glass cricket in past 16 years

Shrewsbury School has long been a key stop on the conveyer belt from Shropshire to Worcestershire.

This year came their latest startling success story as Year 13 Jack Home – who was primarily a batter earlier in his development – graduated from school and National Counties cricket to the Worcestershire team in the One-Day Cup. Not only that, he took 6 for 51 against Derbyshire – the best figures for Worcestershire in one-day cricket since Shoaib Akhtar in 2005.

"It's been an incredible pathway to the top," said director of cricket Will Hughes. "Jack was more of a batter than a bowler.

"Now he’s being clocked at 90mph as an 18-year-old. He’s a proper all-rounder, even if he's batting down the order for Worcestershire so far. His ceiling is still miles away.

"He have worked extensively with Paul Pridgeon and the Shropshire system, but also here with Adam Shantry and Dave Manning, who also worked with him in the Worcestershire academy.

"Jack was a good footballer too. I think he's blessed with a resilient and slim physique that seems ideal for fast bowling."

Home and Theo Wylie of Warwickshire now take Shrewsbury's tally to 13 first-class cricketers in the last 16 years.

"We sat our U14 boys down the other day and said to them, 'Five years ago to the day, Jack and Theo would have been sat in the very same spot as you, and they are no further ahead now than you are. It's all there for you if you put the work in'."

Last season both 1st XIs were one win away from a Lord's finals each: the boys lost to St Peter’s York in the HMC T20; and the girls missed out to Ipswich. The U15 boys made it to T20 finals day at Arundel.

Shrewsbury have contacts to die for, and eight coaches at Level 3 and above. The facilities now include three hybrid wickets and a resurfaced cricket centre.

"All our coaches are part of a massive effort," says Hughes. "We say goodbye to our head of girls' cricket Gwen Davies after eight years. She'd like to reignite her playing career. Gwen has been a great advocate for girls' cricket and put in untold hours organising the national 100-ball competition.

"She's been replaced by Lara Jones and we're very excited for what the future holds for girls' cricket here."