The Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby boys intake for the 2021 season has been announced.
The Academy, headed up by Daryn Smit (Head of Talent Pathway), have been working throughout the winter period with nine young cricketers from the ages of 13 to 17 training at The Incora™ County Ground.
The players have been working closely with Derbyshire County Cricket Club coaching staff and support staff including Gareth Marshall (Player Pathway Officer), Mal Loye (Assistant Coach, Batting Lead), Billy Godleman (Derbyshire Captain), Ben Hutchinson (Age Group Pathway Coach), Andrew Jackman (U18 Boys Coach) and Matt Mayer (Strength & Conditioning Coach).
Of the nine players, two were part of the Mini Academy Programme last year, while the other seven players have been a part of the Academy Programme for two years.
Nick Potts who was part of the Academy last year has now progressed to the first team squad, joining Alex Hughes, Tom Wood, Harvey Hosein, Sam Conners and Nils Priestley in graduating from the pathway into the first team.
The Academy Intake for 2021 are as follows:
Archie Harrison (Spondon CC), Mitch Wagstaff (Spondon CC), Nafis Shaikh (Swarkestone CC), Charlie Wilson (Denby CC), Tauseef Kataria (Cavaliers and Carrington CC), Jonny Lawrence (Gedling and Sherwood CC), Chris Lawrence (Gedling and Sherwood CC), Harry Moore (Clifton CC) and Yusuf Bin Naeem (Derby Congs CC).
The winter programme consists of coaching for three hours at a time, twice a week focusing on individual and small group work. This includes identifying different themes, game scenarios, technique and plans with the coaches. Meyer has also been working the players hard to improve their fitness, strength, agility, speed and movement patterns throughout the winter.
Smit said: “This year’s intake of players have been an absolute pleasure to work with to date. Even in the face of adversity given the times, they have found a way to keep improving and doing so with a smile on their faces. I know that all of them will be wanting to follow in the footsteps of Nick Potts, and the early signs are promising that this time next year we could potentially have another professional cricketer from our pathway.”
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