Fernandes extends Middlesex deal to 2027
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The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Bursary student looks to break boundaries in professional cricketing world
A talented cricketer is hoping to make his name in the professional game after signing for one of England's top counties. South African-born student Caleb Falconer, 18, has joined Middlesex on an academy contract and hopes to turn professional. The all-rounder has already appeared for the county's 2nd XI after moving to the UK to study in the sixth form at Millfield School in Somerset with a sports scholarship. Caleb, from Gqeberha, South Africa, has now achieved D* D grades in BTEC sport and a C in his business studies A-level. ' Cricket was in my life from as early as I can remember,' said Caleb, who from the age of two would follow his father Stuart, an elite cricket coach, to sessions at schools and clubs around his hometown. 'Throughout my childhood I tagged along to the sessions my dad would be taking and looked to pick up whatever I could. 'That's where my love of cricket was born and I went from there.' During those formative years Caleb looked up to iconic South African batter AB de Villiers, widely renowned as one of the finest players of his generation. 'For any young cricketer growing up in South Africa at that time, they would all say AB de Villiers is the player that inspires them,' he said. Caleb was the 2024 recipient of the Middlesex CCC youth player of the year award after scoring 1,062 runs for the U18s, including a double century against Sussex. That led to playing for the county 2nd XI and scoring a century against Lancashire before being called up for an England Invitational XI. The teenager moved to England having found his opportunities to play cricket in South Africa were reduced because of the quotas system in place to encourage the development of ethnic minority cricketers. His family based themselves in Berkshire, while Caleb joined the school as a full-time boarder. Mark Garaway, Millfield's director of cricket, said: 'It has been a privilege to work with Caleb over the past two years. 'He is an exceptional talent, as demonstrated through his performances for both Millfield and Middlesex CCC throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons. 'His time here has been filled with moments that will be long remembered. Beyond his ability on the field, Caleb is a remarkable individual and natural leader. 'He has earned the respect of staff, coaches and fellow students alike, who have all admired his maturity, composure and calmness, especially in high-pressure situations. 'These are the hallmarks of a truly great leader. We are all excited to follow Caleb as he takes the next step in his cricketing journey with Middlesex CCC, and we wish him every success in the professional game.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Middlesex in advanced talks over funding for home away from Lord's
Middlesex are in advanced negotiations with two international investment groups over a funding deal that would enable the club to build a permanent home away from Lord's. A source involved in the discussions said the proposals are not mutually exclusive, with a final decision to be made by the end of the year. Uxbridge Cricket Club in west London is understood to be the preferred site for a new ground and training base, although Middlesex would aim to stage around 70% of their men's matches at Lord's. Middlesex have been looking for external investment for about 18 months and in February appointed the gaming and sports investment specialists Oakvale Capital to conduct a review of its ownership. After that review Middlesex are understood to have resolved to seek a financial partnership that would enable them to build a new ground in London to accompany their tenancy at Lord's, rather than sell a stake in the club and take it into private ownership, a move that could have been blocked by their members. Middlesex have received expressions of interest from a variety of global groups who are already invested in sport, including the NFL and Indian Premier League. The club have prioritised investors with a history in sport rather than private equity firms, with a number of funds from America having been rebuffed. Middlesex are also in active discussions with Marylebone Cricket Club to extend their 12-month lease at Lord's, which expires at the end of the summer. While this is regarded as a formality, the financial terms have yet to be agreed. The MCC remain committed to a landlord-tenant relationship with Middlesex that has run without interruption since 1877, but with the volume of domestic cricket increasing the availability of Lord's is a problem In addition to the rapid recent growth of women's cricket, with Lord's staging a women's Test match for the first time next summer, between England and India, from next year the MCC will also be running professional teams for the first time in their 238-year history in the form of London Spirit. The MCC's partners in the Hundred, the so-called Tech Titans, have made it clear they will want more access to Lord's in return for their £151m investment, while the competition could also expand from its eight-team format, which would mean more matches. The England and Wales Cricket Board are also looking into staging women's matches as stand-alone events, which would put further demands on venues such as Lord's. Middlesex have used Radlett and Merchant Taylors' school for County Championship, T20 Blast and One-Day Cup fixtures this season. Last year, they played two 'home' Blast games at Chelmsford in Essex last year, which made financial sense, but angered members. The club regularly used Uxbridge for Championship and one-day matches in the 1980s and 1990s, but have not played there since 2017 as the ground needs to be developed. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion In a separate development, Middlesex have begun work on a new venue for their women's and girl's operation in Brentford, which will open next year and will be used as a training base for national teams competing in the women's T20 World Cup. Middlesex Women are in tier two of the new county set-up launched this year by the ECB, but hope to be promoted to an expanded tier one in 2029. Middlesex declined to comment.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
COUNTY CRICKET TRANSFERS ROUND-UP: Why Rocky Flintoff's Lancashire future is in jeopardy, three-way battle for Michael Atherton's son and a double blow for Durham
The futures of two former England captains' sons are up in the air heading into the final third of the 2025 season. Josh de Caires - whose father Michael Atherton does not tend to get involved in his cricket affairs - has two attractive offers to rival Middlesex's bid to keep him.
