Richard Cox and Mike Hendrick debrief the squad after a practice match Photo © ECC

The European Development Program recently staged its second academy at Sporting Alfas CC in Spain, with fifteen participants from eight different countries. Richard O'Sullivan took on the role of academy director for a second year, and was assisted in the running of the event by Mike Hendrick and Richard Cox, who stayed for the full 2‡ weeks, plus European Development Officer Adam Cole and Level III staff coach Owen Dawkins in the first week, and Ireland's BrÌan O'Rourke in the second week. Newly appointed EDP Ambassador Mike Gatting added further support to the coaching staff over the course of a 2-day visit.

Mike Hendrick videos Anders Christiansen (Denmark) in the nets Photo © ECC

The first week saw all participants take part in fitness training conducted by Australian physiotherapist Ivan Hooper, along with a match against a Spanish XI.

Squad members who had yet to complete an ECB Level 1 course did so, and local children were brought in to assist in the assessment process as well as to enjoy coaching from a number of highly experienced coaches.

The academy squad take on the Spanish national team Photo © ECC

The Level 1 course was considered to be a crucial part of development for all academy participants, allowing them to return to their countries with a coaching qualification and to assist with coaching whenever possible.

Mike Hendrick and the academy physio work with players on their bowling actions Photo © ECC

EDP umpiring instructor Ken Amos joined the academy for four days during the second week to deliver sessions covering different aspects of the laws and to stand in academy matches. Mike Gatting visited the academy during the final weekend and delivered a coaching session to all present, including a development squad from Gibraltar who had come to play a match against the academy squad.

Mike Hendrick and the academy physio work with players on their bowling actions Photo © ECC

Mike's visit stimulated much local interest and the live radio interviews conducted with him reached a potential listenership of two to three thousand people in Spain. In the meantime, the two-day game between the Academy and Gibraltar ended in a draw as rain came down on the second day. Notable academy performances came from Stuart Murray (Scotland) who scored eighty and Simon Wells (Ireland) who scored a hundred not out.

Many thanks to the AsociaciÛn EspaÒola de Cricket, and in particular Clive Woodbridge, who organised the academy from the Spanish end, and to everyone who helped with the successful running of the event.