Posted Date: Saturday, 22nd August 2009
Academy on a mission
Article taken from leicester mercury.
The Leicester City Cricket Academy is gearing up for the most exciting two months in its history.
It is holding a five-week summer camp, followed by a five-day coloured-clothing tournament at Leicester Grammar School, Great Glen.
There are also trips planned to a series of county games – and an Army camp.
The Academy, based at Freemen's Common, was the brainchild of its director, Anshuman Bhagawati.
The first three years have been a huge success with hundreds of boys and girls learning the basics of the game.
Now Bhagawati, generally known as Don, wants to get more and more youngsters involved – and turn out budding cricketers and good people. "We want to help them to develop their cricket and, if they do cricket for a career, that's great," he said.
/>"But we also want them to be good kids and turn into good men and women and, if they do that, we're doing a good job."
He is also hoping that recruits from the Academy will help Leicestershire to fulfil their ambitions of fielding more locally-produced players in the first team.
This summer's activities centre on the summer camp at Leicester Grammar School at Great Glen where former County all-rounder Laurie Potter will be among the coaches.
Bhagawati, who plays for Syston in the Premier Division of the Everards County League, has a wide range of contacts in the professional game, and he hopes that some will act as guest coaches.
Bhagawati is particularly excited about the coloured-clothing tournament.
It had about 100 players in the first year, 216 last year and he is hoping for 300 this time.
There will be competitions for under-nines, under-11s, under-13s and under-16s with matches played over 25 overs and the final over 40 overs. Anyone who scores a century will receive a bat and five wickets will earn a pair of boots.
"They love playing in coloured clothing, they want to be like their heroes," said Bhagawati.
In previous years parents have covered the costs of the outfits, but he is hoping to find a sponsor this time.
Bhagawati puts a big emphasis on youngsters being given strong role models and he hopes that his contacts will be helpful in the planned outings.
The Academy is having a day at Edgbaston for the Championship match between Warwickshire and Lancashire.
"We'll be getting there early for the kids to see how the players prepare," said Bhagawati.
"Darren Maddy will be giving us a tour of the ground and VVS Laxman will be playing for Lancashire.
"I know VVS and it would be great if he could talk to the kids for a few minutes."
The trips also include a day of the Australians' game at Northampton, a tour of Hunts County Bat Factory and a day at an Army training camp, to give Academy members an insight into discipline and leadership.
© City Cricket Academy 2008
