Chinthurst School was delighted to welcome former England international cricketer and 2019 Cricket World Cup winner Jason Roy to a special whole-school assembly this week.

Jason has recently joined the RGS family of schools as a Cricket Consultant and will play an advisory role in developing cricket across all RGS schools.

Beginning with his early years, Jason explained how he moved from South Africa to England at the age of ten. It was here that his passion for cricket began. By the age of 14, he was already playing adult club cricket and, just three years later, he made his professional debut. Throughout his career, Jason has represented more than 30 professional teams around the world and established himself as one of England’s most dynamic opening batsmen.

Jason went on to represent England for almost a decade, becoming an integral part of the team that lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 following the unforgettable final against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Jason spoke passionately to the children about the values that have helped him succeed at the highest level. He encouraged the children to understand the importance of discipline, commitment and resilience. He explained that maintaining peak performance requires more than talent alone; it involves looking after your body through healthy nutrition, regular training and good sleep habits.

Jason also shared a powerful message about overcoming setbacks. When asked what he had found most challenging during his cricket career, he spoke honestly about dealing with failure. He explained that failure is hard, but it is one of the most important ways that we grow, both as athletes and as people. The most important thing, he said, is to get back up, work hard, keep moving forward and believe that next time you will succeed.

The children were captivated throughout the assembly and eagerly took part in a question-and-answer session. They were keen to learn more about Jason’s training regime, his preparation for matches and life as a professional sportsman. One child asked about the fastest bowler he had faced, to which Jason replied that it was Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, whose deliveries can reach speeds of around 96 miles per hour.

The excitement continued after the assembly, as the children were given the opportunity to have cricket bats, balls, socks and even plaster casts signed by Jason. These treasured mementoes will undoubtedly serve as lasting reminders of a very memorable morning.

We are incredibly grateful to Jason for taking the time to visit Chinthurst and share his experiences.