CRICKET has often been perceived as a sport reserved for the elite, with its traditional ties to private schools and formal settings.
However, for James Caunt, the Island’s Under-11 and Under-13 coach, cricket is for everyone.
With an unwavering passion and determination, Caunt has set out to make cricket accessible to all young people in Jersey, regardless of their school or background.
“Cricket is thriving at the primary school level,” Caunt explained. “There are so many opportunities provided by Jersey Cricket for younger children, which is fantastic.
“But when they transition to secondary school, the drop-off is significant. That’s something I’m determined to address because every child who wants to play cricket should have the chance to do so.”
For years, Jersey’s representative cricket teams have been predominantly made up of pupils from private schools such as Victoria College and St Michael’s School.
While the coach is quick to acknowledge the excellent work these schools have done to nurture cricketing talent, he believes the playing field needs to be levelled.
“It’s not about taking anything away from schools with a strong cricketing tradition,” he said.
“It’s about widening the scope and ensuring that cricket doesn’t have the stigma of being a private school sport. It should be a game for everyone.”
To turn his vision into reality, Caunt has taken proactive steps to introduce cricket programmes into Jersey’s state schools. Over the past few months, he has focused his efforts on Le Rocquier School, with the short-term goal of building a cricket team there.
“I’ve been working closely with the school, coaching the students and helping them develop their skills so that they’re ready to take on other cricket-playing schools.
“The enthusiasm and talent I’ve seen have been incredible. It’s been a joy to see how much the kids have embraced the opportunity.”
Caunt’s work has been warmly received by Le Rocquier’s head of PE, Natalia Espana, who has been a key partner in bringing cricket to the school.
“Part of my vision as head of PE is to see as many of our students as possible participating in sport outside of school,” she explained.
“We’re very inclusive in the extracurricular activities we offer, but to get our students to that next level—representing the Island or joining a club—they need to build those connections. That’s where James has been amazing.”
Natalia recalled how James approached her with his idea. “He said to me, ‘I’ve got a cricket programme that works well with St Michael’s, but I’ve never done anything like it with state schools.’
“So, we decided to pilot something together. He found sponsorship, set up sessions, and here we are.
“The kids have absolutely loved it. They come running to their cricket sessions, full of excitement. It’s been wonderful to see how it’s built their confidence, which is such a big hurdle for many of them.
“When they feel they’re not good at something, that fear of failure can really hold them back. Cricket has given them a chance to break through that.”
Espana’s long-term goal mirrors Caunt’s’ vision: “It would mean the world to see one of our students representing Jersey in the years to come.
“James has been absolutely fantastic. His energy, enthusiasm, and passion are second to none.
“I’ve told him he’s missed his calling—he could easily do this full-time, and we’d be lucky to have him permanently.
“The work James does is so valuable because, put simply, most schools don’t have sufficient funding to expose their students to that many sports at a level as good as this, so any help we can get from people like James, specialists in their sports, is an absolute goldmine.”
The programme has already made a huge impact on the students: “We played a little bit in primary school,” said one of the pupils involved.
“I’ve always enjoyed it, but there was never an opportunity to be part of a team like this, and then as we moved into secondary school, and cricket kind of stopped altogether.
“It’s great to get back into it, and to finally have a chance to play in a team.”
His classmate added: “Cricket is such a big sport in England, but it wasn’t something we got to experience much at school. This programme has been amazing. It’s given us a chance to try something new and learn a sport that not many of us had access to before.”
Even students who are passionate about other sports have been inspired by the programme.
“My favourite sport is football,” admitted another pupil, “but there are so many opportunities for football. It’s everywhere—on TV, at school, and in clubs.
“Cricket is different, we don’t get to see it, or play it much. Having the chance to try it properly like this has been brilliant, and I’d love to keep playing.”
Caunt’s ambitions for cricket in Jersey extend far beyond Le Rocquier.
His long-term vision is to ensure that every state school has the resources and support needed to develop cricketing talent.
“I want to see cricket teams in all our schools, and I want every child to feel that they have a pathway into the sport if they’re interested,” he said.
“Imagine seeing a Le Rocquier student in the Island squad in a few years’ time—that would be a real milestone and proof of what we can achieve with the right support.”
Caunt’s work with Le Rocquier is a testament to the power of grassroots efforts.
By bringing cricket to students who might never have considered it, he is not only nurturing talent but also changing perceptions about who the sport is for.
With the backing of schools like Le Rocquier and individuals like Natalia Espana, his dream of a more inclusive cricketing future for Jersey is becoming a reality.
This collaboration is not just about cricket; it’s about opening doors, breaking down barriers, and showing young people that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
