Homegrown players on Academy up by 100%
26 December 2015
The number of homegrown players on the Gloucestershire Academy has gone up by 100% after Dominic Hooper, Josh Smith and Sam Groves (pictured) won places on the programme.
The trio follow in the footsteps of Patrick Grieshaber, Ollie Currill and James Bracey who were all selected for the squad of 12 after impressing in the county’s age group teams.
Left arm seamer Josh Smith (Lansdown) and allrounder Dominic Hooper (Claverham) (both 17) made their 2nd XI debuts last season, joining a growing list of former Gloucestershire juniors to make the step up in recent seasons.
Fast bowler Groves, 16, who plays for North Cotswold Young Cricketers, was invited onto the Academy programme less than a year after making the transition from district to county youth cricket.
The three players will train with the rest of the Academy squad and with the Gloucestershire professional staff alongside their studies.
Academy director Owen Dawkins said: “The three lads deserve their opportunity and have been working well so far this winter. Dominic and Josh both performed well for the Under 17s and for the 2nd XI when given the chance and it is these performances that have pushed them onto the Academy.
“Sam has worked hard with (county Under 15 and Academy coach) Paul Muchall and proved himself to be the outstanding bowler in the Under 15s last year.
“The message to all our young players is that if they perform in their age group sides then they will have the chance to make the step up.”
Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) chief executive Steve Silk says their selection was fantastic news for cricket in the county.
He said: “The increasing number making the step up from county junior cricket demonstrates that the pathway is working well. It also shows that under the guidance of GCB head of performance Tim Hancock, we are offering the best possible support to our talented youngsters every step of the way.”
In addition to the Gloucestershire-based contingent, the current Academy features six other young players.
Allrounders Tom Price and Ben Charlesworth (both 15) both come from Oxfordshire with Tom currently studying at Magdalen College and Ben at St Edwards – the former school of First Team spinner Miles Hammond.
Brandon Allen, 17, who played his junior cricket for Buckinghamshire is another St Edwards student on the current Academy. He made his Second XI debut last year, scoring 50 against Warwickshire and also played for the South West Under 17 regional team.
The line-up is completed by a third Oxfordshire-based player Jordan Garrett (15) - who is part of the England Under 17 Development Programme - and seamers Jack Popham (Devon) and Callum Gregory (Berkshire).
For more details on the Academy programme and the class of 2015/16 please click here.
The opportunities for young players to progress with Gloucestershire has been underlined in recent months by Academy graduates George Hankins and Brandon Gilmour being awarded professional contracts. They join seven other players in the current first team squad who came through the Academy.
Marc Lezar and Joe Barrett - who were released from the Academy last year - have been accepted on to the MCC Young Cricketers Scheme – joining fellow former Glos boys Tom Smith and Olly Smithson.
