Cricket and Netball Tour Sri Lanka 2025

Photo Gallery

In February 2025, 46 students and 7 staff members travelled to Sri Lanka on the first ever joint Cricket and Netball tour. We fielded a 1st and 2nd team at both cricket and netball, playing in adverse conditions compared to the UK with temperatures consistently around the 35 degrees mark!

With the tour being part of our cricket pre-season, it took time to adapt to playing matches and to the conditions, but improvements were made throughout the tour. Both teams played in six fixtures each which took place in a variety of settings from school grounds to the Army Camp ground and local club grounds. It was a huge learning experience for our players, and we managed to win 6 out of our 12 fixtures in Sri Lanka playing against local schools, colleges and academy teams.

The tour finished in the Galle International Stadium on the final day which will certainly be remembered for a long time to come with both teams winning their fixture! A magnificent setting on the Southwest coast of Sri Lanka with the Dutch Fort in the background and a venue which was host to the Sri Lanka vs Australia Test Match only the week before. Scorecards from all the fixtures can be found here: LRGS Play Cricket.

The Netball teams participated in six competitive matches each, demonstrating their skills and determination. Each game was closely contested, with both teams winning games, all while playing in challenging sunny and hot conditions. We were privileged to have international umpires for the matches, enhancing the experience, and our coaching staff had the rare chance to umpire alongside them.

The girls also played on grass and clay courts for the first time, which added an exciting challenge. They adapted to the different surfaces, helping them become more versatile players. Outside of the games, the girls engaged with the local Sri Lankan children, playing and singing together. This experience allowed them to fully embrace the local culture and create meaningful connections. It was a heartwarming highlight of their trip and contributed to an unforgettable tour. 

Away from the match action, various excursions and events were enjoyed by the touring party. A visit to the Elephant Orphanage and Turtle Hatchery allowed students to learn how these animals are looked after and cared for along with how they make paper out of elephant poo! We also visited the Foundation of Goodness where the impacts of the Tsunami in 2004 were clear to see and we got to experience the new facilities set up to help rebuild the local area and to provide education. Evening entertainment at the hotel was well received and included a Hawaiian evening, fancy dress, games night and a very competitive quiz night!

A big thanks must go to our sponsors for the tour who, along with some fundraising efforts, helped provide kit and gifts for us out in Sri Lanka. Namely Oceanic Seafoods, Targeted Provision, Zosh Occupational Health and Silverdale CC as well as a handful of family and friends who sponsored the tour but wish to remain anonymous. Thank you also to the Friends of LRGS who provided caps and teddy bears to be awarded to opposition teams for a captain or player of the match, items that were certainly treasured by those who received them.

A final thank you goes to the staff, pupils and parents who joined us on the tour, together making the experience a thoroughly enjoyable one and I am sure that there will be stories and memories for years to come from this trip!

Matt Rosbottom – Head of Cricket

Amy Ashby – Head of Netball