National Cricket Performance Centre

The National Academy at Loughborough University

The National Cricket Performance Centre first came into existence in the winter of 2001–2002 and has been based at Loughborough University since 2003. In 2007 following the "Schofield Report" the National Academy was renamed the National Cricket Performance Centre. It consists of a state of the art £4.5 million indoor training complex. Facilities include lanes enabling full runups for fast bowlers and wicket-keepers stood back, Hawk-Eye cameras and advanced biomechanics analysis equipment. In addition to the indoor complex the academy also provides top class outdoor training facilities.

The National Academy is integrated with the England A cricket team, with touring parties being taken from the Academy squad.

National Cricket Performance Centre staff

• Performance Director: David Parsons
• ECB Performance Manager: David Graveney
• ECB Elite Player Development Manager: John Abraham
• National Cricket Performance Centre Manager: Dr. Guy Jackson
• ECB Batting Programme Lead: Graham Thorpe
• ECB Fast-Bowling Programme Lead: Kevin Shine
• ECB Spin-Bowling Programme Lead: Peter Such
• ECB Fielding Programme Lead: Richard Halsall
• ECB Wicket-Keeping Programme Lead: Bruce French (Acting)
• Physiologist: Richard Smith
• National Lead Physiotherapist: Ben Langley
• Information & Resource Manager: David Rose
• Administrator: Jo Pearson

National Academy player intake

Each year the best up and coming cricket talent from around Britain are invited to train with the National Academy, originally under the tutelage of Head Coach Rod Marsh and now under that of Director David Parsons. These young players are those that have been earmarked as possible players in future English cricket teams and it is for this reason that the National Academy was set up. Current England players that have come through the Academy system include James Anderson, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root and Andrew Strauss.

Players in bold have represented England at either Test or ODI level prior to their call-up to the Academy.

2006–07 intake

The 2006/07 National Academy squad was based at Loughborough for three weeks, before establishing a training camp in Perth to provide injury cover for the 2006-07 Ashes series. The squad will then form an England A squad to tour Sri Lanka.

Ravi Bopara, Essex Stuart Broad, Leicestershire Rikki Clarke, Surrey Jamie Dalrymple, Middlesex[1] Steven Davies, Worcestershire

Ed Joyce, Middlesex[2] Robert Key, Kent Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire Graham Onions, Durham Matt Prior, Sussex

Owais Shah, Middlesex Tom Smith, Lancashire Chris Tremlett, Hampshire Michael Yardy, Sussex

2005–06 intake

Gareth Batty, Worcestershire Ravi Bopara, Essex Stuart Broad, Leicestershire Rikki Clarke, Surrey Alastair Cook, Essex Jamie Dalrymple, Middlesex

Steven Davies, Worcestershire Mark Footitt, Nottinghamshire Ed Joyce, Middlesex Robert Key, Kent Sajid Mahmood, Lancashire Liam Plunkett, Durham

Chris Read, Nottinghamshire Owais Shah, Middlesex Tom Smith, Lancashire Luke Wright, Sussex Michael Yardy, Sussex

References

1. Dalrymple left the Academy on 16 December after he was called up to the 2006–07 Ashes touring squad as a replacement for Ashley Giles.^{Giles returns to comfort ill wife}
2. Joyce left the Academy on 15 November 2006 after he was called up to the 2006–07 Ashes touring squad as a replacement for Marcus Trescothick.

External links

• ECB National Academy
• Loughborough University Cricket