CRICKETING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE KNOCKS THEM FOR SIX

Former Yorkshire batsman Kevin Sharp believes the Bradford-Leeds Universities Cricketing Centre of Excellence is going places.

Speaking from his office at the University's Sports Centre, Kevin is keen to encourage his players to become future sporting professionals and has already spotted their promise.

He said: "There is certainly potential for our players to reach first-class status. In fact, one already has. Many are part of the way there and this centre will just help them on their way to playing top cricketers."

But the squad's more immediate goal is to earn itself first-class status. The competition is vicious - all the team's first three-day matches were against teams which have already earned first-class status - Durham, Oxford and Cambridge. They were not easy matches, but, following seven months of intensive training, Kevin thinks the team can rise to the challenge.

Trials for the squad were initially held at Headingley, last September. From an original list of 56, the applicants were whittled down to a final count of just over 30. One or two of the original number dropped out quickly, but Kevin soon spotted some great cricketers.

Of the 23 players, three women were successfully chosen for the squad. On the day, Kevin has to pick the best team and initially refused to rule out the possibility of them competing in future matches. Then, in May, dedicated and talented cricketer Kathryn Leng (pictured left) made cricketing history when she became the first woman to compete with the men's team at this level. She appeared with the boys in the two-day game against Loughborough.

The Bradford Business Management student is an exceptional player, but, outside the team, has commitments at county level. She has just lost her place in the England's women's side. Meanwhile, the Bradford-Leeds Centre women's team have so far played two games and won both. Making an impressive start Kathryn scored 102 not out against Birmingham and 149 not out against Durham.

Kevin said: "Women have always played in men's cricket teams. There is no reason they can not play at the highest level. I think the women have earned themselves a lot of respect within the team as they have had to compete at the same level as the men. Put it this way, when those fast balls are thrown, they catch them."

Three players are from the University of Bradford, two from Bradford College and the rest from Leeds Metropolitan and Leeds Universities. They are led by Team Captain Andy Siddall (pictured right), in his third year at Leeds Metropolitan and described as 'highly motivated and enthusiastic', someone who 'helps to mould the squad together'.

Kevin said: "At the beginning, there were some players who were a little wet behind the ears. I had to work to get them thinking in a professional manner. But since Christmas they have gelled and become a really motivated group.

"The goal is to be successful and in three years time achieve first-class status, which means we have to play well. That is down to us, the support staff and the players."

The list of professionals involved with the club is impressive. They include British rowing psychologist, Chris Shambrock, who works with Olympic gold-medallist Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, Northhampshire County Cricket Club physiologist and England A fitness trainer Richard Smith, former Yorkshire Coach Martyn Moxom, former Yorkshire fast bowler Peter Hartley, as well as other coaches from Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The Centre of Excellence is one of just six across the country which have been awarded a £50,000-a-year grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Kevin said: "This is a very exciting time to be involved with cricket. As far as English cricketing goes, the sport is now going places. The centre is allowing talented players to play at a high level during their university term. This will mean when they leave at the end of this term they will have already played at a good standard which means they will be able fit back into their county without having to prepare too much for their games."

The team trains on the former Yorkshire ground at Park Avenue, Bradford, and has access to all facilities at participating institutions. The travelling arrangements initially caused a few minor hiccups.

Kevin said: "I had to get the teamto think about team management and professionalism. We have quite a geographical problem, as players travel from four cities, so time management has been a critical issue.

"Because it is our first year it has been all-hands on deck to get things off the ground. Not only have we trained the players in the sport, we have had to gear up their mental toughness. It is about training the whole person - about technical, tactical, mental and physical training. We have had to work hard to get compete with more established organisations. At this stage we are going to be a little more inexperienced than the majority, but the team's spirit will help them through that barrier."

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