Millfield cricketer named Middlesex CCC All-Rounder of the 2025 Season

Year 10 Millfield student Lana Gandhi has won the Middlesex CCC Seaxe Club’s John Piddington Award, recognising her as the All-Rounder of the 2025 season.

The award was presented to Lana at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground by Middlesex wicketkeeper Joe Cracknell, in front of the Middlesex men’s first team squad and club staff.

Notable previous recipients of the award include Maia Bouchier, Max Holden, Luke Hollman and Robbie White. Previous winners have gone on to secure professional contracts with Middlesex CCC and, in the case of Maia Bouchier, an England central contract as well.

Lana said “It felt really special to receive the award, especially as it recognises all the hard work I’ve put in over the season. It also means a lot because it’s awarded to the best all-rounder across both boys and girls, which makes it even more of an honour. Having it presented by current Middlesex players made it even more memorable, as they are people I look up to and hope to follow in the future.”

The award recognised an outstanding all-round 2025 season for Lana, with contributions across all facets of the game. Across all formats and teams, she scored over 2000 runs, with a highest score of 110, 14 fifties and two centuries. She also took 35 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 16.

Fifteen-year-old Lana, from Ealing, began playing cricket at the age of six. Lana recalls a formative moment of her cricketing journey “I was lucky enough to be selected to train on the Main Ground at Lord’s during the lunch break of an international match, and from that moment I knew I wanted to play there one day.”

Lana’s development continued through the age groups at Ealing Cricket Club, before being selected for Middlesex U11 Girls at the age of nine. She is currently part of the Middlesex Emerging Player Programme (EPP), while also representing Lord’s Youth/MCC Academy and has captained her club, county, Lord’s and school teams.

Lana, who joined Millfield in Year 9, trains cricket 12 hours a week at school, including individual and group strength and conditioning sessions. She balances her cricket commitments alongside a rigorous academic schedule and high-level football, where she is part of the Somerset FA Emerging Talent Centre, and has previously represented professional club academies, including Watford, Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and Oxford United.

“Balancing these commitments requires a lot of organisation and planning” says Lana. “Last season, I played 20 matches for school, 22 across club and Lord’s, and 30 for Middlesex. Millfield makes it much easier to balance everything because the whole environment is set up to support you. The coaching is high quality and very individual, so you get clear feedback on how to improve. There is also a big focus on strength and conditioning, nutrition and recovery, which helps you stay fit and perform consistently across a long season.”

“The level of support around you also makes a big difference. Teachers understand the demands of sport and help you manage your academic work, while house parents provide day-to-day support when balancing training, matches and school life. You’re also surrounded by other motivated athletes, which creates a really positive and competitive environment.”

Lana’s cricketing goals for the future include progressing into the County Academy squad, followed by the senior women’s county team. Long term, she dreams to play in The Hundred and, ultimately, represent the national team.

The cricket programme at Millfield has created a prolific pathway to the professional game, with a remarkable 14 former Millfield players are set to feature in the 2026 County Championship season. The programme is led by Head of Cricket Mark Garaway (former Hampshire CCC professional), who brings extensive coaching experience across county and international cricket. Boys’ and girls’ programmes run in parallel, with particularly strong county-level representation on the girl’s side.