Radley’s final flourish

Date released: 16 December 2008

Radley received an MBE for his services to cricket MCC Head Coach Clive Radley has selected his final squad of sixteen MCC Young Cricketers (YCs) for the 2009 season - his last as Head Coach at Lord's.

Radley will step down after nearly 50 years at Lord’s, first as a Middlesex player and coach, and then, since 1991, as MCC’s Head Coach.

He has an excellent track record of producing professional cricketers - around one-third of his YCs have signed county contracts.

Players who have developed and gone to represent their countries under 'Rad’s' tutelage include Ross Taylor, Hamish Marshall and Darren Sammy.

Of the 2009 squad of sixteen, seven were MCC Young Cricketers last year.

Players such as Rob Woodman, who impressed for Gloucestershire at the end of the 2008 season, and Michael Richardson, who has inherited his father David’s wicket-keeping genes, have been sharpening their skills by playing in Queensland and Cape Town respectively.

Iain Cockbain is a more recent star from Radley's Young Cricketers teams Two others - Luke Beaven and Ian Cockbain - will attend a spin clinic in India in the New Year.

Their new teammates’ paths to Lord’s are widely varied.

Kiwi connection

Three will come from abroad: West Indies Under 19s batsmen Kieran Powell, who impressed against MCC on their recent tour to St Kitts & Nevis; a Sri Lankan player who is yet to be confirmed; and, a New Zealand Under 19s player who will be chosen by John Wright, New Zealand’s High Performance Manager.

Clive Radley explained: "New Zealand always used to send one of their best young hopes over to the YCs but haven’t done for five years.

New Zealand batting star Ross Taylor is one of many to benefit from coaching by 'Rad' "I’m very glad the link has been re-established because it’s produced players like Martin Crowe and Ross Taylor."

After a reorganisation of the 2nd XI County Championship, the YCs will be playing in the Northern Division in 2009, and their squad will number around fourteen at any one time.

Others have been recommended from around the county circuit, including Norfolk’s Christopher Baugh who was spotted by Radley’s 86-year-old former Norfolk teammate Ted Witherden, and Adam Miles, a young wicket-keeper recommended by Jack Russell.

Radley also held trials in the MCC Indoor Cricket School at Lord’s for young hopefuls on 6 December and unearthed what he hopes will be a raw diamond, in the shape of all-rounder Andrew Clarke.

The MCC Young Cricketers 2009 squad will include: Christopher Baugh, Luke Beaven, Gary Brown, Andrew Clarke, Ian Cockbain, Gaurav Dhar, Adam Miles, Jonathan Miles, Billy Moulton-Day, Kieran Powell, Glen Querl, Michael Richardson, Oliver Saffell and Rob Woodman.