Former skipper hits 'em for six

HOWZAT . . . Coach John Abrahams with pupils and Medlock Vale councillors (centre) Yasmin Toor and Ateeque Ur-Rehman at Hathershaw College cricket academy

YOUNG cricketers are being put through their paces by former Lancashire captain John Abrahams.

He has teamed up with Hathershaw College to run a 10-week training programme for pupils in Werneth and Medlock Vale.

John, former manager of the England under-19s team, has been taking intensive training sessions in local primary schools alongside fellow coach and former Lancashire player Scott Kershaw.

Talented players, as well as secondary school pupils, have also been given given the opportunity to attend a weekly cricket academy.

The £2,500 project runs until Easter and has been funded with a grant from Sport England and councillors in the Medlock Vale and Werneth wards.

Lorna Philip, Hathershaw College assistant principal, said: "The kids here absolutely live and breathe cricket, but there aren't any indoor cricket facilities where they can play during the winter.

"John and Scott have been coaching in the local primary schools and they have really been trying to talent spot and bring the kids to the academy.

"The promise is that when we finish with the indoor training, every kid will be attached to a cricket club."

Mr Abrahams, who scored 14 first-class centuries during his career, has been impressed with the pupils' adding: "It is a mix of kids who have played and never played cricket before.

"We are introducing them to all the basic skills ­- catching, fielding, batting and bowling ­- through drills, but we tend to make it competitive so it's fun and they can see for themselves how much they are progressing.

"The standard is really good and there are one or two who have got the potential, that level of ability should they continue, to play at a high level."