GIGGLESWICK School and Settle Cricket Club have welcomed back Sri Lankan Test squad member Ashen Silva as their cricket professional for 2021, following a successful season in 2019.

Ashen will be leading and supporting timetabled games lessons for pupils in the junior and senior school, as well as providing specialist coaching sessions with pupils who are part of the elite and junior sports programme.

Director of Sport Ed Buck said: “I am delighted that Ashen has returned to Giggleswick School this year.

Ashen has a track record of promoting the school’s core values within the cricket programme. His rapport with the pupils is superb and I know he is looking forward to developing players into the best versions of themselves whether they are representing the school’s 1st XI, county side or their local cricket teams.

Pupils have missed so much cricket in the last 18 months and having Ashen coach across the whole school cricket programme alongside head of cricket, Andrew Galley, will allow girls and boys to access the very best provision, and I know Ashen will be able to reignite their passion for the sport. Pupils in the junior school will experience fun and developmental practices whilst pupils in the senior school will be able to access the more technical and tactical elements of the sport.”

Ashen said: “I’m really looking forward to starting work at Giggleswick. My aim is to produce good cricketers with good sportsmanship. There is a lot of unearthed potential in this school, and it’s my job to share all my experiences with them and create productive cricketers for the school and beyond.”

Settle Cricket Club Chair Andrew Davidson added: “We have been looking forward so much to see and work with Ashen again. His performances on and off the field at the club in 2019 were outstanding, leading to the club winning the Ribblesdale League Title. The days of signing a professional who just appears, plays, and disappears have well and truly gone. We have been searching for many years for someone who embodies the role of being a club professional. Someone who not only performs on the field, but also, coaches all age groups, advises, and coaches the senior players to heighten their performance, mixes well with members and becomes part of the local community. The community element drives togetherness, raises performance and as a role model I have not come across a better professional. His work with Giggleswick School is highly thought of and is an important bridge between the two establishments.”