YOUNG cricketers from the Huddersfield New College Academy have been invited to Yorkshire’s First XI pre-season nets.
New College enjoyed their most successful season ever in 2011 after reaching their first-ever National Cricket final.
And already they are planning to improve provision for cricket next year.
With a squad of 18 training regularly during the winter, January sessions are already booked at the new Cricket Factory indoor centre in Sowerby Bridge, where students will benefit from the latest Pitch Vision technology to help them improve technique.
In addition, using their existing links with the county, a number of New College cricketers have been invited to attend some county practice sessions.
New College are currently planning to develop a new two-lane outdoor practice facility and bids to funding sources are being submitted.
There are also plans to launch a Women’s Cricket programme for later next year, aimed at talented female cricketers in the West Yorkshire area.
The programme will be based along similar lines to the men’s cricket programme and will incorporate many of the specialist training features used with the Cricket Academy.
Prospective students for next year (male or female) are welcome to attend the Sports Academy’s Open Day on Saturday, January 7.
For further information contact Alex Potts on 01484 652341 (mobile 07923 988746).
The Cricket Factory in Sowerby Bridge opens the first week in January, and boasts a cricket-specific facility with four lanes of proper indoor nets, over 10 metres of bowling run-ups and top of the range lighting, flooring and netting.
Technology providers Pitch Vision have introduced ground-breaking back-up to give players the sort of analysis only previously available to top level professionals and includes video of each delivery and shot, and motion-tracking showing the speed of the ball, line, length and bounce.
For batsmen there is shot direction, runs scored and how they were dismissed.
The Cricket Factory’s managing director Chris Berry said: “We want cricketers in the area to have lots of fun while at the same time improving their game. And by offering a cricket-specific facility at an affordable rate, we believe is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in cricket.
“There are over 200 clubs within 20 miles of the facility and they can all benefit from user-friendly technology that was only previously available to professionals.”
For details e-mail chris@thecricketfactory.co.uk
Rahul Dravid has backed calls for the introduction of day-night Tests to revive interest in the five-day game.
Speaking at the annual Bradman Oration in Canberra, ahead of India’s four-Test series against Australia, Dravid urged cricket administrators to protect the “gold standard” version of the game. He also called for a reduction in the volume of “meaningless one-day cricket”.
