Worcestershire CCC Academy leg spinner, Josh Dickenson, has linked up with the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy in South Africa for 12 weeks.
In his fifth year on the Academy at New Road, Dickenson is taking a ‘gap’ year after finishing his studies at Malvern College.
He is looking to further enhance his development during his spell in Cape Town before returning to Worcestershire for the 2022 campaign.
The 18-year-old has already played Second Eleven cricket for Worcestershire and appeared in one Championship and five T20 games at that level last summer.
Worcestershire Academy Coach, Elliot Wilson, confirmed: “Josh is out in South Africa in Cape Town and on a training camp for 12 weeks with the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy.
“He wanted to have a gap year after finishing school at Malvern College and was keen to get away for the winter.
“The benefits are having different views on things, different perspectives, the opportunity to practice on grass as opposed to indoors.
“He has done a lot of indoor work at Malvern with the Academy and Malvern College during the last four or five winters.
“To have a winter abroad will do him a world of good.
“The idea is also for him to find some cricket and game-time, which the Gary Kirsten Academy will look to find for him, but for now, it is the training camp experience.”
Wilson has been encouraged by the progress made by Dickenson, who plays Birmingham Premier League cricket for Barnards Green.
He said: “Very encouraged by the way he is developing. He has had a few chunks of time where he has missed cricket through injuries.
“He is probably a little behind in terms of the amount of cricket he has played compared to some.
“But what he is doing is making up for it by investing in experiences like this.”
Dickenson is sharing an apartment with Worcestershire batsman Jack Haynes who will return to action with Green Point CC this weekend.
After a bye last weekend, they will entertain Langa CC in a Western Province Cricket Association Premier League Division A encounter.
Worcestershire fast bowler Dillon Pennington will look to continue his good form in the home SACA Premier Cricket first grade meeting with Glenelg.
Pennington picked up three wickets for four runs before rain washed out last weekend’s match away to Northern Districts.
