MCC build on youth

A great week for MCC’s Young Cricketers was capped when the England women – with a squad containing MCC Young Cricketers past and present – were special guests at Lord’s for the Saturday of the Test against New Zealand.

Rain may have scuppered a planned parade of the England women fresh from a victorious tour of Australia and New Zealand, but the MCC Young Cricketers scheme can take pride in the performances down under of Stephanie Davies, who is just about to start her second year at Lord’s, as well as graduates Caroline Atkins and Nicky Shaw.

Radley said: “This week has been a memorable one for the MCC Young Cricketers. For the players currently on the programme, seeing Steph Davies and Ross Taylor at Lord’s representing their countries is the best possible incentive for them to work hard and make the most of the opportunities the MCC Young Cricketers scheme offers them.

“It’s very pleasing to see how well current and former players are progressing because it reinforces what can be done when talent and application is unlocked.”

As Charlotte Edwards rang the pavilion bell before the start of play, Taylor, a former MCC Young Cricketer, was savouring his first Test at Lord’s.

Taylor made Lord’s his home when he joined the MCC Young Cricketers in 2002 and under MCC head coach, Clive Radley, he developed into an attacking middle-order batsman.

Taylor’s rapid progress has been evident in his performances for the New Zealand Test and one-day international sides and he came out on top against England’s bowlers when he scored his maiden Test century in just his third Test against them in Hamilton.

The success of Taylor and other former MCC Young Cricketers serves to inspire the current generation benefiting from Radley’s coaching. The fact that 30 per cent of MCC Young Cricketers go on to sign professional contracts illustrates his success, and this week has been an exceptional one for his graduates.

Steven Snell and Freddie Klokker, now of Gloucestershire and Derbyshire respectively, hit their maiden LV County Championship centuries and William Porterfield was made captain of Ireland.

Snell’s 127 came against Worcestershire, and Klokker scored a second innings 103 not out against Warwickshire. The Danish wicketkeeper-batsman’s first class average now stands at an exceptional 55.66.

Porterfield, who has captained his country at every level since under-13s, led from the front in Ireland’s Friend’s Provident Trophy match against Warwickshire on May 16 as his 69 guided Ireland to a four-wicket victory.