Luke Swann, performance cricket & EPP head coach, announced this week the 2019 intake for the Northamptonshire CCC emerging player programme (EPP), highlighted by Luke as “a very exciting group of elite cricketers”.
The EPP sits just below the academy in the performance pathway structure and is the first rung on the ladder for the top players aged between 13-16 in the Northamptonshire and surrounding minor county player pathways.
The players were identified over the 2018 season, two trial days and a six-week observation process held in the Northamptonshire CCC indoor school. They begin their EPP training on 8th January 2019.
When describing the criteria for EPP acceptance Luke commented, “It was a fairly rigorous selection process whereby we tried to leave no stone unturned, selecting players that we feel show the potential to go forward and push for academy places over the next 12-18 months. The performance coaching staff were highly impressed by the overall standard of the player’s trialled and are looking forward to working with this excellent group of players. “The players have all shown the required skill level accompanied by their individual potential, but the hard work starts now in terms of the players demonstrating the work-ethic and qualities required for the next level”.
2019 Northamptonshire CCC EPP
Aadi Sharma
Aum Raykar
Ben Sales
Ethan Metcalf
Ethan Rice
George Gowler
Henry Warren
Jack Ranganathan
Jack Robertson
James Sales
Olly Jefferies
Rohan Mehmi
Toby Cousins
Will Bowman
Will Park
Will Routledge
Northamptonshire CCC have an excellent record of producing professional players who go on to represent the county and England, with five academy graduates on the current staff; club captain Alex Wakely, Rob Newton, Graeme White, Rob Keogh and Saif Zaib and other recent graduates with England honours namely; David Willey, Ben Duckett and Olly Stone.