Grey High School has a rich cricketing tradition. Many great cricketers have started there cricketing careers at the Grey. Ian Howell finished at Grey in 1975.
Po***ck, Grey High’s legendary cricketer, became South Africa’s “Cricketer of the millennium”. Grey High has also been the nursery for South African Cricket Presidents in Joe Pamensky and Geoff Dakin, who played such a big role in the unification of South African cricket. We continue to pride ourselves in achieving a balance between mass participation and excellence. We are proud to have 16 teams participating in the EP School's Leagues and many of our top players gaining selection for Provincial and National teams. Grey has produced the most South African Schools players since unification. 2013 saw two of our 1st XI Cricketers, Lloyd Brown and Bradley Bopp been included in the South African under 19 team. Bradley went onto represent Souty Africa at the U19 World Cup in 2014, after having played SA Schools in 2013. Currently we have many Old Greys making their mark in franchise and/ or International cricket. Internationally, Wayne Parnell (2007) is in the South African team, with former National player, Johan Botha choosing to ply his trade in Australia and there are a further five Old Boys contracted to the Warriors franchise: Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Craig Thyssen, Colin Ackermann and David White. David White has recently been included in the SA “A” squad. Grey High School is fortunate to have Michael Smith as the current Professional Coach, and Dave Callaghan, the former South Cricketer and Old Grey, as well as a motivated group of teachers to form a quality group of coaches. History
“Cricket played in true Sporting Tradition”
Grey High has a rich cricketing tradition, dating back to the first game in 1861. This report was found in Herald, Port Elizabeth’s local newspaper:
“The Grey Club and the 10th Regiment had a game yesterday – the former lost by nearly 50 runs. The 10th have some good players amongst them, while the Grey boys are all boys but one. Still they did pretty well for their maiden match – and next time they hope to do better. The fielding on the Grey side was not good, while on the part of the Military it was excellent.”
Many great cricketers have since started there cricketing careers at the Grey. Ron Draper represented South Africa in the 1940’s. Atholl McKinnon, the charismatic, left arm spinner who assisted Peter Po***ck to bowl out the English at Trent Bridge in 1965 to record South Africa’s first series win on English soil, was capped for the South Africa soon after School. Geoff Dakin(1956), who was to become the first President of the UCB of South Africa, captained the EP Currie Cup side for many years. Tom Dean, Grey High’s legendary Cricket Professional arrived in 1957 (retired in 1978), at the time when Peter Po***ck was starting to make his mark at the School. A tigerish personality with real pace to back it up, Po***ck was to rapidly rise through ranks from EP Schools to Eastern Province, South Africa and represented the Rest of the World. Grey High School has played many seasons in the Eastern Province Premier league, although in recent times they have chosen to play Schools, but travel regularly all over the Country to ensure quality opposition and cricket. Tom Dean’s first objective on arrival at Grey was to win the men’s league, which they achieved in the 1960/1 season, with Graeme Po***ck , in the fourth term, and Bill McAdam, 1st term, captaining the team. This era saw the emergence of Graeme Po***ck, who was to become South Africa’s cricketer of the Millenium. It is difficult to explain to another generation the Po***ck phenomenon. John Young, an Old Boy and author of “The Spirit of the Tower” explained; “Perhaps a combination of Adam Gilchrist’s power, Sachin Tendulkar’s timing and Brian Lara’s flair goes some way to describing his genius.”
It is with great pride that Grey High School along with King Edward School from Johannesburg has the most SA School capped cricketers (52 caps). Grey High School have, however comfortably the most caps in the post-apartheid era(1994 todate)
SA Schools 1970 – 1990
Keith Reid, Nigel Dutton, Gavin Cowley(2), Dennis Broad, Dale Robinson, Tim Seaman, Bryan Lones(2), Dave Callaghan, Morgan Morris, Pieter Strydom, Duncan Browne, David Mallett, Grant Morgan. With Peter Po***ck pulverizing the Aussies, Grey boys were keen to follow suit. Nigel Dutton, Charlie Ahfeldt and Rupert Hanley gave Grey Captains lots of fire power. Hanley played for the Transvaal ‘Mean Machine” and won selection for South Africa against the rebel West Indians, where he achieved a hat trick at the Wanderers. Quality all-rounders became a feature of Grey cricket with Kith Reid leading the way. Reid and Gavin Cowley later played important roles for the EP Currie Cup team. A very long and fruitful first class career for Border followed soon after. Since retirement he has become a respected International Umpire. The next Border Captain after Howell was another Old Grey in Pieter Strydom, who later played for the Proteas. Dave Callaghan had a brilliant school and first class career, he made his mark Internationally against New Zealand with a glorious 169 at Centurion Park
SA Schools 1991-2005
Greg Miller, Kevin Chree, Brendan Horan, Bruce Stigant, Machiel van Olst, Murray Creed, Michael Williams, Umar Abrahams(2), Johan Botha(2, once as Captain), Zwelibanzi Homani(2), Lazola Dipha, Craig Thyssen(3), Mpumelelo Slwana, Brett Thompson, Wayne Parnell(3) and Corbyn Dolley. Grey’s most productive period in terms of SA Schools caps began with Murray Creed’s selection in 1997 and reached a peak in 2000, when no fewer than 4 boys were selected. Johan Botha became the second Grey boy to captain SA Schools and won senior national selection in 2005. In 2007, Wayne Parnell became only the second Grey boy to win 3 SA Schools caps. South African Players
Robert Dower 1893
Dante Parkin
Billy Brann
Geoff Chubb
Aubrey Faulkner
Ron Draper
Graeme Po***ck 1963–87
Peter Po***ck 1961–1970
Rupert Hanley 1983
Dave Callaghan 1993 –
Pieter Strydom 2000
Johan Botha 2003 –
Jaques Theron 2007 -
Wayne Parnell 2007 -
SA Schools 1970 – 1990
Keith Reid
Nigel Dutton
Gavin Cowley (2)
Dennis Broad
Dale Robinson
Tim Seaman
Bryan Lones (2)
Dave Callaghan
Morgan Morris
Pieter Strydom
Duncan Browne
David Mallett
Grant Morgan
SA Schools 1991 - date
Greg Miller
Kevin Chree
Brendan Horan
Bruce Stigant
Facilities
4 cricket ovals
7 grass nets
10 artificial nets
The Po***ck field is the main cricket oval, named after Graeme Po***ck. It is one of the finest schoolboy cricket grounds in the country. Alongside the field is the Mosenthal Pavilion dating back to the 1914, the Centenary Pavilion where teas and lunches are enjoyed was opened in 1993. The electronic scoreboard was erected in 1990, and electrified in 2007. Umpires
Staff and qualified schoolboy's umpire normal league fixtures. The 1st team game umpires are appointed by the Eastern Province Cricket Umpires Association. Annual umpire courses are offered to our students who wish to get certified.
22/07/2025