YCs enjoy successful India trip

Date released: 13 January 2009

Six MCC Young Cricketers (YCs) have enjoyed a successful ten-day spin clinic in Bangalore, receiving intensive coaching and some tips from India great Rahul Dravid.

The YCs: Ian Cockbain; Michael Richardson; Luke Beaven; Steph Davies; and new recruits Gaurav Dhar and Jenny Halstead; joined by MCC coach Mark Wright, were in India to learn about the art of playing against spin, as well as working on their techniques.

Prized scalp: Rahul Dravid, bowled out by YC Ghurav Dhar Although one of the main goals of the clinic, held at the Global Cricket School, was to make the most of the chance to practice for hours against top local spinners, the YCs tested out their bowling too - Ghurav Dhar took the prize scalp of Dravid.

Dravid, who sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee, also brought along a fitness coach, from his IPL team the Bangalore Royal Challengers, who passed on advice to the YCs.

Pre-season work

Dhar will stay in India for two months to put what he has learned into practice playing club cricket in Calcutta. Team-mate Beaven will return to the UK for some pre-season work at Lord’s.

Richardson: Playing time in native South Africa Cockbain and Richardson had been playing in Australia and South Africa respectively and have benefitted from that experience according to coach Wright, who has been coaching in Hong Kong.

All three will return to those respective countries for the rest of the winter, before joining up with MCC Head Coach Clive Radley at Lord’s in the spring.

The women YCs, Jenny Halstead and Steph Davies, also enjoyed the challenge of facing some genuinely fast bowlers and quality spinners.

Reaping the benefits

Most improved: Jenny Halstead benefited greatly from the trip Wright paid tribute to their bravery and work-rate, saying: "They took many bumps and bruises along the way but they were able to adapt their games to the spinners and the quicks with great success.

"They have, more than anyone else, showed the greatest improvements."

Wright praised the dedication of all the YCs and is looking forward to reaping the benefits of the spin school in the 2009 season.