Sunday 21 September 2008

Encouraging news

The announcement in the week that Derbyshire had introducedthe Donald Carr Scholarship, whereby a talented cricketer can both work at the club and on a University degree in Derby is another step in the right direction off the field, where the club are so well run by Messrs Amott and Sears.

Such a deal was the main reason that we lost Gary Ballance, David Houghton's nephew.
The offer made by Yorkshire to put him through University was too good to turn down and he moved north, although the departure of his uncle was obviously a factor.

I don't know much about the young quickie Ed Jones who is the first to benefit from the scholarship, but he is a strapping lad and it is good to see that the conveyor belt is continuing to produce young players.

The rejection rate in cricket is also quite high and this ensures that youngsters of talent have a little time in which to develop. To have to decide on a cricket or academic career at 18 will see players of genuine potential lost to the game. This gives an opportunity for the better ones to test themselves at a higher level before making a more informed decision further down the line.

Full credit to all concerned with this excellent initiative and here's hoping that it produces some diamonds in the years ahead.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please remember to add your name. Avoid personal comment at all times. Thanks!