COACHES at Shropshire County Cricket Club’s (CCC) believe the emerging player programme has been a great success.

The county invited 14 promising players to attend a close-season coaching programme introduced to identify promising players from around the area.

Shropshire CCC’s academy coach, Ian Roe, was delighted with how each player responded to the invitation and felt there were plenty of positives to take.

“It was a well attended programme held over eight weeks and the boys put in a lot of hard work," he said.

"Their work ethic and application could not be faulted throughout.

“We extend our thanks to Andrew Huxley and Besblock for kindly sponsoring the programme.

“The coaching programme was put together and well delivered by Alexei Kervezee, so thanks to him and Dave Nock, my fellow Academy coach, and Ed Ashlin, from Cricket Shropshire, for all their help during the sessions.”

A number of guests from Worcestershire CCC including the club's Shrewsbury-born first teamers Ed Barnard and Dillon Pennington, helped inspire the EPP youngsters by passing on some tips during visits.

Mr Roe added: “There was also valuable input from Worcestershire as Kevin Sharp, the club’s head of coach and player development, his coaching staff and some of the players gave up their time to come along.

“The boys learned a lot, especially from Ed and Dillon as Salopians. It was great to have them with us for some of the programme.”

"Ed and Dillon emphasised to the boys that this is where they started.

“Their hard work, self motivation and the expert coaching they received has propelled them to the first-class arena. Who knows, could one of the attendees this time maybe join them in the future?”

The coaching sessions were for players aged 15 to 19 years and took play on eight successive Friday evenings at the Neville Cardus Indoor Cricket Centre at Shrewsbury School.

A number of the cricketers involved in the programme will now move on to Shropshire Academy’s pre-season coaching sessions at Wrekin College.