Bursary student looks to break boundaries in the professional cricketing world

An A level student on a life-changing bursary place at a top UK boarding school is looking to break boundaries in the professional cricketing world.

Caleb Falconer, 18, from Gqeberha, South Africa, moved to England to pursue a lifelong dream in 2023, attending Millfield School, in Street, Somerset, on a bursary place for Sixth Form. Today he celebrates D*D in BTEC Sport and a C in his Business Studies A level.

After an exceptional two-year innings at Millfield, Caleb is now going on to play cricket at Middlesex County Cricket Club (MCCC), where he has signed an academy contract, and hopes to sign his first professional contract in the next year. Tipped for a great future, Caleb has been marked as a standout talent as England look towards their latest crop of promising young cricketers.

“Cricket was in my life from as early as I can remember” says Caleb, who from the age of two would follow his father Stuart, an elite cricket coach, to sessions at schools and clubs around his hometown of Gqeberha, South Africa. “Throughout my childhood, I tagged along to the sessions my dad would be taking and looked to pick up whatever I could. That’s where my love of cricket was born and I went from there.”

During those formative years, Caleb looked up to iconic South African batsman AB de Villiers, widely renowned as one of the finest batters of his generation. “For any young cricketer growing up in South Africa at that time, they would all say AB de Villiers is the player that inspires them” Caleb claims.

15 years on from his formative cricketing experiences, the talented all-rounder was the 2024 recipient of the Middlesex CCC Youth Player of the Year Award. That year Caleb struck a mammoth 1,062 runs for Middlesex U18’s, including a sublime 224 against Sussex. These performances earned him Middlesex Senior 2nd XI opportunities, which he took with both hands, registering a century against Lancashire CCC in June 2024. Caleb continued that form into this year, earning himself an England Invitational XI selection to play against England Young Lions and the India U19 teams in a triangular tournament. Caleb scored 74 on debut against England Lions, and hopes to represent to Senior England Men’s Cricket team in the future.

Scholarships and bursaries enable access to Millfield for talented children who would benefit from an education at the school, by offering fee discounts of up to 100%. Bursaries at Millfield, which are funded by the Millfield Foundation, not only cover fees, but include uniform and sports kit, travel to and from school and essential items. 95% of Caleb’s fees at Millfield are covered through both a bursary and a cricket scholarship.

Before Millfield, Caleb attended Grey High School, a semi-private secondary school in Gqeberha, South Africa. Despite excelling in a variety of sports, at the age of 16 Caleb was looking to specialise in cricket and find an environment where his precocious talent could be nurtured, with Millfield’s track record of producing top level cricketers standing out. Caleb and his family moved over to the UK, basing themselves in Berkshire, while Caleb joined the school on a full boarding place, enabling him to make the most of Millfield’s comprehensive sporting provision. The 2024/2025 yearly fees at Grey High School are 73,800 South African Rand (£3057), while a full boarding place at Millfield costs £58,854 per year.

Millfield Director of Cricket, Mark Garaway, said, “It has been a privilege to work with Caleb over the past two years. He is an exceptional talent, as demonstrated through his performances for both Millfield and Middlesex CCC throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His time here has been filled with moments that will be long remembered. Beyond his ability on the field, Caleb is a remarkable individual and natural leader. He has earned the respect of staff, coaches, and fellow students alike, who have all admired his maturity, composure, and calmness, especially in high-pressure situations. These are the hallmarks of a truly great leader. We are all excited to follow Caleb as he takes the next step in his cricketing journey with Middlesex CCC, and we wish him every success in the professional game.”

Caleb said “You instantly get a good impression when you arrive at Millfield. The level of facilities and coaching here do not exist in any other school. I joined knowing how much the offer here would help my cricket and it lived up to my expectations; it’s an awesome place to pursue your sport. With the level of support Millfield offered me, you can’t help but improve dramatically! I really can’t fault any of the sports staff or teachers, particularly the Director of Cricket Mr Garaway and my Housemaster Mr Speyers, they had such a significant impact on my Millfield journey.”

Caleb is forming part of Middlesex CCC’s Contracted Academy Players Group, where he will look to continue his cricketing development. Following his recovery from an ankle surgery that he underwent this summer, Caleb is hoping to break into the Middlesex First XI and join cricketing stars such as Kane Williamson and Leus du Plooy for the 2026 season.