Eight promising young cricketers, four of them selected from locally based clubs, are included in Hampshire’s new Academy intake for the 2022 season.
Six of them are new kids on the block at the Ageas Bowl, which will continue to host the Academy’s ECB Southern Premier Division matches on the Nursery ground, starting against Havant on May 7.
Two remain from last year, Winchester-based all-rounder Dom Kelly and top-order batsman/wicketkeeper Charlie Mumford, from Bedford School.
They are joined by six newcomers, Ethan Baker, Tommy Cheater, Joe Eckland, Eddie Jack, Max Simpson, and Jude Wright, the squad having begun winter training a month or so ago.
The Academy aims to identify and develop outstanding cricketers capable of performing at the highest level for Hampshire and England.
Most recently, Toby Albert, Scott Currie and Tom Prest have progressed from academy ranks to play for Hampshire, with Prest shortly to skipper England U nder-19s in the ICC Youth World Cup in the Caribbean.
At 2021 Vitality Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston, nine of the 11 players that took to the field for Hampshire were produced from the Academy.
Millfield
Two of the latest Academy in-take – Joe Eckland and Dom Kelly – are coached by former Hampshire 2nd XI cricketer Mark Garaway at Millfield.
“Eckers (Eckland) is in the Upper Sixth and has really kicked on in the past 12 months, displaying a really professional attitude to training which has enabled him to turn good looking 30’s into match influencing scores.
“He is part of a four-keeper training group who are of similar level here at Millfield. They train so hard together and push each other on magnificently.
“It’s a real “wicket keeping hothouse” of talent. I enjoy working with them all.
“Dom is still in his GCSE year and has worked diligently on his physical capacity and bowling technical work which would hopefully see him injury free in 2022.
“His batting has moved on at an accelerated rate in the past 12 months and he is regularly influencing matches with Millfield, the Hampshire age group squads and the Academy. Potentially, a top all- rounder.”
Charlie Mumford caught Hampshire’s eye in the 2019 ECB Bunbury Festival and in the past two seasons has underlined his qualities, both as a top order right-hand batsman and a wicketkeeper.
He played in last season’s ECB Super Four regional tournament from which England’s U19 World Cup squad was selected.
Six of them are new kids on the block at the Ageas Bowl, which will continue to host the Academy’s ECB Southern Premier Division matches on the Nursery ground, starting against Havant on May 7.
Two remain from last year, Winchester-based all-rounder Dom Kelly and top-order batsman/wicketkeeper Charlie Mumford, from Bedford School.
They are joined by six newcomers, Ethan Baker, Tommy Cheater, Joe Eckland, Eddie Jack, Max Simpson, and Jude Wright, the squad having begun winter training a month or so ago.
The Academy aims to identify and develop outstanding cricketers capable of performing at the highest level for Hampshire and England.
Most recently, Toby Albert, Scott Currie and Tom Prest have progressed from academy ranks to play for Hampshire, with Prest shortly to skipper England U nder-19s in the ICC Youth World Cup in the Caribbean.
At 2021 Vitality Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston, nine of the 11 players that took to the field for Hampshire were produced from the Academy.
Millfield
Two of the latest Academy in-take – Joe Eckland and Dom Kelly – are coached by former Hampshire 2nd XI cricketer Mark Garaway at Millfield.
“Eckers (Eckland) is in the Upper Sixth and has really kicked on in the past 12 months, displaying a really professional attitude to training which has enabled him to turn good looking 30’s into match influencing scores.
“He is part of a four-keeper training group who are of similar level here at Millfield. They train so hard together and push each other on magnificently.
“It’s a real “wicket keeping hothouse” of talent. I enjoy working with them all.
“Dom is still in his GCSE year and has worked diligently on his physical capacity and bowling technical work which would hopefully see him injury free in 2022.
“His batting has moved on at an accelerated rate in the past 12 months and he is regularly influencing matches with Millfield, the Hampshire age group squads and the Academy. Potentially, a top all- rounder.”
Charlie Mumford caught Hampshire’s eye in the 2019 ECB Bunbury Festival and in the past two seasons has underlined his qualities, both as a top order right-hand batsman and a wicketkeeper.
He played in last season’s ECB Super Four regional tournament from which England’s U19 World Cup squad was selected.
Leg-spinner Ethan Baker, all-rounders Tommy Cheater and Jude Wright and paceman Max Simpson are all from local Southern Premier League clubs.
Baker, in his GCSE year at Hounsdown School in Totton, has weaved his magic for Bashley (Rydal) for the past two seasons and, growing in stature, has been a regular pick for Hampshire’s junior age group sides.
Also Totton based, Cheater has emerged in the past two seasons, with his powerful hitting and right-arm seam bowling a major influence as Totton & Eling carried off last summer’s Division 1 title.
Jude Wright, from Churcher’s College, Petersfield, joins the Hampshire Academy as an U17 after an excellent breakthrough 2021 season for Alton.
An elegant batter with a high bowling trajectory, he often captained Hampshire’s age group sides, scoring a century in one county match at Winchester College.
Seam bowler Max Simpson has emerged from the Hook & Newnham Basics cadets and helped the club’s second team win successive promotions. He been in the Hampshire pathway from a very young age and is developing nicely.
Impressive
Opening bowler and middle order batter, Eddie Jack is the latest Canford School pupil to join the Academy after Felix Organ and Tom Prest in recent years.
Jack enjoyed an impressive summer and was made captain of the South & West team at the ECB Bunbury Festival.
Charlie Freeston, Hampshire Cricket Head of Player Development, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome six new promising young players to the Hampshire Academy.
“The aim of the Academy is to help players achieve their goals of playing cricket for Hampshire and England.
“It’s the vehicle that hopes to turn potential into high quality and our job is to develop these young players, both on and off the cricket field.”
In recent years Tom Prest, Toby Albert and Scott Currie are the latest young players to break into the 1st XI, joining other former Academy graduates such as Joe Weatherley, Tom Alsop and Lewis McManus, all playing regularly alongside international players Liam Dawson, James Vince and Mason Crane.
Hampshire Academy Full Squad: Dom Kelly (U16), Ethan Baker (U16), Eddie Jack (U16), Tom Cheater (U17), Jude Wright (U17), Max Simpson (U18), Joseph Eckland (U18), Charlie Mumford (U18).
Baker, in his GCSE year at Hounsdown School in Totton, has weaved his magic for Bashley (Rydal) for the past two seasons and, growing in stature, has been a regular pick for Hampshire’s junior age group sides.
Also Totton based, Cheater has emerged in the past two seasons, with his powerful hitting and right-arm seam bowling a major influence as Totton & Eling carried off last summer’s Division 1 title.
Jude Wright, from Churcher’s College, Petersfield, joins the Hampshire Academy as an U17 after an excellent breakthrough 2021 season for Alton.
An elegant batter with a high bowling trajectory, he often captained Hampshire’s age group sides, scoring a century in one county match at Winchester College.
Seam bowler Max Simpson has emerged from the Hook & Newnham Basics cadets and helped the club’s second team win successive promotions. He been in the Hampshire pathway from a very young age and is developing nicely.
Impressive
Opening bowler and middle order batter, Eddie Jack is the latest Canford School pupil to join the Academy after Felix Organ and Tom Prest in recent years.
Jack enjoyed an impressive summer and was made captain of the South & West team at the ECB Bunbury Festival.
Charlie Freeston, Hampshire Cricket Head of Player Development, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome six new promising young players to the Hampshire Academy.
“The aim of the Academy is to help players achieve their goals of playing cricket for Hampshire and England.
“It’s the vehicle that hopes to turn potential into high quality and our job is to develop these young players, both on and off the cricket field.”
In recent years Tom Prest, Toby Albert and Scott Currie are the latest young players to break into the 1st XI, joining other former Academy graduates such as Joe Weatherley, Tom Alsop and Lewis McManus, all playing regularly alongside international players Liam Dawson, James Vince and Mason Crane.
Hampshire Academy Full Squad: Dom Kelly (U16), Ethan Baker (U16), Eddie Jack (U16), Tom Cheater (U17), Jude Wright (U17), Max Simpson (U18), Joseph Eckland (U18), Charlie Mumford (U18).