Seven young cricketers have been selected for the Surrey boy’s Academy for 2023.
Arjun Gill, Luke Griffiths, Harry Porter, Ollie Sykes and Stuart Van Der Merwe have joined Ollie Pascall and Krish Patel – who are in their second year as Academy cricketers – for this year’s programme.
These players have all been part of the Surrey talent pathways programme for several years, of which the Surrey Academy is the final phase. From the Academy, the players are picked up on their perceived potential to play professionally for the Three Feathers in the near future.
Tom Humphreys was initially part of the Academy intake but is now a member of the Harlequins Academy and England U18 Rugby Union set up, will therefore not be continuing on the programme.
At the Academy, the players gain exposure to high-quality provisions for strength & conditioning work, physiotherapy and sports science, and sport psychology, alongside receiving high quality technical cricket coaching. Each player also receives a customised, extensive match programme of age group and Second XI cricket to aid their progress.
Many of the current men’s squad, including Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Jason Roy, among others, have progressed through Surrey pathway during their junior careers. Among the latest players to make the set-up from the Academy are all-rounder Tom Lawes, Second XI skipper Ben Geddes, seamer Nathan Barnwell as well as last year’s graduate Yousef Majid.
In total, since 2003, 30 men from the Academy have gone on to play First-class, List A or T20 cricket at county level while nine of them have gone further and earned their Three Lions cap. Among women, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey and Bryony Smith have progressed through Surrey’s pathway to reach international honours.
Chris Taylor, the Head of Talent Pathways at Surrey, said: “We’re excited to welcome the seven players who have made the step up to the Surrey Academy in 2023. All of them have progressed through our pathway, and are highly-talented cricketers with bright futures ahead of them.
“It’s a critical stage in their young careers, and we want to support their journey in the best way possible. The Academy offers them top-class cricketing guidance and infrastructure to help them realise their potential.”
You can find more about the selected players below:
Arjun Gill – Under-18
Skill Set: Right Hand Batter
School: Whitgift
Club: Banstead CC
Luke Griffiths – Under-17
Skill Set: Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler and Right Handed Batter
School: Charterhouse
Club: Camberley CC
Ollie Pascall – Under-17
Skill Set: Wicket-Keeper and Right Handed Batter
School: St Georges College, Weybridge
Club: Walton on Thames CC
Krish Patel – Under-17
Skill Set: Right Handed Batter and Right Arm Leg Spin Bowler
School: St Paul’s School, Barnes
Club: Esher CC
Harry Porter – Under-18
Skill Set: Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler
School: Epsom College
Club: East Molesey CC
Ollie Sykes – Under-18
Skill Set: Left Hand Batter
School: Tonbridge
Club: Dulwich CC
Stuart Van Der Merwe – Under-18
Skill Set: Left Hand Batter and Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler
School: Reeds
Club: Weybridge CC