Coach Elliot Wilson has given his assessment of the four newcomers to the Worcestershire CCC Academy as part of the 2016-2017 intake.
Pacemen Adam Finch and Matthew Davies and all-rounders Zain Hassan and Xavier Clarke will be part of a 10 strong group for the next 12 months based at New Road and Malvern College.
They will link up with Jack and Josh Haynes, Jack Charters, Dillon Pennington, Zen Malik and Josh Dell who are returning for a further year as members of the intake.
ADAM FINCH
Elliot Wilson said: "He is in his first year of his 'A' levels at Oldswinsford Hospital School. He was pretty late into the Performance Programme and last year was really his first full year in and around Under-17 cricket and the Academy enviroment.
"He is one of the fast bowlers and has shown a lot of durability throughout the summer, played a lot of cricket and remained injury free.
"He plays at Himley and, in addition to being a pace bowler, has the ability to bat and score lower order runs."
ZAIN HASSAN
Elliot Wilson said: "He is from Stourbridge Cricket Club. Zain is an all-rounder. His main skill would be as a left handed top order batsman but he also bowls medium pace.
"He has been doing that job for Stourbridge CC first team as an Under 14 and Under 15 year old for the past two years which is quite an effort.
"Zain has also played Under-17s cricket for Worcestershire last summer and this summer and been one of our stronger performers."
MATTHEW DAVIS
Elliot Wilson said: "He is from Old Elizabethans Cricket Club in Worcester. A real all-rounder. He will already be one of the best physically in the group in terms of his movement, strength and power.
"He will open the bowling in his age group cricket and is a seamer who always gets the ball to do a little bit. He is a useful lower order batsman and has got the capacity to grow with his batting.
"He will undoubtedly make the most of every opportunity that is thrown his way. He is that sort of kid. From my perspective, he is a real sound investment. If we are going to invest some time and energy in him, he is going to make the best of whatever he has got."
XAVIER CLARKE
Elliot Wilson: "He plays for Oswestry Cricket Club and goes to Llanfyllin School on the Shropshire-Wales border. He is a top order batsman and a leg spin bowler who has got some undoubted precocious talents – a bit like brother Joe.
"He has got the ability to find the middle of the bat on a regular basis and get off strike on a regular basis.
"Xavi is on a little bit of a different journey to his brother who didn't get any of the recognition that Xavi has got at his age. Joe missed out on Bunburys and the Academy and we have give Xavi those opportunities.
"We have got to challenge Xavi in different ways moving forward."
The quartet will link up with six players who already have considerable Academy experience to draw upon from being part of previous intakes.
Wilson explained: "It is Jack Haynes' third year, Josh Haynes' fourth year, Jack Charters' third year, Dillion Pennington did half of last year, for Zen Malik this is officially his sixth year on the academy and Josh Dell, this will be his fourth year."
