It was announced today that Middlesex Cricket and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) have joined forces to launch a new Performance Academy for Women and Girls.
The Academy, which will support players aged between 16 to 24 years from Middlesex and the surrounding areas, will enable participants to spend weekly contact time with coaches in order to develop their technical, tactical and physical skills.
The aim of the Academy is to provide a link between county age group cricket and the higher end of the pathway by preparing players to not only to represent Middlesex (or another home county), but to perform at the required level to make regional and national squads, too.
The first intake of players will benefit from a level of support from Middlesex and MCC staff and coaches that is unprecedented at this stage of the pathway. Working on a weekly basis with specialist and strength & conditioning coaches, players will be given the opportunity to fast-track their cricket education.
Members of the Academy will be selected from the current Middlesex County Age Group and Senior squads, as well as neighbouring counties and other partners. MCC and Middlesex Cricket will also work with local universities to identify students who would benefit from being part of the initiative.
Away from their cricket, the members of the Academy will work on a number of volunteering and fundraising programmes. This will help to spread the benefit to local communities as well as developing an understanding of the wider cricketing landscape.
Claire Taylor, Chair of MCC women's sub-committee, said...
"I'm excited about the new MCC and Middlesex Cricket Academy, which will give a pathway for talented female cricketers to achieve their potential. Together, MCC and Middlesex can provide access to a range of activities which will help players make the jump to the next level."
Rory Coutts, Middlesex Cricket's Assistant Head of Youth Cricket, said...
"Middlesex Cricket are excited to be partnering with MCC to offer players from Middlesex, and those from the surrounding areas, the opportunity to be part of an Academy programme.
"The game is developing and in order to keep players moving forward the extra support players will get through the Academy will help to accelerate their development. We wish all the players who are selected, as well as Head Coach Danni Warren, all the best."
John Stephenson, MCC's Head of Cricket said...
"Both MCC and Middlesex are committed to developing women's cricket and the new Performance Academy will give the platform for many players to perform at a higher level. It also shows how well the partnership is progressing, and we are very excited about its future development."
The MCC and Middlesex Cricket Women's Performance Academy will launch in October 2017, with nominations and selection of players taking place during September. For more information, please contact Head Coach Danni Warren on [email protected]
