Oxfordshire Cricket are delighted to announce that pathway players James Coles, and Harry Startin have both been awarded a place in Sussex County Cricket Club’s Academy for 2019/2020. Both boys were informed of the news last week, by Sussex Academy Director – Richard Halsall.
The fantastic news marks an exciting time in our partnership with Sussex, where both boys will go on to follow the likes of Harrison Ward who was the last Oxfordshire Pathway Graduate to be awarded a place in Sussex’s Academy. Furthermore, the news also comes on the back of a successful year on the pitch for both players, which saw them end their respective seasons playing against each other at the Lords Cricket Ground, in the MCC vs ESCA match in September.
Matthew Barnes – Performance Cricket Manager at Oxfordshire Cricket had the following to say
“I speak on behalf of everyone at Oxfordshire Cricket in congratulating Harry and James on their selection onto the Sussex Cricket Academy, and am delighted that their continued effort over time, has been rewarded with a much deserved Academy place this year.
Both boys, and their families, should be extremely proud of their selection and should now look forward with excitement to the opportunities that they will have to develop further within the Sussex Cricket Academy and locally within the Oxfordshire and Sussex Cricket Academy.
Harry and James’ selection onto the Sussex Cricket Academy gives evidence of our track record in delivering a talent development pathway that successfully identifies, develops and produces, local, home-grown players, who have the potential to progress onto First Class County Academies or beyond into professional cricket.
Their inclusion highlights the success of the partnership between Oxfordshire, Sussex and Magdalen College School, who work in unity to develop the foundations of future performance and to provide an accessible transition route into first class cricket. I hope that the success of Harry and James will ignite our pathway players enthusiasm for cricket, inspiring them to follow in their path towards professional cricket in the years to follow.”
Richard Halsall – Sussex Cricket Academy Director had the following to say:
“it’s a reflection of the young men’s performances and hard work that both Harry and James have been invited into the Sussex Cricket Academy 2019-2020. Harry is a genuinely fast bowler who gets considerable extra bounce from an aggressive length. He will develop into a genuine all rounder and as all aspiring young cricketers should be he is a threat in the field with the movement and arm that can turn defence into attack. James is an affable, humble young man with a significant competitive steel. He has dominated his peer group on a national basis and as an U15 helped his men’s league team win cricket matches. He is developing his leadership skills and is a model of self management and development. Oxfordshire should be extremely proud of both young men and they are both a reflection of the outstanding work that goes on within the County.’
James Coles had the following to say:
“I was surprised and delighted to be offered a place on the Sussex CCC Academy. I was also very excited by the opportunities that could lay ahead for me over the next couple of years that were outlined by Richard Halsall.”
Harry Startin had the following to say
“Being invited onto the Sussex Academy is an exciting next step in my journey as a cricketer. I was delighted to be selected and see this as an opportunity for me to continue to develop and gain greater exposure and insight into the professional game.”