Posted Date: Wednesday, 24th May 2006

New City Academy Aims to Turn out Stars

Leicester is to have its own cricket academy designed specifically to produce county and international stars.It is the brainchild of Syston ,all-rounder Anshuman Bhagawati, who is to enlist the help of former and current Test stars to help with the coaching.

The City Cricket Academy opens on Tuesday in Commercial Square, off Putney Road in Freemans Common, just a few minutes walk from the Walkers Stadium. And Bhagawati is confident it will be a success and benefit the County club at Grace Road.

"This is for everyone of any age," said the 27-year-old, who played professional cricket for his state side Assam for five years.
"I didn't have that extra bit to go on to play Test cricket. I didn't have a mentor, no-one to guide me. But believe there is a lot of talent out there in Leicestershire and I will enlist only ECB qualified coaches and current and ex-first class cricketers.
"This will give kids the chance to go on to professional cricket. It has always been my dream to help kids and we will provide all the kit needed." That includes bats, pads, gloves, thigh pads, helmets, soft and hard balls, Kwik cricket kit, wicket-keeping gloves and arm guards. There is also a bowling machine. a catching cradle, a re bound catcher and lots more equipment.
"We're providing all the kit because it's an expensive thing when you start to play cricket," said Bhagawati.
"But more than that, we will teach them the four Ds - discipline, dedication, determination and devotion.
"Equally, we'll have fun while we're doing it and hopefully, produce cricketers good enough to go onto county level and beyond. And this is for everyone. We're saying: 'Here's the facility, come and use it, and it won't be expensive. I'll not become a millioilare out of this. just earn a living.
"It's been my dream for years. You make so many friends from cricket and learn so many things. I just want to pass on that experience with the help of people more qualified than I am."
Bhagawati is expecting some big names in cricket to help out at the academv from time to time and he intends to make it a success.
"I will make it my full-time job." he said. "And I'll go on for two years even if I lose money. I want to sit back in 10 years' time at a county cricket ground and see some of the players from the academy playing.
One ex-proffessional who is getting involved is former Count all-rounder Laurie Potter, who is head of Leicester Grammar School and captain of Market Harborough.
"It"s being run in a very professional way" he said.
"And wouldn't it be great if it produced a player for Grace Road?
"I would like to get involved during the school holidays.
"We'll be looking at all age groups and help quality players to develop
"It's very promising to see someone with the enthusiasm, that Anshuman has. It's got to be good for cricketers in Leicestershire."

The academy will be opened on Tuesday by India Test opener Shiv Sundar Das, who played in 23 Tests and four one-day internationals.

By Ken Widdows
Article taken from Leicester Mercury

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