The Centre of Excellence at the County Ground in Taunton was a busy place to be on Tuesday evening.

Between five and seven o'clock, thirty two thirteen and fourteen year olds were busy taking part in the Corners District Cricket, and as soon as they had finished it was the turn of the senior players.

Altogether there were more than twenty players present for the indoor nets, which included nearly all of the locally based professional players as well as the Academy youngsters.

After warming up the group divided into two with half taking part in a pretty rigorous fielding practice, whilst the other half were involved in the nets.

In one of the nets there was a stark contrast in ages. Graham Rose who will celebrate his thirty eighth birthday before the 2002 season gets underway was putting seventeen year old Luke Stokes through his paces.

Graham Rose was demonstrating that he has lost none of his pace and determination, whilst the youngster from Millfield School was showing the kind of ability that enabled him to make such an impact on the cricket scene last year.

© SOMERSET