County champions open pathway for island stars

A BRANCH of the Sussex County Cricket Academy has opened in Guernsey. Funded by the county champions and by PwC, it will be run by the island's new high-performance coach, Jeremy Frith.

It is intended to give a clearer pathway for Guernsey's budding young cricketers to reach professional cricket.

Frith will report directly to Sussex's cricket performance manager Keith Greenfield.

'Obviously the academy is the ultimate for a young player coming through, but all this will make the juniors stronger,' said Greenfield.

'If they don't get to Sussex, they will be better players for Guernsey and in European cricket. Also if Guernsey becomes a major force in European cricket like Ireland and Scotland, you will see Guernsey cricketers playing professional cricket.'

The academy is for the best of the island's 14 to 17-year-olds.

The first Sarnians to make the grade are wicketkeeper/batsman Will Thompson, all-rounders Adam Hindle and Tom Kirk and seam bowler Matthew Renouf.

Thompson, Hindle and Kirk are all 16 years old while Renouf is 15.

They were selected after having undergone physical assessments and an interview and on the strength of their performance last year.

Throughout the winter they will train with Frith once a week, which will be extra to their other cricket commitments.

Frith will keep Sussex regularly informed of their progress and they will go to train at the county's headquarters in Hove in January and in February or March.

It is anticipated that the four will turn out for one of Sussex's age groups during the summer.

The academy will use the Guernsey Indoor Cricket Centre and all its technical features, such as video analysis, after it opens next year.

The academy is the latest initiative to be created after a formal link was established between Guernsey and Sussex in 2006.

'It's gone really well since we've been involved,' said Greenfield.

'It's been 14 months since we tied up a deal and things are going really well. I think Guernsey are pretty pleased.

'It's been a partnership rather than us coming in and being heavy handed.'

The island's cricket development coach, Jason Shambrook, recommends other sports to follow cricket's example.

He also denied that Sussex were in the arrangement only to cherry pick Guernsey's best young talent.

'I would encourage any sport in Guernsey to get involved with a professional club in the UK,' he said.

'They've not just come over here to cream off the best of Guernsey cricket. It's for the 360 degrees of Guernsey cricket.

'The opportunities are just incredible.'