ICC European Men's Academy 2012 Returns To India

Pune in India is once again the setting for the ICC European Men’s Academy, twelve of Europe’s most talented cricketers will travel to the sub-continent next February to develop their cricketing skills.

The ICC European Men’s Academy focuses on developing participants that are progressing towards national selection level or that have not fully established themselves in their relevant senior national teams.

Between 26 February-7 March 2012 there will be a five-strong coaching team headed up by ICC Regional Performance Officer, Philip Hudson;  ECB’s Head of Elite Coach Development, Gordon Lord; Performance Coach and former Cricket Ireland Performance Director, Mark Garaway; Mark Nash, Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Joce Brooks, Sports Psychologist.

The young squad ages range from 17-22 and the participants originate from five of ICC Europe’s Member Countries – Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Netherlands and Scotland. The ICC European Men’s Academy has mainly focused on individuals from the high performance countries of Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, due to the selection of the highest performers nominated, however nominations are sort from all 30 ICC European Member Countries.

It is the second time that the ICC European Men’s Academy has headed out to Pune following the 2010 visit, it is an ideal location for the 2012 group. The Poona Sports club is a first class facility, the cricket ground meets international standards and it is located in the heart of the city. The programme will consist of a highly beneficial coaching and skills programme in line with previous Men’s Academies. It will help develop each individual mentally, physically and culturally.

It includes 1:1 discussions with coaches, intensive batting, fielding and bowling drills, and three matches against strong Indian opposition.

The national squads of Ireland, Scotland and The Netherlands have all been involved in specialist coaching camps at the Pune Sports Club previously.

ICC Europe Academy Squad 2012: Calvin Burnett (Scotland), Luis di Giglio (Italy), Timothy Gruijters (Netherlands), Michael Leask (Scotland), Ahsan Malik (Netherlands), Graeme McCarter (Ireland), Marc Petrie (Scotland), James Shannon (Ireland), Ben Stevens (Jersey), Vinoo Tewarie (Netherlands), Stuart Thompson (Ireland), Ben Wylie (Ireland)

© Cricket World 2011