Sussex announce Academy intake for 2012 season

Following a two-month audition before Christmas, five players regained their places for a further year whilst another five players have been added to the programme.

Georgia Adams, Harry Finch, Callum Jackson, Tim Moses and Abidine Sakande will all be returning to the Academy for the new campaign whilst Ollie Graham, Josh Hayward, Elliott Hooper, Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Stuart Whittingham are the five newcomers.

The five new players showed during the audition that they could take on new information and adjust their techniques in the identified areas, whilst achieving the set goals and earning their one-year place.

All ten players have shown good evidence that they can portray the Sussex values which are an important part of SCCC and its Academy.

Graham is a top-order batsman who scored heavily in Sussex’s Under-17’s last season, playing a year above his age group and he will be looking to make a big impact in that section this year. Hayward and Hooper are both left-arm orthodox spinners who will now be moving into the Under-16 age group.

Hudson-Prentice has been the outstanding all-rounder in youth cricket across the past two seasons and scored a century in the Under-17’s last year, playing two years above his age, whilst he is also an exciting right-arm swing bowler. Whittingham is a right-arm opening bowler with good pace, who is hoping to improve his lower-order batting to become a genuine all-rounder.

Out of the existing five players, Adams will be looking forward to a new start after having last year ruined by injury, whilst Finch was a Sussex Premier League winner with Hastings Priory CC coupled with playing for Sussex’s 2nd XI last season.

Both Jackson and Sakande remain part of the England Under-17 Development Programme and Moses will be aiming to fulfil his ability with bat and ball.

All ten players are given a bespoke yearly programme covering physical, technical, mental, tactical and life skills. These are delivered by the professional coaching staff, primarily on a one to one basis, with all programmes overseen by Cricket Performance Manager Keith Greenfield at The PROBIZ County Ground, Hove and the Sutton Winson Academy Ground in Blackstone.

Greenfield congratulated the ten players and added, “They are all well aware that this is the first rung on a long ladder to becoming a professional cricketer.

“There is a lot of hard work, as well as enjoyment, in the months ahead and they have all shown the ability to go forwards.

“There will be many challenges that will benefit their game and they will be given fantastic support in order for them to show a significant contribution to Sussex Cricket in the years to come.”

Sussex Academy 2012

Georgia Adams, Brighton & Hove CC

Harry Finch, Hastings Priory CC

Ollie Graham, Haywards Heath CC

Josh Hayward, Cuckfield CC

Elliott Hooper, Hastings Priory CC

Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Haywards Heath CC

Callum Jackson, Eastbourne CC

Tim Moses, Lewes Priory CC

Abidine Sakande, Three Bridges CC

Stuart Whittingham, Roffey CC