Merchant Taylors’ 1st XI cricketer George Lavelle has been named by David English, organiser of the annual Bunbury Festival, as one of the best eleven young cricketers ever to play at the festival. The Bunbury Festival dates back to 1986 and is an annual competition between regional representative teams of Under 15 boys. Last season George was named as the best wicket-keeper, most prolific batsman, best all-rounder and most valuable player. Now, in an article in the Daily Telegraph George’s name stands alongside those of all the stars of English cricket over the last 20 years.

This is a fantastic accolade for the modest young Lancashire and Merchant Taylors’ player who has progressed rapidly through school, club and county cricket over the last three years. George is highly rated by those currently in charge of English cricket.

Head of Cricket at Merchant Taylors’, Simon Sutcliffe, is not surprised by George’s success. He commented “In George Lavelle  there is an ideal combination of factors indicating success – natural ability, self-awareness and willingness to learn, very strong work ethic and an incredibly calm temperament. No-one more deserves to have done so well than George. To have been named in the same bracket as players like Cook, Root and Flintoff is a rich tribute to him, especially as David English rates him more highly as a wicket-keeper batsman than both Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow!”

David English’s Best of Bunbury Team: Alastair Cook (2000), Michael Vaughan (1990), Ian Bell (1997), Joe Root (2006), Ben Hollioake (1992), Andrew Flintoff (1992), George Lavelle (2015), Moeen Ali (2002), Adil Rashid (2003), Rory Hipwell (2012), Steven Finn (2004). On the bench: Jonny Bairstow (2005), Jos Buttler (2006), Marcus Trescothick (1991), Graeme Swann (1994).