ECB Performance Director Hugh Morris spent the day at the County Ground yesterday to carry out an audit on the first year of the ECB Regional Academy, that is based in the Centre of Excellence.

During his day at the ground Hugh Morris spent time with chief executive Peter Anderson, he met Gareth Andrew and Neil Edwards, who have both just completed their time at the Academy, and also met with the Academy Director Mark Garaway and first team coach Kevin Shine.

At the end of the day Mark Garaway told me: "He was very pleased with the way that things are going here, and sees the model that we have developed in Somerset as one that could be adopted by other counties."

The Academy Director continued: "He felt that involving the first team coach and the senior players with the Academy players was working well, and me linking in as the second team coach was a real strength. He also thought that we have a great back up team in Darren Veness, Andy Hurry and sports psychologist Will James."

The official report will be sent to the club during the next two weeks, but it would seem that the first year of the ECB Academy at the County Ground has been a great success, especially in the light of the number of youngsters who have made it either into their respective England age groups, into the Somerset Seconds or in the case of Neil Edwards into the Somerset first team.

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