The official newsletter of the Pepsi ICC Development Programme - Europe www.icc-europe.org Issue 109, April 2010 EUROPEAN ACADEMY ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS The ICC European Men’s Academy took place in March in Pune, India Contents and it has been a great success. Geoff Lawson former Australian inter- 2 national and Pakistan National Coach Academy players has been in India helping out with the Academy. Lawson had worked with give their the Global Cricket School previously thoughts and in particular with Sachin Bajaj, GCS’s MD. The strong relationship between Sachin and Geoff was an 3 important factor in Lawson agreeing News from Ireland to work on the European Men’s Acad- & Germany emy. The ex-New South Wales fast bowler captured 395 wickets in his first-class 4 career for NSW and knows exactly European Centre what to expect having played at the ICC European Academy at Pune of Excellence highest level for 46 test matches and 79 ODIs. He made his debut for Aus- tralia in the 1980-1981 season; he prove for them to perform at Interna- yourself as well. They are a great 5 took a total of 268 wickets at interna- tional level.” bunch of people and we have all got tional level. One of Lawson’s most News in brief on really well and I have made friends outstanding recognition was winning The cultural experience of having the which I shall take away with me.” the Player of the Series award in Academy based in India, is also an- 1982-1983 Ashes in which Australia other fantastic advantage, not only The players have all shown improve- 6 won 2-1. He was a fantastic person to does it give the players professional ment and this can be seen with victo- have on-board to bring all of his ex- development, but also a personal de- ICC WT20 to be ries in the two 50-over matches ver- perience to the Academy. velopment of interacting with a differ- broadcast in 15 ent culture and experiencing a new sus GCS Select X1 and Poona Sports European There has been some excellent feed- cultural experience. Club X1 which were two outstanding languages back coming out of the Academy and performances particularly from indi- particularly from Lawson himself: Accompanying Lawson was a highly viduals Poynter, Kidd and Evans. “The week has been absolutely out- qualified coaching team managed by Lawson concludes: “Without these standing, the facilities are fantastic, academy director, ICC Regional Per- academies the development of cricket but I expect nothing less, the weather formance Officer Philip Hudson. The wouldn’t work, it has been fantastic- has been great, perfect for cricket team included Cricket Ireland’s Cricket ally organised and one of the most and all the players have worked ex- Operations Director Mark Garaway, enjoyable events I have worked on.” ceptionally hard.” The programme ECB’s Head of Elite Coach Develop- Below: Geoff Lawson coaching has been jam-packed, making use of ment Gordon Lord, current Guernsey the facilities which have included net player and Performance Manager practices, physical training sessions, Jeremy Frith and Joce Brooks, Sports psychology classes, 1-1 interviews Psychologist. and centre wicket practice, there Lawson particularly commented on hasn’t been much free time. He con- how he enjoyed working with coaches tinues on to say: “The guys have that he had not been involved with been pushed really hard, but have before: “Working with the European responded, the improvement to see is Academy coaches has been a fantas- just outstanding. It is important that tic learning and social experience. You each player keeps working hard on get to learn about different coaching the areas of their games that they techniques from each individual to the have acknowledged needs to im- next and this can only help to improve ICC Europe Official Partners ICC Europe Official Suppliers www.icc-europe.org ACADEMY PLAYERS GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS cricket legend. My form has been pretty solid; to bed; as everyone tried to acclimatise to the having played well in Dubai and then to con- time change. tinue it on here, all the coaches seem happy with the way I am developing and particularly Woke up today and have had a really good how I have trained here. I have worked with day, not too jet-lagged must have been the Geoff on developing my slower balls and add- week I spent in Dubai, at the ICC World Twen- ing additional variety to changes in pace. ty20 qualifier. This morning we had 1-1 infor- mal meetings with the coaches; this helped Involved in another 50-over game yesterday everyone to settle in; as it’s inevitable that you which ended in a victory for us and we are will stick with your country team mates. How- continuing the winning feeling, to take into the ever, everyone got involved and mixed; it two remaining Twenty20 matches. The bowl- made the atmosphere a lot more relaxed and ers bowled well and as a unit; while Andrew will hopefully be similar for the rest of our stay. Poynter scored a quality 80 not out. We have We had some light-net sessions and a cool- been training pretty hard, so had a slightly down in the pool which finished the day off less demanding day today, which started with well. We were challenged in our debrief to a hard pool fitness session which was a team raise our standards as performance wasn't as based activity. We followed this with the rest high as the coaches expected. of the day free from activity. I enjoyed having a relaxing day and socialising with the guys; I Then we had a really interesting psychology Above: Mark Jonkman practices under the watchful session with Sports Psych Dr Joce Brooks, as eye of Philip Hudson already knew a couple of them, but the whole group has mixed so well and everyone enjoys a group we were all being tested to see what each other’s company. The plan is to have a personality types we had and the strengths and weaknesses of them; therefore how to The ICC European Men's Academy in India team meal tomorrow night after hopefully help us improve. We were introduced to Myers has been a great success, and 23-year-old winning both T20 games. I know how much Briggs personality preference. It was inter- Mark Jonkman from The Netherlands spoke everyone would like to go through the trip ested to find out how different people work. during the first few days about his experience unbeaten! My type confirmed that I prefer to make deci- thus far: Looking forward to the last day of the Acad- sions based on the values I hold as opposed emy; to make the most of everything here and to logically analysing things. I also like to keep then it will be home for some rest and then my options open rather than planning out. I Winning feeling-the hard work is paying off begin training with Netherlands for the Pro 40 recognise that with these preferences that I – Mark Jonkman League- hopefully taking everything from here need to improve my planning. We have more Pune - So far my first ICC Men’s Academy into a great season. nets tomorrow with the head coaches and has been thoroughly entertaining; after arriv- GCS staff. ing a day later due to issues with my visa, Really looking forward to the double sessions everything has been fantastic. as it involves working closely with the coaches We played our first 50-over game on Tuesday and developing my game, which will be bril- and won, all the guys are really pleased with liant looking forward to the season and my how they performed. I was happy with my chances of ICC World Twenty20 in West In- performance, 5 overs no wickets, but didn’t go dies taking place in a couple of months. All in for many runs and bowled some decent out all it has been a really enjoyable couple of swing at good pace. Overall I was very happy days, Pune is an excellent city, and the facili- with my performance. The past few days we ties, sessions and weather have all been bril- have had training sessions, team talks and 1:1 liant; let’s hope the next seven are just as technical sessions which has made the pro- good. gramme interesting and provided variety. The facilities here in Pune have been good, we have six nets to use and can train in the middle when it is not in use by the Poona Sports Club teams. I spent time here before for several days with the Netherlands squad before we departed to Dubai for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 qualifiers and thought it was Ireland international 24-year-old Gary Kidd great then; but being here for longer I have (photo above) spoke to ICC Europe about the seen what a fantastic environment this is to first couple of days in Pune. play cricket in and what a great job everyone has done to get the academy organised. The hard work begins – Gary Kidd Working with all the coaches has been great for me; as they all specialise in different areas Pune - It has been a excellent first couple of and therefore can help everyone in all different days; but time has just flown by. We landed aspects of their game. We sit down with the yesterday into brilliant hot sunshine and ar- coaches and discuss how we can improve in rived at Pune; the club facilities at Poona Above: Mark Garaway, Gordon Lord and Geoff different areas and go through plans of how to Sports Club are excellent.