Basic HTML Version
Nottinghamshire continue to make good
on promises detailed in the cricket strategy
document produced to align the ethos of
the Club’s age group and professional sides.
Producing players through the academy
system is a vital strand in laying the
foundations for a prosperous first team and
in recent years, the conveyor belt of talent
has turned quicker than ever before.
Academy Director Chris Tolley, has seen
Nottinghamshire’s youngsters rise to being
among the finest in the UK.
“We have a very strong side here,” he said.
“It’s great to start seeing players we have
pushed finally make it into the senior sides.
For the likes of Jake Ball, Sam Kelsall and
Sam Wood to go on and compete on these
stages, it’s amazing.”
After spending much of last summer
tasting international circket with the
England U19 side, this summer will
afford fans their first chance to see these
prospects in the flesh.
“The fans won’t be disappointed,” saidTolley.
“Last summer will have given them
worthwhile
experience
in
different
conditions and alien environments and
now the challenge will be to really make an
impression here at Trent Bridge.”
The academy side have gained consecutive
second place finishes in the Notts Premier
League, but Tolley has seen the national
Under 17 Championship offer opportunities
to a new breed of rising star.
“It allows younger players to be blooded
such as Connor Marshall (14) and Simon
Walton (15). This gives me good continuity
to bring players through the system.”
With the players moving up into senior
cricket,Tolley could be forgiven for worrying
about finding players of the same standard.
On the contrary, he has found players more
than capable of stepping into their shoes.
“We are missing two senior players this year
in Jake Ball and Scott Elstone which leaves
other guys to step up,” he said.
“Adam Tillcock has had a very good 18
months and went on the pre-season tour of
Barbados to gain valuable experience.”
Tillcock’s name is attracting increasing
attention. As well as being involved in
Barbados, he has scored well and taken
wickets in Nottinghamshire’s Second
Eleven and if this continues, he could well
be considered as a professional prospect.
With the success of the academy in growing
talent fit for gracing the first class scene, the
academy look to take on hopefuls from a
young age and bring them through into the
side as quick as possible.
“There is now an emerging player’s
programme before the academy meaning we
don’t take people straight on,” saidTolley.
“This shows the standard we play at, as the
process to get here is a hard one, and to go
on is even harder.”
The academy are clearly reaping the
benefits of such a policy, as the Under 17
side won the national championships last
year with half a dozen players featuring. If
this wasn’t justification enough in itself, the
side were named Junior Team of the year
at the Nottinghamshire County Council
Sports Awards.
34
Academy
talent development
an on-going priority
It’s great to
start seeing
players we have
pushed finally
make it into
the club’s
senior sides
chris tolley
SAM KELSALL