DEVON CCC’s new winter training programme is officially up and running after an opening session in the sports centre at Bicton College.

Around 20 young players have been invited to take part in the coaching and development programme, which will run on a fortnightly basis until April 2022 at the college near Budleigh Salterton.

Coaching will be centred mainly on young players most of whom have already had a little experience in National Counties’ KO Trophy and/or Championship cricket.

Tim Western, who was director of the Devon CCC development programme from 2010-2019, has returned as lead coach for the new winter programme. He outlined the aims of the programme to the young cricketers who attended session one.

Former Somerset professionals Julian Wyatt and Keith Parsons will be part of the coaching team from January onwards.

A £2,000 grant from the David Shepherd Cricket Trust will help meet the running costs of the training sessions. Additional sponsorship has been obtained from the M5 Sports Management Group and Mr Michael Cunliffe.

Dave Tall, who is head coach of Devon CCC, said the winter training programme was part of a process designed to bring talented young cricketers to the fore.

“We want to develop depth in the county squad and knowing not wondering who we can bring in if we need them?” said Tall.

“The intention is that new blood will start coming into the side sooner rather than later, which we have not had for the past two or three years. 

“Many of the players involved will have played a bit before, but they are still learning and our programme is an opportunity to do that. They can show what they can do and how much they want to improve.

“From January onwards the coaching team will include two people with more than 40 years’ experience between them of playing and coaching First Class cricket. That is a great learning opportunity.”