Hampshire have awarded scholarships to promising youngsters Ben Duggan, Josh McCoy, Jake Goodwin and Calvin Dickinson.
The scholarships will see the quartet commence their winter training programmes at the Ageas Bowl in November before heading to Durban, South Africa to continue their development in January.
The players will also link up with former Hampshire Cricket Head Coach Dale Benkenstein during their time in South Africa, before returning back to the UK in March to begin their final preparations for the 2017 season. All four players will then start the season as part of the Hampshire Second XI.
Hampshire Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “We’re delighted to award scholarships to these four young prospects. Ben, Josh and Jake have shown real promise during their time so far with the Academy and Second XI and I’m certain that this scholarship experience will help further their development.
“Calvin is also someone that we are pleased to have on board having performed well for Oxford MCCU and MCC Universities last year - this is a good opportunity for the guys and one that they are looking forward to getting stuck into.”
Ventnor left-hander Duggan and Havant all-rounder McCoy have featured prominently for Hampshire Academy and Hampshire Second XI over the previous two seasons, whilst Purbrook-raised McCoy was also selected to represent England U19s against Sri Lanka for the first time in August this year.
Fellow 18-year-old all-rounder, Swindon-based Goodwin – a third year product of the Academy – also impressed this season and made a successful NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Somerset, hitting 32 in a lively opening partnership with Tom Alsop which set up Hampshire’s win.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dickinson, 19, caught the eye having been a prominent performer for Oxford MCCU and was a team-mate of Lymington’s Ed Ellis in the Oxford Brookes side which won the BUCS 50-over Cup at Lord’s. He previously played for Ryde and represented the Isle of Wight at junior age group level. He was top run scorer for Shipton-Under-Wychwood in the Home Counties Premier League this summer.
The scholarships will see the quartet commence their winter training programmes at the Ageas Bowl in November before heading to Durban, South Africa to continue their development in January.
The players will also link up with former Hampshire Cricket Head Coach Dale Benkenstein during their time in South Africa, before returning back to the UK in March to begin their final preparations for the 2017 season. All four players will then start the season as part of the Hampshire Second XI.
Hampshire Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “We’re delighted to award scholarships to these four young prospects. Ben, Josh and Jake have shown real promise during their time so far with the Academy and Second XI and I’m certain that this scholarship experience will help further their development.
“Calvin is also someone that we are pleased to have on board having performed well for Oxford MCCU and MCC Universities last year - this is a good opportunity for the guys and one that they are looking forward to getting stuck into.”
Ventnor left-hander Duggan and Havant all-rounder McCoy have featured prominently for Hampshire Academy and Hampshire Second XI over the previous two seasons, whilst Purbrook-raised McCoy was also selected to represent England U19s against Sri Lanka for the first time in August this year.
Fellow 18-year-old all-rounder, Swindon-based Goodwin – a third year product of the Academy – also impressed this season and made a successful NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Somerset, hitting 32 in a lively opening partnership with Tom Alsop which set up Hampshire’s win.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dickinson, 19, caught the eye having been a prominent performer for Oxford MCCU and was a team-mate of Lymington’s Ed Ellis in the Oxford Brookes side which won the BUCS 50-over Cup at Lord’s. He previously played for Ryde and represented the Isle of Wight at junior age group level. He was top run scorer for Shipton-Under-Wychwood in the Home Counties Premier League this summer.
