A trio of Worcestershire CCC’s Academy players are reaping the benefits of training with the senior squad throughout half-term week.
Paceman Mitchell Stanley, all-rounder Zain Ul-Hassan and batsman Jacques Banton have been put through their paces at Malvern College.
The three of them are all part of the 2018-2019 Worcestershire Academy intake.
Stanley, Ul-Hassan and Banton have joined in with and been part of the preparations which are counting down to the pre-season trip to Abu Dhabi and the 2019 campaign.
Academy Coach Elliot Wilson, who has overseen the development of many of the current first team squad, said: “The whole week is a great experience for the three Academy players.
“We are well regarded at Worcestershire for producing our own players and part of their development has for many years involved working closely with the professionals on the County staff.
“Often the pros will hold ‘master classes’ with the Academy players.
“Half-term presents an opportunity for the Academy members to spend a full week taking part in sessions with the senior squad at Malvern College.
“They mirror the work that the pros are going through and hopefully it will be the kind of work they will go through every day in the not too distance future as fully fledged professionals.
“We try to challenge the older Academy players during the winter. During this week the challenge is high plus they go from being the senior players in the academy to the youngest players in the room.
“Mitch, Zain and Jacques will find out where they are and where they need to get to by the end of the week.
“If they are able to be smart and address what they are made aware of in the next six to nine months, their cricket will thrive”.