Canterbury Cricket has announced the intake for the seventh Boys’ Junior Academy and fifth Girls’ Junior Academy.
Over the years a number of Academy players have progressed to play for the Canterbury Wizards including Logan van Beek, Tom Latham, Matt McEwan, Tim Johnston, Matt Henry, Corey Anderson and Marty Kain, and the Canterbury Magicians including Erin Bermingham, Jacinta Savage, Hayley Jensen and Hana Mauafu .
Past Academy players Ananthan Yugaraja and Theo van Woerkom have recently been selected to represent New Zealand at the Under 19 World Cup in August.
The Canterbury Boys’ Junior Academy 2012 will consist of the following 6 players:
Bailen Thatcher (Christ’s College), Taylor Irie (St. Bede’s College), Jack Boyle (St. Bede’s College), Anthony Burnett (Christchurch Boys’ H.S.), Morgan Jeffery (Christchurch Boys’ H.S.) and Tom Taylor (Christchurch Boys’ H.S.).
From the 2011 Academy, Freddie Anderson, Leo Carter and James Tucker have been selected into the New Zealand Cricket Development Squad under the guidance of Paul Wiseman.
The five new players joining the Boys’ Academy for 2012-13 are: Taylor Irie, a 14 year old leg spin bowler and middle order batsman; Jack Boyle, 16 year old captain of St. Bede’s College 1st XI, top order batsman and leg spin bowler; Tom Taylor, 16 year old top order batsman and wicket keeper; Morgan Jeffery, a 15 year old opening bowler and middle order batsman; and Anthony Burnett, a 16 year old left handed top order batsman, outstanding fielder and medium pace bowler.
The Canterbury Girls’ Junior Academy 2012 will consist of the following 10 players:
Emily Ashton (St. Andrew’s College), Daphne Boyd-Tibbotts (Cashmere H.S.), Courtney Case (Papanui H.S.), Gabrielle Gray (Rangi Ruru Girls’ School), Mereana Hyde (Christchurch Girls’ H.S.), Megan Lay (Christchurch Girls’ H.S.), Allie Mace-Cochrane (St. Andrew’s College), Olivia McGoverne (Villa Maria College), Kirsten Nation (Rangi Ruru Girls’ School) and Grace Stanton (Middleton Grange).
The two new additions from 2011-12 are: Mereana Hyde, a medium pace bowler and lower order batsman, and Grace Stanton, a medium pace bowler and middle order batsman.
Andrew Reid, Canterbury Cricket’s Junior Player Development Manager, manages and co-ordinates the Junior Academy programme. Mandie Godliman, current Canterbury Magicians wicket keeper batsman is the Head Coach for the Girls’ Academy and will be assisted by White Fern and Magicians pace bowler Rachel Candy. As well as assisting the player’s development through specialist skill sessions the Academies will also focus on mental preparation, fitness, nutrition and other key components to assist with maximising their potential.
Canterbury Cricket’s High Performance and Coaching Director, Richard Hayward, commented: “This is a wonderful opportunity for these two groups of our most promising young players. They will receive intense expert tuition from our very best coaches which will provide the players with the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.”