Our objective at Cambridgeshire Cricket is to create an environment that will help our players develop and reach their full potential. We want to produce players that are resilient, strong, skilful, have a wealth of knowledge, but most of all enjoy the game. Ultimately, we hope to grow a strong pool of players to progress along our pathway and on to National Counties and First Class Cricket.

We have seven County Age Group (CAG) squads. Our Under 11 and Under 12 squads are focused on participation and development and on building a strong foundation for the performance stage of our pathway. Our performance stage begins with our Under 13 CAG squad which plays friendly fixtures against National and First-Class Counties. Our Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 CAG squads are entered in to ECB competitions to take part in official ECB fixtures which will include a variety of One-Day, T20 and two day matches.

The talent pathway aims to provide a structure of specific age-related coaching as well as opportunities for specialist sessions. Pre-Christmas we run a skill specific programme covering technical areas in both red ball & white ball cricket. In January, our 10-week CAG winter training programme begins during which squads will train together, working towards the summer. During the summer months, squads will have access to further outdoor training to complement their extensive summer fixture schedule.

Selection for all CAG squads will be based around player development. As players progress along the pathway, the emphasis moves towards team performance in a competition environment.

The Talent Development Framework is set out in the document below.

To find out more about fixtures and results for these CAG squads please go to the Cambridgeshire Cricket Board Play Cricket site:

https://cambridgecb.play-cricket.com/

The Cambridgeshire Boys’ Emerging Players’ Programme (EPP) is run in partnership with Essex County Cricket Club. This allows our players to have a clearer pathway to First Class Cricket. The players are chosen from our Under 13 – Under 16 CAG squads through various selection processes. Once selected, the players take part in an extensive winter and summer training programme. During the programme, the players take part in skills and scenario sessions, fielding sessions and strength and conditioning. Our Boys’ EPP coaching staff consists of:

• James Williams (EPP Lead)
• Chris Scott (Former Durham, Notts & Cambridge MCCU Head Coach)
• Peter Such (Former England, Notts, Essex & England lead Spin Coach)
• Lizzie Hitchcock- EPP Physio

The programme is based at Fenners Cricket Centre and at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre in their impressive Strength & Conditioning suite. Alongside this, the players also train at the Essex CloudFM County Ground with the Essex Emerging Players Programme and have access to their professional coaching staff.

Our Boys’ EPP is not just about the playing ability of our squad. The programme also looks at the all-round support we can give to our players over the course of the year. They have access to nutrition advice, physio support, psychological support and goal setting advice.

We hope the holistic support we give our players on the EPP will provide them with the right knowledge and experiences to progress in to First Class Cricket.

To date, we have had several players progress with First Class Counties, whether it be in Academies or through dual registrations.

The document below sets out the EPP process in Cambridgeshire

For more details on the EPP, please contact James Williams on james.williams@cambscricket.org.uk