Schools of the Test cricketers: Schoolboys who dominated their generation

It’s known as one of Queensland’s top rugby nurseries but this school has provided just as much talent to Australian cricket. See Queensland’s top cricket production lines here.

Public schools continue to produce the majority of Test cricketers to have played for Australia since the turn of the century but some of the nation’s biggest private schools are emerging as nurseries for the nation’s favourite summer sport.

Of the 102 cricketers to have played a Test for Australia since 2000, 54 completed their schooling at public institutions, with 48 coming through the private school system.

And our cricketing captains this century are even more likely to have come through the public system, with six of the eight Test leaders in the 2000s – Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Tim Paine – attending public schools.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE AUSTRALIA’S TOP CRICKET SCHOOLS THIS CENTURY

Only Shane Watson – who captained a single Test in India in 2013 when Clarke was injured – and current captain and St Paul’s Grammar, Penrith, student Pat Cummins attended private schools.

Unlike the rugby codes and AFL though, which rely heavily on the school system to help develop players, the schools our cricketers attend are less likely to point to their higher-level success.

Eighty-six separate institutions have contributed to the tally this century, from all states and territories except the Northern Territory, with players schooled in city and country areas.

Seventy-two of those have produced a single Test cricketer, while 10 have two students that have gone on to play a men’s cricket Test for Australia.

Steve Smith played for NSW Combined High Schools and Menai High School.

But four schools stand above the rest for players this century.

Western Australia’s Wesley College has produced four players – brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh, batsman Chris Rogers and middle-order batter Hilton Cartwright – while wrist spinner Brad Hogg, opener Cameron Bancroft and former Test stalwart and coach Justin Langer went to fellow WA Public Schools Association (PSA) member Aquinas College.

Queensland’s traditional rugby nursery Nudgee College also schooled three players that turned out this century, off spinner Nathan Hauritz, opener Joe Burns and Australia’s latest Test debutant, leg spinner Mitchell Swepson.

Australia’s Shaun Marsh celebrates his century with his brother Mitchell Marsh during the 5th Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Victoria’s St Bede’s College, which also has close connections with the Kingston Hawthorn Cricket Club, has produced three players – Brad Hodge, Jon Holland and last summer’s success story, quick Scott Boland.

Wesley College head of sport Luke Dwyer said the college’s facilities and the depth of the PSA competition had helped produce the champions.

“Those guys (the Marsh brothers, Rogers and Cartwright) are seriously good Test cricketers, so we do pride ourselves on the fact that we’ve had some very good athletes come through our college,” Dwyer said.

Former St Bede’s student Scott Boland of Australia celebrates after taking his first test wicket dismissing Mark Wood of England. Photo: Getty Images

The college’s director of cricket Michael Deighton played 71 first class matches for Tasmania, while Test representative Shaun Marsh has given back to the college, doing some batting and fielding specialist coaching.

But Dwyer said on-field success – of the individual or the team, was not everything.

“We value everything that comes with sport – building resilience and discipline that it takes to commit to training and competition,” he said of Wesley, a school which has also produced AFL stars Lance “Buddy” Franklin, Ben Cousins and England Test cricketer Ben Hollioake.

Lance Franklin's school, Wesley College, has produced several elite sportsmen.

“We’re not a win at all costs school and we value preparing students as best as can with good coaching and mentorship to be competitive.

“It’s bigger than the result. We come back to what is our philosophy and what are we doing to prepare our students for a meaningful experience as young adults and adults.”

Fellow PSA school Aquinas College, whose alumni include Olympic track champion Herb Elliott, has a rich tradition of school sport its head of cricket Brett Silver says drives all at the school.

“It’s a Chariots of Fire moment, you’re excited by what’s gone on in the past and you want to honour that whether you’re a player or a coach or a teacher,” Silver said.

Former Australian player and coach Justin Langer is an Aquinas old boy. Photo: Getty Images

Queensland rugby nursery St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, is another school building its cricket resume.

Nudgee head of cricket Tim Lang said his main focus had been getting “wonderful” coaches into the program to help develop the boys’ skills.

In conjunction with multimillion-dollar facilities that include new flats and 20 artificial and eight turf practice wickets, coaches including former Test player Nathan Hauritz and Australia’s latest Test debutant Mitch Swepson helped hone players’ skills and bring a new generation through the system.

“If you put good mentors in front of the boys, it’s a long process but you’ll see the fruits of the labour by the time they get to year 10,11 and 12,” Lang said.

As well as Hauritz, Swepson and Joe Burns, Nudgee old boys include West Indies representative Brendan Nash, who remains heavily involved in the college’s cricket program, Australian one-day players Jimmy Maher and Chris Lynn.