Bracey and Currill join Glos Academy
4 August 2015
Fast bowler Oliver Currill and wicketkeeper batsman James Bracey have joined Gloucestershire’s Academy.
The 18-year-olds – who have played for the county since the Under 11s – have both signed until the end of next summer.
Both players are from Gloucestershire with Ollie heralding from Moreton-In-Marsh and James from Winterbourne.
Academy Director Owen Dawkins said: “Both Ollie and James just missed out on a place last year but have worked really hard during the winter and have earned their opportunity through their performances.
“We look forward to seeing them continue their development over the next year.”
Around half of Gloucestershire’s current professional squad came through the Academy and both players say they hope to follow in their footsteps.
For more information on each player please see below:
Oliver Currill
Ollie, who learned his trade with North Cotswold Young Cricketers, has signed until the end of next summer after impressing over the winter and during the first half of the season.
He said: “I am really happy about it. I knew I was close and kept working hard over the winter. It just shows that all the hard work, commitment and dedication has paid off.
“Being from Gloucestershire and having played since the Under 11s just makes it that bit more special.”
Ollie first played junior county cricket for Gloucestershire as an 11-year-old and has represented at every age group.
He picked up the Under 17 performance of the year award last season for his 5-29 v Hampshire and made his Second XI debut this year , claiming former South Africa Test batsman and current Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph as his first wicket.
But Ollie’s path to the Academy hasn’t always run smooth.
After a successful Under 12 season Ollie was given a placed on Gloucestershire’s Emerging Players Programme (EPP) but three years later he found himself off the programme and out of the Under 15 county squad.
After a winter working with the Cheltenham and Cotswolds district squad he re-joined the county side and hasn’t looked back since.
He said: “Although it seemed like a step back at the time, looking back it helped me massively. I wasn’t dealing with things as well as well as I could do and I it helped me more than I realised. I think having had to deal with that when I was quite young has made it easier to take things in my stride as I’ve got older."
Ollie currently plays his senior cricket for Leamington Spa in Division Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League and trains with the Academy two to three times a week alongside matches.
Gloucestershire Academy director Owen Dawkins said: “After some ups and downs along the way we are delighted with the improvements Ollie made working with (Gloucestershire Cricket Board head of performance) Tim Hancock in the Gloucestershire Under 17s last year. We set him some building blocks over the winter and up to Christmas and saw continual improvement.
“He has bowled at the pro squad and done a lot of work with bowling coach Mark Thorburn which has really driven his game forward. We are looking forward to seeing him continue to progress.”
Tim Hancock, who coached Ollie in the Gloucestershire Under 17s last year said this could happen sooner rather than later.
He said: “He impressed last year and if he can continue developing at the rate he has over the last 12-18months he can keep going up and you could see him playing County Championship cricket quite soon.
“The fact that Ollie has come from the county squads to the EPP, back down to the district cricket and now to the Academy shows that the system is working well and that players aren’t ever lost but have the opportunity to develop at different rates.”
James Bracey
The Bristol CC player, who came through the ranks at Winterbourne CC, signed until the end of next summer after making 98 for the Second XI against Essex earlier this year.
He said: “It’s what I’ve been working for and I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity.
“Owen Dawkins (Gloucestershire Academy Director) said to me before the Essex game that if you can get a big score in the match then I would get a chance and I went out and got 98.
“I am looking forward to working hard and trying to keep improving my game.”
After leaving school James attended Stroud and South Gloucestershire (SGS) College and was part of their cricket programme which is run by Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) head of performance Tim Hancock.
He has been part of the county age group squads since the Under 11s and enjoyed a successful 2014 season with the Under 17s.
Despite not earning an Academy deal last summer he trained with the squad during the winter before earning a place through his early season form.
James said his performances in the Under 17s and the opportunity to train alongside the Gloucestershire professional squad have both been big factors in his recent development.
He said: ““I made runs most years in junior county cricket without ever going big. The Under 17s was a big year as it gave me an idea of how I play best.
“Working with Tim Hancock at SGS and with the U17s has been great. He keeps things really simple. He batted at the highest level and it is great to work with someone who understands your game as well as you do.
“It didn’t happen at the end of last year but I had the same opportunities to come in and train during the winter which was great.
“A lot of the guys like Ian Cockbain and Tom Smith are always happy to help out. Tom has been really helpful talking about different spinners and different angles and how to play them. I am just trying to pick up as much as I can.”
Gloucestershire Academy Director Owen Dawkins said: “James has earned his opportunity through his performances – both in junior cricket last year and in the Second XI this season.
“He has worked his way up from batting eight or nine to holding down a place in the top order which is testament to his attitude and the runs he has scored.”
James grew up next door to Winterbourne CC where he would take every opportunity to practice with older brother Sam – who plays for Frocester CC and also worked his way through the Gloucestershire groups.
GCB head of performance Tim Hancock said: “It is down to how hard he has worked . Not just when he’s in the presence of coaches but the work he has done of his own.
“The improvements he has made in the last 12-18months is a credit to his work ethic and there is a lot more to come from him.
“His wicketkeeping is developing and once he gets into the rhythm of making big scores I think he will become a very good cricketer.”
