Derbyshire pair Ben Aitchison and Nick Potts were amongst a record attendance of 61 at the PCA’s Rookie Camp on Tuesday, with the annual event taking place virtually this year for the first time ever.
The promising duo are preparing for their first full season as part of the first team squad, with Aitchison having joined during 2020, while Potts has recently signed a deal after coming through the Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby.
Included in the 61 from 2021 are 30 academy players, as well as the new female members who will represent the eight new regional centres in the women’s domestic game. Having been formally inducted into the PCA in November 2020, the women members were shown the benefits of being an emerging professional via a series of five seminars throughout the day on Tuesday.
The sessions included a welcome to the PCA from Chief Executive Rob Lynch, a ‘Start of Something Special’ talk from England stars Anya Shrubsole and Rob Key, as well as an introduction to the PCA’s registered charity, the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, which offers lifelong support to PCA members when they need it most.
The group of rookies were then given a full lowdown of the benefits they will receive via their PCA membership by association staff, before the series of sessions finished with a ‘Maximising Your Opportunities’ talk from Warwickshire’s Tim Bresnan and the recently retired Ollie Rayner.
Though the PCA was unable to bring the rookies to Edgbaston this year, as is the case under normal circumstances, the new members were nevertheless given a full lowdown of what it means to be a PCA member via Zoom.
Rookie Camp forms part of the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme, which aims to improve players’ performance on the pitch by minimising distractions off it, as well as helping them to better prepare for life after cricket.
The event, which was supported by Tom Maynard Trust for a ninth year in succession, as well as the Professional Players Federation. brings together players who have recently signed their first contracts from across the 18 first-class counties as well as the women’s game.
PCA Director of Member Services, Ian Thomas, said: “Despite the difficult circumstances, we are pleased to have been able to adapt and offer our rookies taste of what being a PCA member is all about and, as ever, we are grateful to the Professional Players Federation and the Tom Maynard Trust for their ongoing support.
“It’s fantastic to see a record number of rookies in attendance for a second year in succession, and particularly pleasing to welcome the new cohort of female members into the PCA, following on from their induction in October.
“Though I am hopeful of a return to Edgbaston for the same event next year, the knowledge that these players will have picked up from the likes of Anya Shrubsole, Tim Bresnan and Rob Key over Zoom will stand them in good stead for the early stages of their careers in professional cricket.”
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