Academy Players Earn England Recognition.
8 November 2012
Academy Director Owen Dawkins (pictured) is delighted that three of Gloucestershire's most promising young players have been selected for the England Development Programmes this winter.
Tom Shrewsbury has been chosen for the Under-19 group, while Kieran Smith and Miles Hammond will be part of the Under-17 Programme.
All three youngsters are all-rounders. Smith, from Stroud, bowls left-arm Chinamen, while Shrewsbury, who hails from Cornwall, and Hammond, from Oxford, are both off-spinners.
Owen Dawkins told this website: "These selections continue the success our Academy has enjoyed in seeing players recognised by England over the past four years.
"Craig Miles has played a couple of representive games for the Development Programme, while Lloyd Evans went on the England Under-17s tour last winter.
"Jack Taylor, Liam Norwell, David Payne and Chris Dent have all been heavily involved in England Programmes and we have had a couple of other lads involved in Development games.
"In addition to all that, Graeme McCarter represented Ireland in the Under-19 World Cup during the summer."
"Tom, Kieran and Miles have appeared in a number of second XI games, as well as doing well for their Academy age groups. Performances in all those matches have led to the England recognition.
"They have already spent ten days training with England at Loughborough this winter and will attend two or three more camps this side of Christmas.
"Selection for Under-19 and Under-17 winter tours will be made from players involved in the Programmes so that is the next step.
"Tom played locally for Thornbury last season. With David Allen being President of that club and a former international off-spinner, he has had a big influence on Tom, as has our spin bowling coach Richard Dawson.
"Kieran plays for Frocester Cricket Club, while Miles plays his club cricket in Oxford."
