Worcestershire CCC have announced their Academy Intake for the 2015-2016 and it includes two newcomers in all-rounder George Newton and batsman Jack Haynes – youngest son of ex Worcestershire all-rounder Gavin Haynes.
The 2015-2016 will consist of 11 players – eight who initially joined up in 2014-2015 plus paceman Pat Brown, who became part of the Academy in February, and the two newcomers.
Two of last year's intake, spinner Ben Twohig and paceman Josh Tongue, have made such good progress that they have signed two year professional contracts with the County.
Here Academy coach Elliot Wilson, who has just completed his first full year at the helm, highlights the qualities of the two new players and Brown.
Pat Brown
Elliot Wilson: "He joined us half-way through last year, February-March time, impressed everyone in the winter when he came over to us. He had a great level of commitment considering where he travels from, Lincolnshire.
"He does a fair bit of commuting but he looks forward to coming over and is a pleasure to be with when he's here. He is an opening bowler, another nasty-fasty, to join the ranks of Josh Tongue and George Scrimshaw and it will be interesting to see how he develops over the next 12 months."
George Newton
Elliot Wilson: "He has just started at Shrewsbury School with Paul Pridgeon. He is a really exciting cricketer. He does both skills, bowls medium pace and bats, he has opened the batting for Cheshire at Under-17 level for the last year and has done okay.
"He bowls some nice medium pace and reminds Pridge of Ed Barnard Mark Two. If he is anywhere near as good as that, we will be doing alright!
"He is an exciting one and we are going to be able to support him through his work at Shrewsbury School and the family are fully supportive of his commitment to our programe this year."
Jack Haynes
Elliot Wilson: "This year he will be Under-15s. Very exciting in terms of what he has achieved but we have to keep on reminding ourselves that he is very young. He is 14, lots can go on, lots will go on, lots can go wrong as well, and we will see what happens, but at this stage he couldn't have done anymore and he has impressed a lot of people.
"He scored runs for Malvern College first team as a year nine against 17-18 year-olds, he scored runs for our County Under-17s in one and two-day cricket, he scored runs in regional cricket for the Bunburys. He scored runs for his own County age-group, Under-15s, and he made his debut for Ombersly in the Birmingham Premier League aged 14 and opened the batting."
Several members of the Academy group have already attracted interest outside of the County.
Wilson explained: "Oliver Westbury has played England Development Programme invitational stuff.
"Josh Dell has been invited onto the EDP for the winter along with Josh Tongue and Ben Twohig.
"Nick Hammond played at Super Fours this year, Zen Malik played at Super Fours this year, Josh Haynes played at Super Fours this year."
The full WCCC Academy intake for 2015-2016 is:
Oliver Westbury
Nick Hammond
Josh Dell
Dan Lloyd
Zen Malik
George Scrimshaw
Pat Brown
Jack Charters
Josh Haynes
George Newton
Jack Haynes
*Elliot will be explaining the structure of the Academy beneath the full intake group in an article on the Worcestershire CCC website in the next few days.
