Solihull School Appoints As Full-Time Professional

Solihull School has appointed England star and former Warwickshire captain Darren Maddy as its new Master in Charge of Cricket.

The all-rounder, who is finishing his professional career with Warwickshire this month, will be helping pupils at the independent school for boys and girls to achieve their sporting potential when he joins later this term.

With 23 years of experience and an ECB Level 3 qualification, Darren will be coaching at all levels across the 7 to 18 age range at the 453-year old School in Warwick Road.

Solihull School has produced a raft of county cricketers, most recently Richard Johnson of Derbyshire CCC, and awards Scholarships in cricket and other major sports at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form.

Following his debut in 1999, Darren played against New Zealand and South Africa. He also played in eight one-day internationals and was selected by England for the World Cup in 2007, becoming the first batsman in the world to pass 1,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket.

Making his professional debut in 1994 for Leicestershire, Darren was part of the winning side in 1996 and 1998 and played a major role in the Twenty20 triumphs in 2004 and 2006.

Joining Warwickshire in 2007, he was appointed captain after just one match and led the team to the County Championship Division Two title in 2008. He was also a member of the team that won the CB40 competition in 2010 and a member of the winning side. Darren, who lives in Solihull, will be following in the footsteps of David Hemp who has been Master in Charge of Cricket and latterly Head of Games at Solihull School for the past five years. David will be joining the Bermuda squad forthe ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers this November.

Darren said: “When the opportunity arose to take up a full-time coaching role at a school with such an outstanding environment, the decision was easy to make. I am excited to be able to pass on my 23 years of experience as a professional cricketer to develop young sports stars of the future.”

He added: “Over the coming year I will be extending my professional development by working towards the elite ECB Level 4 coaching qualification and broadening my experience and qualifications across a range of other sports.”

Notes for Editors

Solihull School played more than 130 fixtures against Midland schools from Under 12 to First XI level last season. The First XI plays in Twenty20, 50-over and declaration-based formats including a two-day fixture.

The School has taken part in the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers International Cricket Tournament in Barbados for the past four occasions as one of a small number of UK schools invited.

In 2010, 809 runs were scored in one match at Solihull School in what is believed to be the highest ever aggregate for a senior 50-over-a-side inter- school match in the history of English cricket.

Solihull School’s Head Groundsman Karl Brotherhood was awarded the Cricket World® / Pitchcare Cricket Groundsman of the Year Award for 2010.