Posted Date: Friday, 4th August 2006
Star Duo Lend Hand
Indian Test player Debasis Mohanty and former England batsman Aftab Habib thrilled a full-house of youngsters at the City Cricket Academy.
Mohanty, who played two Tests and 45 one-day internationals, dropped in at Freemans Common to give bowling advice, and Habib, who also played two Tests, offered tips on batting.
"The youngsters thought it was brilliant," said organiser Anshuman Bhagawati. "The two players encouraged them and they got some quality coaching.
"We can have up to 40 youngsters at any one time, and recently we had five from India, one from Dubai and one from Australia as well as all Leicester youngsters.
"They are really enjoying themselves and we also take them out to play outdoors at the Electricity Sports ground nearby and find it's very competitive."
Market Harbourough captain Laurie Potter, a former Leicestershire all-rounder, is helping out at the Academy and he added: "It's been a real eye-opener. I remember when I was 12 and at an Academy in Australia when Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh came to give us advice.
"It was similar this week, with the youngsters firing questions and the players giving their answers. It's good to see so much interest the youngsters have in cricket.
"It's very heartening to see the numbers we have here and I'm chuffed at the quality of the players.
"It's an absolute pleasure to be involved."
(Leicester Mercury)
© City Cricket Academy 2008
