- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
TWO lady cricketers from Devon have benefited from a new collaboration between the MCC and the ECB to expand the MCC Women’s Young Cricketers programme, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
Fourteen players have been chosen for the 2012 intake, with selection criteria aligned to the existing England Women’s succession framework.
Heather Knight from Plymstock, currently playing for Berkshire while studying in the Home Counties, is one of eight players already with international experience offered full-time contracts.Seventeen-year-old Jodie Dibble (right) has been offered one of six part-time places. Jodie. Whose brother is Somerset fast bowler Adam Dibble, is a member of the Sidmouth cricketing dynasty.
Dad Mike and uncle Charlie both play for the club, so does cousin Anthony, and Adam did before he joined Somerset.
Jodie is a lively seam bowler who captained England U17s in South Africa in 2010. She opens the bowling in the otherwise all-male 1st XI at Taunton School.
All 14 members will receive financial assistance to allow them to train and play as full-time cricketers throughout the season.
Based at Lord’s – the Home of Cricket – throughout the summer, the MCC Women’s YCs will have access to world-class facilities and expert multi-disciplined coaching, to help them prepare for the challenges of playing international cricket.
Each player will work to a bespoke programme, addressing their technical, tactical, psychological and physical development through a range of dynamic and supportive training environments. They will also get the opportunity to test their skills on the field of play, with fixtures organised against a variety of tough opposition, including boys’ county sides and schoolboy teams.
Away from the cricket field the MCC Women’s YCs programme will simultaneously develop the non-sporting skills of its participants through work experience placements within various departments across MCC on Major Match Days, in addition to working closely with the Professional Cricketers’ Association, to help guide their career paths.
The programme will be directed by England Women’s Head Coach, Mark Lane, with input from MCC Head Coach, and former England international, Mark Alleyne, and former Australian Women’s captain and England Women’s Academy Head Coach, Lisa Keightley.
MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson, said: “Congratulations to Jodie for being selected as part of the 2012 MCC Women’s Young Cricketers’ programme.
“I hope that this opportunity will present her with the ideal structure to concentrate on her game in the best cricket environment in the world.
“I am absolutely delighted that MCC is now working alongside the ECB to expand the MCC Women’s YCs programme.
“The partnership demonstrates the Club’s determination to foster new talent and maintain its reputation as a strong supporter of women’s cricket.
“ It is fantastic to see how far the scheme has developed since it was first introduced nine years ago, and I am very excited to watch this latest progression unfold.”
ECB Head of Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said:
“The ECB are thrilled to be working so collaboratively with MCC to develop women’s cricket. The original MCC Women’s YCs scheme was revolutionary in terms of the on and off pitch support it offered to a handful of cricketers each summer.
“From 2012, a full squad of players will be involved with the revamped scheme, enabling us to have more contact time with our high potential players, and allowing us to build a broader fixture list.
“This step represents another significant stride for the women’s and girls’ game in this country; the ultimate aim being to ensure that England Women remain the number one ranked team in the world for many years to come.”
MCC was the first cricketing organisation in the world to pay female cricketers as professionals through the MCC Women’s Young Cricketers scheme in 2003.
Over the last nine years the scheme has helped to develop some of the most promising women’s players in England – including ICC World Cup winners Caroline Atkins and Beth Morgan.
The collaboration with the ECB represents the most recent development in the MCC Women’s YCs programme.
