ICC Europe Media Release
16 December 2008
The Pepsi ICC European
Development Programme has
announced the names of thirteen
of Europe’s finest young
cricketers who will travel to
South Africa in February to take
part in the seventh annual ICC
European Academy.
The lucky thirteen, all aged
between 17 and 23, originate
from five European countries –
Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the
Netherlands and Scotland.
After the successful relocation
of the 2008 Academy out of
Europe to Mumbai in India, the
Academy will once again be held
overseas, but this time at
Sahara Oval St George’s Park in
South Africa.
Based in Port Elizabeth, St
George’s Park is the oldest Test
ground in South Africa and the
sixth oldest in the world. It
is thus steeped in history but
at the same time, as a current
international venue, its
infrastructure, particularly its
cricket facilities, is world
class.
In
addition to a wide range of
specialist coaches and support
staff that will be on hand at St
George’s Park, the Academy
players will be accompanied from
Europe by a highly qualified
coaching team led by Academy
Director, ICC Regional
Performance Officer, Philip
Hudson. The team includes ECB’s
Head of Elite Coach Development
Gordon Lord, former Ireland
coach Adrian Birrell and former
England seam bowler Richard
Johnson.
Of
the five countries represented
in the Academy squad, Ireland
and the Netherlands have the
highest representation, each
with four players selected for
the two week long training camp.
Ireland’s four are Chris
Dougherty, Gavin McKenna, Paul
Stirling and Greg Thompson, all
of whom who have worked their
way up through the Ireland ranks
and have now broken into the
senior national squad. They
travelled with the Ireland U/19
squad to Malaysia earlier in the
year to compete in the 2008 ICC
U/19 Cricket World Cup where
they defeated Zimbabwe in the
play-off for 13th place.
Thompson, who captained that
side, has 14 senior Ireland
caps.
The Netherlands’ four are
Timothy Gruijters, Maurits
Jonkman, Gert Maarten-Mol and
Lesley Stokkers. All performed
for their country in ICC
European Championships at all
age groups up to U/23 and now
aspire to become regulars in
their full national sides. In
doing so they will follow in the
footsteps of Alexei Kervezee who
is himself a graduate of the
2005 ICC European Academy and
went on to sign a contract with
Worcestershire CCC and compete
for the Netherlands in the 2007
ICC Cricket World Cup.
The selection also includes
three players from Scotland -
Ryan Flannigan, Andrew Hislop
and Sean Weeraratna.
Rizwan Mahmood of Denmark and
Gayshan Munasinghe of Italy,
both of whom have represented
their national sides, are the
final two Europeans to make up
the 13.
Commenting on the selection,
Academy Director Philip Hudson
said,
“All of these talented young
cricketers have the potential to
become regulars for their
national teams in the near
future and we hope to see some
competing at the highest level
in 2009.
“We want to give each of these
players the best support
possible so that they can work
intensively on improving their
game before the 2009 season
begins.”
He
added “With many of our
Associate and Affiliate sides
participating more frequently on
the international stage, it is
essential that these players are
given opportunities to learn to
play on different types of
surfaces and in different
climates so that are ready to
face the challenges ahead.”
The Academy will take place from
24th February to 5th March and
the programme will consist of
five days of practice followed
by three matches against a
variety of opposition including
a Nelson Mandela University XI.
The ICC European Academy
Squad 2009
Rizwan
Mahmood Denmark
Chris
Dougherty
Ireland
Gavin
McKenna Ireland
Paul
Stirling Ireland
Greg
Thompson Ireland
Gayshan
Munasinghe
Italy
Timothy
Gruijters
Netherlands
Maurits
Jonkmann
Netherlands
Gert
Maarten-Mol Netherlands
Lesley
Stokkers Netherlands
Ryan
Flannigan Scotland
Andy
Hislop
Scotland
Sean
Weeraratna Scotland |
