Head of Talent Pathway, Daryn Smit, is pleased with the amount of Academy graduates currently in the first team squad, but says the club is committed to developing even more homegrown talents in the future.
With young fast bowler Nick Potts signing his first professional deal earlier this month, the number of current first team players to have spent time in the Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby now stands at seven.
Of those, Alex Hughes, Matt Critchley, Harvey Hosein and Sam Conners have become first team regulars, while Tom Wood also performed well in two appearances last season.
Nils Priestley and Potts are yet to make an appearance for the first team, but the former was named in multiple squads during the 2020 campaign, as he gained experience in that environment.
Smit, who began his current role in January, is delighted that there’s clear evidence of the pathway to playing professional cricket for Derbyshire, but has stressed that the club want to build on this platform and progress it even further.
“It’s encouraging to have so many players in the first team, but I still think we can do even better,” said Smit.
“My goal is to really raise those numbers, and I think the more players who come through the pathway and earn professional deals, the more of a motivating factor it becomes for our current players to understand that the opportunities are there.
“We are committed to the players within our county who are coming through our pathway. Ultimately, they need the set of skills that we’re looking for, but they will be given opportunities if they show those qualities.”
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