An edited version of this interview appeared in The Bolton News in November 2010
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As Andrew Strauss leads his England cricket squad, including Lancashire’s own Jimmy Anderson, down to Australia to contest a 5 match Ashes Test series, a Bolton youngster is preparing to lead his men into battle in the West Indies! Chris Brownlow, a Boltonian living in Heaton, playing cricket for Horwich and a Year 8 pupil at Bolton School, has been Captain of the Lancashire Schools Cricket Squad for the past 2 years. Following a very successful 2010 season during which the team, made up of players from Clubs across the County, lost only 3 games (narrowly) from 13 against other counties from across England, the squad has secured backing from the Lancashire Cricket Board to embark on a pre- 2011 season trip to Barbados where they hope to play 7 matches with the biggest “test” likely to be a game against the West Indies U13s at the Kensington Oval Test match ground in Bridgetown.
We caught up with Chris during half term and found out more about this amazing cricketing adventure!
So, Chris, how did the trip come about?
Well, it was the idea of one of the squad’s parents. Lewis and his family were on holiday in Barbados last year and their flight home was delayed because of the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano. They met up with a party of U15s cricketers from Surrey who were on Tour. They then came up with the idea of us doing the same thing at the start of the season and it just grew during the Summer as we were playing some great cricket and all the lads and parents got on really well. At the end of the season we all travelled to Taunton to play in the annual English Schools Cricket Festival and the whole trip took shape that week. We then got the backing of the Lancashire Cricket Board and that makes it even more special as we now an “official” touring party representing Lancashire cricket overseas.
How much will the trip cost and how is it to be paid for?
The total cost for flights and accommodation for the official party of 20 (12 players, coaching staff and a scorer) is £28,000. The LCB Youth Fund is contributing £7000 and the squad members and their families are all working hard raising funds through donations from family and friends, from individual sponsorships with local businesses and by undertaking individual and group events to raise money. We are producing an official Tour Brochure and this will be funded by advertising. The brochure has profiles of all the players in it and it looks really professional. My family recently held a Quiz Night at my Club and that raised almost £700. I am also hoping to arrange a couple of sponsored events that I can do myself including a “Club to County” bike ride from Horwich to Old Trafford in the New Year and, if I can find a course that will let me, a 6 hole cricket/golf challenge where I will use a cricket bat and stump to hit a golf ball rather than normal clubs! As a group, we are doing things like supermarket bag packs – we recently raised £1300 in a weekend - to raise money to go into the general fund which will be used to pay for things like food, ground hire in Barbados etc. Some parents and brothers and sisters are coming along to support us but they are all paying for their trips themselves.
Are you nervous, and what is it like being Captain – it must be a lot of pressure!
I’m really looking forward to the trip, it will be a real challenge playing cricket in a different country and on very hard and dry wickets. Also we don’t know what the opposition will be like – they might be a team of potential Clive Lloyds and Michael Holdings, which would be a bit scary! My aim is to enjoy the experience and to improve my cricket – hopefully I can then enjoy a good season back in England next year and the Lancashire squad can push on. We just missed out on the Taunton Festival trophy last year as we lost the final match against Hampshire with only 3 balls left, so we’d like to put that right! Being Captain is a bit of pressure but I get a lot of help from my Vice Captain, James Seward, and the coaches, Dave Leighton and Shaun Anders, and the lads are really good – there’s no fall outs and we all work towards the same goals.
Tell us a bit about your cricket career so far?
I first became seriously interested in cricket in 2005 when I was 7 years old as I watched some of the Ashes series that summer whilst I was on holiday and I was inspired by the likes of Flintoff and Pietersen as England won a fantastic victory. My Dad arranged for me to go to winter nets at Horwich RMI and I quickly found that I had a bit of talent for the game and I got some great coaching from Dave Fairbrother and others at the Club. My first representative cricket was for the Bolton League when I was 9 and I have played for the “town” every year since and was Captain of the U11s in 2009. I also had my first Lancashire trial for the U11s when I was 9. I didn’t get picked but it was a great experience to go to net sessions at Old Trafford. I trialled again the following year and got to the final outdoor trial of 22 players but didn’t quite make it through. I was then selected in 2009 and was amazed but very proud to be asked to be Captain. The first season at County level was difficult as most of the lads didn’t know each other very well and we found the standard to be very high but we ended the season strongly and most of the squad came through the winter nets to get selected again at U12s and we’ve just had a great season. I have also been Captain of the school U12s team this season and we only lost twice. I picked up a few half centuries but my highlight so far is the 57 that I scored against Staffordshire at Taunton in 2009. For my Club I have captained the U11s and 13s and I have really enjoyed moving up to play at U15s level this year and I’ve had the experience of some Senior cricket with the 2nd and 3rd teams.
Are you a batsman or a bowler?
Well, both really – I like to think of myself as an all-rounder. At School and Club level I often open the batting but I tend to move down the order for Lancs as we have specialist openers and I have a lot of things to think about as Captain. I’m a bit of a “power” hitter so coming in at number 5 or 6 often suits my game as I may need to play a few big shots to pile on the runs at the end of an innings. I do like to play a longer innings if I get the chance and my big aim for next year is to score my first 100! I’m a medium-quick bowler and am pleased to be fairly economical but I’m building up my strength to add a bit more pace as I’d like to be more of a wicket taking strike bowler. I’m also working hard at my fitness as people don’t realise that cricket is a demanding game and you can be in the field for 3 hours at a time! In the field I have a pretty safe pair of hands and occasionally put on the wicket keeping gloves!
Do you do any other sports?
Yes, I’ve always played rugby and that helps me with my strength and fitness outside the cricket season. I play League at Westhoughton Lions but have also taken up Union since I started at Bolton School and I’ve been Captain of the school team for the last 2 seasons. I also enjoy a bit of golf and I’m hoping to get a road bike for Christmas and I’ll use that to improve my stamina!
Thanks, Chris, and good luck with the trip.
Thank you.
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Chris and the squad have now raised over £20,000 towards their target but are still working hard to raise the remainder. Chris has already raised the £1400 he needs to cover his personal contribution to the cost of the Tour but is still raising money for the general tour fund. He is looking for a “main sponsor” and is willing to help promote any local business wishing to help. Further information is available from his parents, John & Melanie who can be contacted on 07790 825156/07989 707415.
