Bell heads Academy's new list of young talent

There should have been plenty of smiling faces turning up at cricket grounds around the country yesterday morning, after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced its provisional list of 20 cricketers who will be considered for the National Academy in Adelaide this coming winter.

Ian Bell, the exciting Warwickshire batsman, heads the list of young talent, which contains four players who could be returning to South Australia for the second time and two, in Paul Franks and Chris Read, who have already made their international debuts. Along with Bell and the Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones, who could both be selected for the full England tour of Australia, Glamorgan's Mark Wallace and the Hampshire fast bowler Chris Tremlett are the fortunate ones who may get another winter in the sun to develop their skills.

The timing of this announcement – two months before all the winter Test and one-day squads are finalised – appears unnecessary and early, but it is so that the ECB can film, study and analyse these players before they go away. This will enable the academy staff to identify areas that need to be worked on so the winter can be used to correct problems rather than trying to find them.

A concern about the list of players provisionally selected is that the National Academy does not become just a venue for players in their early 20s who have played quite a bit of first-class cricket and have so far failed to make that final jump to the Test arena. It needs to be, like its successful Australian counterpart, a destination where bright teenage talent is also nurtured.

Rod Marsh, the director of the National Academy, defended his selection of older players, saying: "I've just picked the players that are available and that I think can play for England."

The average age of the first intake at the National Academy last winter, though high, was perfectly acceptable as there was a specific reason for selecting this age of cricketer. The idea was to fast-track the development of England's best cricketers, just below the Test side, to enable the England coach, Duncan Fletcher, and the captain, Nasser Hussain, to pick from a larger pool of talent than they previously could. Out of the 15 taken to Australia in 2001-02, only Alex Tudor has so far come through, although Bell and Jones are pushing hard.

It was felt, however, that this was a one-off and the next intake would be younger. Yet the average age of the 20 named yesterday has only fallen from 21.73 to 21.55. This is almost two years higher than the 19.71 average age of the 24 scholarship holders at the Australian Academy of 2001.

There is still hope for those players who missed out yesterday. Hugh Morris, the ECB performance director, said: "This is by no means and exclusive list and, if other players perform well in the remainder of the season, then they will also be considered for selection."

Another player to hear some good news yesterday was Dominic Cork. The Derbyshire captain has been brought into England's one-day squad for Saturday's NatWest series final against India at Lord's as a replacement for James Kirtley, who broke his hand in practice last week. Cork is unlikely to play but has joined the squad as cover in case a last-minute injury should strike one of the quick bowlers.

India, meanwhile, have injury concerns about Rahul Dravid (thigh) and Anil Kumble (calf) before Saturday's final and it is doubtful either will play in today's day/night match against Sri Lanka at Bristol.

ACADEMY PLAYERS (PROVISIONAL LIST): K Ali (Worcestershire), G J Batty (Worcestershire), I R Bell (Warwickshire), I D Blackwell (Somerset), T T Bresnan (Yorkshire), M P L Bulbeck (Somerset), P J Franks (Nottinghamshire), K W Hogg (Lancashire), S P Jones (Glamorgan), E C Joyce (Middlesex), M J Lumb (Yorkshire), G J Muchall (Durham), M S Panesar (Northamptonshire), C M W Read (Nottinghamshire), D I Stevens (Leicestershire), J Treadwell (Kent), C T Tremlett (Hampshire), J Troughton (Warwickshire), M A Wallace (Glamorgan), M J A Whiley (Leicestershire).