New Zealand Cricket Academy 2001 intake announced

New Zealand Cricket Academy 2001 intake announced
New Zealand Cricket - 9 March 2001

New Zealand Cricket has finalised its Academy intake for 2001. The intake is made up of 14 male and 4 female cricketers, who will reside at the Academy from April 17 to November 2001.

Academy director, Dayle Hadlee, said the main focus of this season's intake is to target younger players who have potential but have yet to produce consistent performances.

"As always our aim is to produce competent and rounded players who will challenge for places in our six first class teams.

"A number of the players have had limited first class or representative experience and they are viewed as an investment in the first class scene for coming seasons."

Six of the male intake were members of the New Zealand Under-19 team which beat South Africa in the Youth Test and One-Day International series last month, and six also toured to Sri Lanka last summer for the Youth World Cup. Eight of the players have limited first-class experience (as indicated on individual player profiles).

Included in the intake are the McCullum brothers, Brendon and Nathan, from Otago. Brendon McCullum (19) captained the NZ U19 team against South Africa. In the process he passed 100 three times, averaging 151.66 across the three Tests. His older brother by a year, Nathan, represented New Zealand at the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka as an off spinner. He is an outstanding fielder and a promising batsman and this year has played for Otago at first class level.

On April 19 the male Academy members will leave for Adelaide for a series of two and one-day matches against the Australian Academy.

These games will be seen as "a proficiency tour" and will provide input to the Academy programme during the year. The on-field performance of players will be assessed by New Zealand Cricket's computer analysis expert Zach Hitchcock, Dayle Hadlee and director of player development, Ashley Ross.

Hadlee is hopeful that the Australians will return New Zealand's visit in October and that there will also be an inter-academy exchange with South Africa, but these visits remain unconfirmed.

The four female members of the intake will complete academic scholarships at Lincoln University. They have been chosen as potential CLEAR White Ferns and are likely to be considered for that side's tour to India later in the year.

The intake is:

Brent Arnell (Northern Districts, Northern Districts B 2001, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium fast bowler)

Wade Cornelius (Canterbury, Canterbury 1st class debut 2001, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast bowler)

Nick Horsley (Auckland, Auckland B 2001, NZ U19 2000, left-hand batsman, right-arm off spin bowler)

Jamie How (Central Districts, CD 1st class debut 2001, NZ U19 2000, right-hand batsman)

Brendon McCullum (Otago, Otago 1st class and Cup team 2001, NZ U19 2000-2001, right-hand batsman, wicket-keeper)

Nathan McCullum (Otago, Otago 1st class and Cup team 2001, NZ U19 2000, right-hand bat, right-arm off spinner)

Jonathan McNamee (Wellington, NZ U19 2000, Young Player to Lords 2000, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium bowler)

Warren McSkimming (Otago, Otago 1st class and Cup team 2001,NZ U19 1999, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast bowler)

Shanan Stewart (Canterbury, NZ Under 19 2000-2001, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast bowler)

Taraia Robin (Central Districts, CD 1st class and Cup player 2000-2001, NZ U19 2000-2001, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast bowler)

Greg Todd (Central Districts, CD Cup Team 2001, NZ U19 2001, left-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast)

Sam Whiteman (Auckland, NZ U19 2001, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-fast)

Luke Woodcock (Wellington, NZ U19 2001, left-hand batsman, left-arm spin bowler)

Reece Young (Auckland, Auckland 1st class 2000-2001, right-hand batsman, wicket-keeper)

Sarah Burke (Canterbury, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium bowler)

Fiona Fraser (Canterbury, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium bowler)

Philippa Gerrish (Central Districts, left-hand batsman, right-arm leg spin bowler)

Aimee Mason (Central Districts, left-hand batsman, right-arm off spinner)

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