With the recent news of Dylan Driscoll and Zach Lion-Cachet both being awarded a place on the Sussex Academy, we recently spoke to Dylan.
Dylan (16) had a successful summer which saw him selected to represent South and West U15s at Bunbury. For Oxfordshire’s U15s he scored a total of 461 runs which included three centuries. He also played for the County Men’s 2nd XI as well as also play for Sussex U15s which saw him score a century on his debut. The pathway journey for Dylan started at the age of 10 when he was in the U10s. At that age, he scored 135 not out v Norfolk at Malvern.
Q – What were your immediate thoughts of being offered a place? And what does it mean to you to be in the Sussex Academy? At a young age?
A – I was over the moon, it has been one of my goals for the past few years to get into the Sussex Academy, so I was very happy and can’t wait for it to kick on.
Q – So recently at the weekend, you went up to Hove? So what was your induction like? What did it entail? What things did you do as part of it?
A – So we went down, I went down early that early the day, had a physio screening with the physio. And then we went over to one of the meeting rooms where we were given a speech about the academy and how it’s run and all the things involved in it. Then we went back over to the indoor Academy where we had the net session with one of the batting coaches, did some bowling with James Kirtley and then we went in the gym for a bit to do a little bit of our programme that we’ve been set.
Q – With yourself still being at school, how is it gonna work with you being on the academy.
A – So we’ve had quite a bit of talk with the school and Sussex about how we manage all my time. And we’ve come up with a good plan of how we can involve the academy and school at the same time, getting a good range of everyone.
Q – if you could pick one or two things, what are you most looking forward to about being on the Sussex Academy?
A – I think the main thing is the variety of coaches you get there, the high-class coaches, from different people, and just the experience with people that I haven’t really got a chance to know yet but it will be good over time.
Q – With yourself having played for the under 15 In the summer, how easy has it been to settle in with meeting some of the players and the coaches that have been working with you?
A – So I know a couple of players and coaches from the game I played in summer, so it’s a bit easier getting stuck in the environment which made it a lot easier for me.
Q – Last season you were involved in Bunbury what was that experience like for you?
A – It was a whole different game. We’re playing against the best kids in England, different level of experience, everyone’s on the top of their game. And you really have to bring your best and do as well as you can, a good challenge!