Two enthusiastic Year 10 cricketers from Matthew Flinders Anglican College, both members of the Flinders Open Boys 1st XI, spent Term 2 in the United Kingdom as part of a Round Square cricket school exchange at Felsted School in Essex.
Director of Coaching at Flinders, Mr Rod Davison said students Lachlan Boss and Toby Elms were seen as ideal candidates for the Round Square exchange due to their "strong cricket practice work ethic, a love and a passion for cricket, along with a desire to challenge themselves with their cricket and education in a different culture".
During their time there they not only honed their skills on the pitch but also immersed themselves in new friendships, embraced boarding life and learned about different cultures.
Felsted School is a quality co-educational independent school with a 460-year history, located on a charming 90-acre countryside campus in North Essex, only one hour from London and Cambridge.
The opportunity stemmed from Flinders’ certification as a Round Square school, which provides Flinders students with access to more than 250+ like-minded schools across 50 countries in the Round Square network, all offering world-class exchange, service learning and leadership programs.
This year, Flinders facilitated Round Square exchanges for 29 students in Year 10 who were hosted at leading schools across the world, including in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, United States (California, New York, Boston, North Carolina), Switzerland and the United Kingdom (Isle of Wight and Essex).
During their exchange, Lachlan and Toby were welcomed into the Felsted 1st XI Cricket team and contributed to the team's consistent success, with Toby finishing the English summer cricket term as one of his team's leading run scorers and his achievements to be listed in the Wisden Cricketers' Almanac in 2026.
Lachlan and Toby trained and played mostly with the school under the coaching tutelage of Jason Gallian, the former England batsman, and some excellent assistant coaches. They were also involved in playing some club and village cricket, with Toby scoring his first ever century in a Sunday club fixture.
Mr Davison said, "Since arriving home from the United Kingdom in Term 3, it is clear that both boys improved their cricket skills and knowledge immensely as a result of the exchange experience.
"Lachlan is a quality all round cricketer, capable of taking 5 wickets in an innings with his pace bowling, and scoring centuries batting in the middle order. He is a very capable athlete, with leadership skills and a strong competitive nature.
"While Toby is a naturally gifted cricketer who only commenced playing at the age of 12 years old after initially playing tennis as a junior athlete. He is a stylish top order batsman, who can additionally bowl quality off spinners as well as keep wickets tidily.
"Lachlan and Toby were amongst the stand-out Flinders Middle School Boys XI cricket players in 2024 and had progressed through to performing well in the Flinders Open Boys 1st XI Cricket team while still in Year 9."
Lachlan and Toby were asked to reflect on their UK Cricket Exchange experience. Together, they responded to the questions below.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Why did you want to participate in the school exchange?
We wanted the chance to live somewhere new, meet different people, and play cricket overseas.
What was the most valuable personal lesson you learned?
That you grow a lot when you step out of your comfort zone.
How did the experience challenge you, and how did you overcome it?
Being away from home was tough at first, but keeping busy with school, cricket, and mates helped heaps.
What new skills or knowledge did you gain?
We got used to different teaching styles and learned how to adapt to new routines quickly.
Which cultural differences stood out the most?
School traditions and boarding life were really different. It showed us how other cultures approach school and sport.
How did you adapt to the new environment and navigate communication challenges?
By joining in, asking questions and getting involved straight away.
What friendships or connections had the most impact on your experience?
Definitely the cricket team — they welcomed us from the start and made us feel part of things.
What was the most memorable or meaningful moment of the exchange?
Playing with the Felsted 1st XI cricket team was a highlight, along with everyday boarding life.
How has this experience influenced your perspective on the world and your own culture?
It made us appreciate our own culture more, while also showing how much you can learn from others.
How has the exchange shaped your goals?
It’s inspired us to take more opportunities to travel, play sport and study abroad.
To learn more about Round Square opportunities at Flinders, visit here.
Photo Gallery from the Exchange
