Week 1 and 2
After a long 10+ hour flight, we finally landed in Johannesburg. Following a short bus journey, we arrived at St Benedict’s College. The most striking first impressions were the sheer size of the school and the outstanding range and quality of facilities available, particularly for sport.
After settling into our two-man room in the Boarding House, the incredibly welcoming staff introduced themselves and organised our sports kit, preparing us for our first cricket session of the week. There is certainly no shortage of sport at St Benedict’s, with organised sport twice a week in the afternoons, while the gym and other facilities remain open for additional use.
During the first week, lessons were not my main priority; adjusting to school life and boarding was. By the second week, I was attending multiple lessons each day, making new friends and gaining an understanding of the academic expectations and teaching style. Lessons are supported by dedicated library time, allowing us to keep up with work from home and maintain a healthy balance between academics and sport.
The school’s strong Catholic ethos is clear, with Sunday morning church services held off site and evening prayers on most nights. The biggest adjustments compared to life at home were the temperature, the altitude, boarding life, and building new relationships.
Week 3 and 4
By this stage, we had fully settled into the school routine. With cricket fixtures taking place twice a week (weather permitting!), we were able to embrace the exchange experience to the fullest. Weekends included playing golf, relaxing with friends during break times, and enjoying competitive training sessions.
A major highlight was the St Alban’s Cricket Tour. Over five days, we played four matches in Pretoria against schools from across the country. Tours like this not only build resilience and consistency in your cricket, but more importantly strengthen team bonds for the rest of the season. The late afternoon activities and team dinners made the experience even more memorable.
Week 5
As our time in South Africa drew to a close, there were still some special moments to come. We had the opportunity to travel with the Rugby 7s team to a local tournament, which allowed us to connect with a completely different group of students in a new environment, the perfect finishing touch to the trip.
Our final cricket match ended in a win, which made it even more memorable. Afterwards, we played a friendly game of touch rugby as a final goodbye. That evening, our coach took us to a major cricket stadium to watch a provincial match, an unforgettable way to spend our last night in the country.
Overall
Overall, it was a truly special, enjoyable, and unique experience — we could not have asked for more. Both Jenson and I would like to sincerely thank St Benedict’s College for being such wonderful hosts, and Mr Simmons at St Lawrence College for all the hard work he put in to make this life-changing opportunity possible.
Tom & Jenson
South Africa Cricket Exchange 2026