Cricket: Academy given go-ahead

A NATIONAL cricket academy to nurture England players of the future should be up and running by the end of next year.

The proposal has been agreed by the First-Class Forum, and the England and Wales Cricket Board will now conduct a feasibility study into funding and where the academy should be located.

The academy will provide young cricketers with the best technical, tactical, physical and mental training for a four-month winter period.

The rebirth of Australian cricket since their doldrums in the 1980s has been credited to the Australian Cricket Academy, and the ECB will be hoping to see similar results.