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Port Elizabeth Academy Update
Brian Allen, John Mooney and David Simpson were selected by the Irish Cricket Union to attend the Port Elizabeth Cricket Academy in South Africa. They have all settled in well and are enjoying the intensive coaching and sport education programmes. The past week has been a very busy one with the 2nd One Day International between South Africa and West Indies played in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday evening in front of over 18 000 spectators. Although the players were not able to bowl to either team, they attended the SA team practice and were able to observe a very professional team going through a two hour training sessions. In addition Darryl Cullinan, ex-SA Test batsman, spent an hour sharing some of his immense knowledge of the game with them and giving them an insight into the demands of playing at the top level. In addition Colin Croft, ex-West Indies fast bowler, shared some of his ideas on the modern game, opportunities for young cricketers and some of the challenges facing West Indies cricket. With his great enthusiasm for the game it was difficult to stop him talking and to make sure the players got to the match in time! The focus has remained on the physical and cricket skills side of the development of the players with the first centre wicket practice taking place yesterday. With the video analysis completed with Mark Davis, Kepler Wessels and myself all are well aware of their technical strengths which they need to concentrate building on, as well as areas where they may be deficient and need remediation. The video analysis and technique modification sessions are all with a view to performance enhancement and injury prevention. |