A private school played host to an international cricket team, with a former pupil part of the squad, this weekend.

The Cayman Islands cricket team spent the day training at Forest School, in College Place, Snaresbrook, on Saturday (September 5).

One of the squad, Ian Rotsey, was a pupil at the school from 1992 to 1999, and is now playing international cricket for the Caribbean island next to Cuba.

Ian played for both the cricket and football teams when he was a pupil, captaining the latter.

He achieved an A grade in French, Government and Politics, General Studies and Maths before going on to study Archaeology and Anthropology at Keble College, Oxford.

After moving to the Cayman Islands, Ian qualified to play for their national cricket team after being a resident there for more than four years.

The Cayman Islands are currently in the country as they prepare for the World Cricket League, with Essex Country Cricket Club hosting the team along with other nations including Norway, Saudi Arabia and Guernsey.

The team is playing against local clubs and Ian asked whether they could use the school’s facilities to train for a day.

Speaking about the visit, Saul Foulds, Forest School’s master in charge of cricket said: “It was fantastic to welcome an international side and see their level of professionalism.

“The team were able to make full use of our facilities in the run up to such a great tournament.

“Forest is very proud that the School could help out an Old Forester in Ian and support cricket in far-flung areas of the globe.”

Ben Adams, Forest’s director of sport, said he was “thrilled” to welcome the team and Ian back to the school.

He said: “Although before my time, I know Ian was an exceptionally talented pupil inside the classroom and on the cricket pitch at Forest, and it is terrific to see that he has done so well now being a member of the Cayman Islands team.”