Cricket youth academy up and running

Youngsters at the Sussex Division Two club will receive specialist individual coaching from a fully qualified and Sussex affiliated coach, as well as specific training sessions and an academy kit.

Sponsored by Bexhill College, the academy is a very progressive idea which reflects youth training in other countries such as Australia.

"We want to give juniors at our club access to the best resources and coaching available," said club secretary Hamish Russell. "This partnership will enable us to provide this for juniors at the club for years to come."

Bexhill Cricket Club, whose Bexhill College-backed under-16s team reached the final of a county competition last summer, has a large number of young players and is developing this new venture with the aim of improving junior cricket in the town.

The Polegrove-based club has three adult Saturday sides playing league cricket, a Sunday friendly team and a number of colts line-ups for children aged 8-16.

Bexhill College principal Karen Hucker added: "We have a number of talented players at the College and we are working hard to establish a team for the summer. This development will hopefully have benefits for the College in the future as the young people progress through the education system to us. This is the kind of development which will bring opportunity to young people in Bexhill. It has the added advantage of keeping them fit and healthy."