- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
The Emerging Player Programme (EPP) works under the guidance of The English Cricket Board (ECB) as a significant part of the player development pathway. The EPP has been active in Devon since 2006, initially under the guidance of former Devon cricketer David Court and now former Somerset cricketer Julian Wyatt.
Many players have already passed through the EPP, with most notable successes being the Overton twins, Craig and Jamie, who are currently representing England in the u19 World Cup. Craig and Jamie made their debuts for Somerset CCC this season and have shown great promise for the future. It is hoped that their achievements will inspire future players to follow in their footsteps.
All member counties of the ECB run an EPP, although it is apparent that there is a variation on the theme from county to county. In Devon, players are identified and selected following the county u11 season. The aim being that these players receive extra coaching support, in addition to the county youth programme. Following the u13 season numbers are re-assessed as leading performances become a leading criteria for selection, in addition to potential.
Selection is fluid from one year to the next as player development is not always consistent. Performance and attitude to training will be significant to selection, particularly as players grow older.
The main intention of EPP is to identify and develop young cricketers with ambitions to become future first class and international cricketers. Those players that progress will be offered opportunities with first class counties to join their academies as the next step on the player development pathway. In addition to Craig and Jamie, Michael Cousens progressed from Devons EPP and is now a member of Surreys first class academy.
A number of current EPP cricketers have been invited to Somerset CCC for a training day later this month: Sam Wyatt-Haines (U16), Dominic Bess (U15), Rhys Davies (U17), Ollie Sale (U16), Ben Green (U14) and Dan Goodey (U14). Jack Maunder (U15) has been scouted by Chris Read at Notts CCC and he has been invited to attend academy sessions during school holidays whilst continuing his EPP in Devon.
The programme involves a number of coaches that bring a variety of knowledge and experience. These include former first class cricketers: Julian Wyatt (Somerset CCC – Level 4 coach), Matthew Wood (Somerset CCC & Notts CCC – Level 4 coach), Keith Brown (Middlesex CCC – Level 3 coach), ex England womens international Caroline Atkins (Sussex CCC – Level 3 coach) and former Devon CCC representative Matthew Hunt (Level 3 coach). In addition to this group Keith Donohue who represented Devon CCC over 100 times will join as lead fast bowling coach. Specialist sessions have also been run by former England internationals Richard Ellison (Kent CCC – Level 3 coach) and Richard Dawson (Yorkshire CCC & Gloucestershire CCC – Level 4 coach).
Whilst the overall aim is to identify and develop players for selection to first class academies, there will always be a number of players that may fall short at that stage of their career. These players will be picked up by The Devon Lions whose High Performance Coach is Tim Western. Former cricketers identified and developed through the EPP that are already members of the Lions or who have represented the Lions include: Barney Huxtable, Cameron Grainger, Max Curtis, Matt Golding, Josh Mailing and Rhys Davies.
Matt Golding has gone one step further and represented the County at senior level this season. Matt has represented Devon throughout the age groups, with particular success representing Devon u14s at the English Schools festival in 2008. Matt also scored 170 for Devon u17s in 2011 and his continued development has been duly rewarded.
We would like to wish all of those attending Somerset CCCs training session on August 27th the best of luck and remember, your successes will be inspirational to the next group of EPP cricketers progressing through Devon Cricket Boards ranks.