Hampshire Cricket is about more than just our first team. The Academy provides a vital platform in which and from which promising young players can grow and develop their skills.
They play in the Southern Electric Premier League; home matches are usually played on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground - next to the main ground and are free to watch.
The Academy, run by Director Bobby Parks, is a vital part of the club and prides itself on spotting young talent, nurturing cricketing and life skills and, finally, producing some of the most exciting young cricketers in the country.
Former Academy players now making their name at the top level include Michael Bates, Danny Briggs, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood and James Vince.
2014 Hampshire Academy Squad
Tom Alsop
Wicketkeeper-Batsman
DOB: 26.11.95
Batting Style: Left-Hand Bat
Tom is a wicketkeeper in his final year with the Hampshire Academy. The 18-year old turned heads last season after he thrown into the Hampshire First Team for 15 overs of their YB40 match against Lancashire because of a late injury to Adam Wheater. This year, Alsop is hoping to improve further and average over 50 with the bat.
Will Arnold
Batsman
DOB: 08.04.97
Bating Style: Right-Hand Bat
Will is a top-order batsman and occasional off-spinner bowler from Alton. This is Will’s first year in the Academy, but he has played for Hampshire since the age of 14 and has set his sights on making regular winning contributions in 2014.
Ben Caldera
Batsman
DOB: 05.09.98
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
This is Ben’s first year with the Hampshire Academy and he has set his sights on reaching a couple of hundreds over the course of the season. The 15-year old, who has been playing for Hampshire since the Under 13’s, also attends Portsmouth Grammar School.
Mason Crane
Spin Bowler
DOB: 18.02.97
Bowling Style: Leg Spin
Mason is a leg-spinner from Worthing, Sussex. This is Mason’s first official season with the Hampshire Academy, but he did feature for the Hampshire Second XI four times last season, impressing with two four-wicket hauls against Essex and Gloucestershire.
Jake Goodwin
All-rounder
DOB: 07.03.98
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium-Fast
Jake is all-rounder who plays for Swindon Cricket Club. The right-hander is originally from Wiltshire with 2014 his first year with the Hampshire Academy. Jake amassed close to 1,000 runs for Swindon last season aged just 15.
Andy Gorvin
All-rounder
DOB: 14.05.97
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
Andy is a batting all-rounder who plays cricket for Havant Cricket Club and Portsmouth Grammar School. The right-hander, who started playing for Hampshire with the Under 13’s, is hoping to end the 2014 season with an average of over 50 with the bat.
Ryan Murray
Fast Bowler
DOB: 01.04.97
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium-Fast
Ryan is a stocky fast-bowler in his second year with the Hampshire Academy. The right-arm seamer, who goes to Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke, is aiming for 15-20 wickets in the 2014 season.
Tom Scriven
All-rounder
DOB: 18.11.98
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
Tom is an all-rounder who has recently moved to Hampshire from Berkshire. Tom attends Magalden College School in Oxford and targets 500 runs this season. Tom also predicts the Academy will be pushing for the Southern Electric Premier League title this year.
Brad Taylor
Spin Bowler
DOB: 14.03.97
Bowling Style: Off-Spinner
16-year old Brad hit the headlines last year after becoming the youngest player in 135 years to appear for the Hampshire First Team after he was picked to play against Lancashire in a Yorkshire Bank 40 and LV= County Championship match. The off-spinner, who also plays for Holybourne Cricket Club, aims to impress in the Second XI and push for another opportunity in the First Team this season.
Luke Webb
Batsman
DOB: 31.12.95
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Luke is a top-order batsman who also plays for Bashley (Rydal) Cricket Club. Luke is hoping to lead by example in 2014 with this his second year in the Hampshire Academy side. The 18-year old broke into the Hampshire Second XI last season and played in a Championship match against Gloucestershire in August.
Joe Weatherley
Batsman
DOB:
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Joe is a batting all-rounder from Winchester who also plays for the England Under 17’s. The right-handed batsman, who will be spending his second season with the Hampshire Academy in 2014, was recently part of the England Development Programme squad alongside Brad Taylor (above) taking part in training and development camps at Loughborough.