County comes calling for Tim

TIM RAVENSCROFT has become the first Channel Islands cricketer to be selected for the Hampshire Junior Academy. The Guernsey under-13 player is one of just 10 in the academy and has been taken on a year earlier than normal.

Hampshire usually admits 14 to 16-year-olds.

'I have been working with Tim for the last three years and it is great to see that he is fulfilling his undoubted potential,' said development coach Jason Shambrook.

'Tim has been selected primarily as a batsman and the batting in the academy is with Tony Middleton, the former Hampshire opener who is the second XI coach as well as being in charge of the academy.

'It means Tim having a minimum of 15 one-to-one sessions and three group sessions.

'Because of the restrictions of living here, not all of the one-to-one sessions need to be in Hampshire. Tony will be giving us a programme that we will follow with Tim.'

Ravenscroft certainly has a busy winter ahead.

As well as his academy work, he is part of the west of England under-13 squad who are training in Taunton next month. Then, in January, Hampshire under-13 squad training starts.

Locally, he is playing in the PwC Indoor Leagues and is a member of the School of Excellence.

That follows a summer in which Ravenscroft received the award for Hampshire batsman of the season in his age group for the second year running after hitting over 600 runs in just nine matches, averaging in the mid-60s.

He scored three centuries for the county during the season, the first against Gloucestershire before two at the Taunton under-12 festival against Devon and Lancashire. He was named player of the tournament that week.

He also ended the season as Hampshire's second highest wicket-taker.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Ravenscroft and his Guernsey under-13 colleagues will be touring Holland and Belgium next May.

The trip will take place over the Liberation Day weekend with the Sarnians playing two matches against the Dutch, which will sandwich a fixture against Belgium.

'We thought it was something different worth exploring. With Guernsey applying to join the ICC, we just wanted to know where we are in relation to these teams. I would be disappointed if we came back winless,' said Shambrook.

On the same weekend, Guernsey under-15s will also be on tour and they have a match against a first-class county which to look forward to.

Worcestershire have gladly accepted the offer of a fixture, which will take place on Sunday 8 May, and Guernsey are currently looking to arrange matches on the Saturday and the Monday, probably one against a minor county and the other against a school side.

'It is good for Worcestershire because it is early in the season for them and it gives them the chance to look at some players before the county championship starts in June.

'They are very grateful for this kind of game,' Shambrook said.

He also revealed that there are plans for the under-17s to tour Holland and Belgium at some stage next summer.