Pathway manager Allen has eyes opened to new ideas during 11-day coaching camp in Mumbai

DEVON’S player pathway manager Sandy Allen would like to take a group of his own emerging young cricketers to a training camp in India after joining Somerset colleagues for their annual trip to Mumbai.

Somerset have been taking eight or nine of their Academy and potential player programme out to Mumbai since 2017 to experience cricket from a different perspective.

Devonians Tom Lammonby and Ben Green, now contracted players, were on their first trip to Mumbai, which was billed as a spin-bowling camp.

Allen, together with cricket coach and Devon CCC captain Alex Barrow, spent 11 days in Mumbai working with Somerset’s Academy director Steve Snell during the camp.

The training emphasis is still largely on spin with players getting to put into practice what they have learned in a couple of games.

Allen, one of only a handful of level four coaches in the West Country, said the trip opened his eyes to new techniques and is keen to share that experience with Devon’s up-and-coming players.

“Devon has the annual trip to South Africa for under-15s, which is a traditional tour with cricket and cultural experiences, but nothing like I saw in India,” said Allen.

“The group of players we took to India are totally immersed in cricket, cricket, cricket from the moment they get up.

“Working with the local Indian coaches was a great learning curve and allowed us to cross check ideas and theories.

“People talk about the experience of playing on the sub-continent being different and it is. But what we learned was not just how to play the conditions but a different mentality when playing against spin bowling.”

Allen said British players – young and old – largely regard spin bowling as a threat not an opportunity. That is where their Indian counterparts are different.

“Our batsmen see spin bowling as something they have to survive and if they do play an attacking shot it will be with the spin, not against it,” said Allen.

“In India the mentality is scoring off spin bowling is an easier option and the last thing you want to do is let a spinner get set and bowl at them.

“The Indians will use their feet and come down the wicket to spinners and create angles to play the ball.”

The invitation to Allen and Barrow came out of the partnership agreement between Somerset and Devon signed last year.

Allen said there may be ‘scope’ for him to go again with Somerset adding: “It would be nice to take some of our own players.”

It was not just the batsmen who benefited from the trip as bowlers were on a learning curve too.

“This trip for the bowlers was about helping them develop their ability to spin the ball past the batsmen,” said Snell.

Snell also had several words of praise for the part Allen and Barrow played in making the trip a success.

“I was extremely impressed with the way they engaged, motivated and supported our young players,” said Snell.

“There was a huge level of thoughtfulness in their coaching throughout the trip and I hope they viewed it as a positive experience because I was really impressed with what I saw from them.”

Said Allen: “I would like to thank Steve Snell for the invitation to join him and the Academy in Mumbai along with Matt Theedom (DCB) and the Devon Cricket Board for allowing me to go.

"The 11 days spent in Mumbai were hugely beneficial on the pitch in terms of the learning I have taken away. 

“I enjoyed working alongside Steve and Alex Barrow, sharing ideas and discussing cricket 24 hours a day.”