The ECB Academy that is based at the County Ground in Taunton has just taken the new 2002 intake on board, to take the total number of youngsters up to eleven.

Mark Garaway, who is the Director of the ECB Academy told me: " All of these young cricketers who are aged between 13 and 18 have got the chance of playing the game at a higher level. Quite a few are already playing national age group cricket and some will make it to become first class cricketers."

The four new players, Steve Davis, Sam Spurway , Seamus Crawford and James fear are all Somerset based and join Michael Parsons, James Hildreth, Richard Timms, Stephen Wheeler, Rob Woodman James Frazer and Andrew Frazer-Harris who have been part of the set up from its beginning last autumn.

The ECB Academy Director told me : "We have set up individual programmes for each of them that fall mainly into two categories. On the technical front they have two one to one sessions each week and two group sessions each month which will either be at Taunton or at Millfield School. Whilst on the physical front they have one group session per week and one individual session per week in addition to other physical activities."

Each of the youngsters has a membership of their local gym, which in the case of those who are Taunton based is the Academy at the County Ground as well as having their own individual fitness kit which includes a fast foot ladder,a medicine ball and a Swiss ball that they can use at anytime wherever they are.

Reflecting on the first year of the ECB Academy, Mark Garaway told me: "Its gone very well for us, and the results speak for themselves. All of the young players have had a greater exposure to cricket at a higher level, and the success of the Under 19's team speaks for itself. We can improve upon this with through more contact with senior players, and we now have a better understanding of working with the youngsters."

The establishment of the ECB Academy has without a doubt been a resounding success and bodes well for the future of Somerset County Cricket Club.

© SOMERSET