Cricket: Young ND side an academy showcase

Dayle Hadlee took some pleasure in watching the young Northern Districts side in action against Canterbury at Gisborne's Harry Barker Reserve this week.

His satisfaction was tempered somewhat by the poor batting display but he still took some pride in watching five youngsters who have progressed from the New Zealand Cricket academy programme he oversees into a State Championship side.

With the Northern side again savaged by injury and international call-ups, their selectors resisted any urge to go back in their search for replacements, preferring to "give youth a chance".

That Te Ahu Davis, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Brad Wilson and BJ Watling were given an opportunity was further evidence, surely, that the academy programme overseen by Hadlee is working.

Often under fire from critics quick to blame the academy for perceived ills in the game in New Zealand, Hadlee, not surprisingly, quickly goes on the defensive.

"Of the 94 players who have been through the academy since our first intake in 1996, 84 have played first-class cricket, with 30 playing for the Black Caps," said Hadlee. "All but two of the ND team playing this match have been to the academy."

Of the 15 women who have spent time at the Lincoln-based academy, 11 have played for the White Ferns.

From the initial class of 1996, Llorne Howell, Kerry Walmsley, Andrew Penn, Shayne O'Connor and Mark Haslam played for New Zealand in either tests or one-day matches.

"Of the current New Zealand team only Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns and Stephen Flaming did not have time at the academy," said Hadlee.

In an exhaustive selection process, Hadlee receives input from the national selectors, the six association first-class coaches, the six coaching directors and New Zealand Cricket's national high-performance coach, Ashley Ross.

The programme has been cut from an initial 30 weeks to 19 and the intake reduced to between eight and 10 players.

"Given the rising age of some of our first-class players, we have had to go for younger players in recent years," said Hadlee. "There is an emphasis on players from the under-19 tournament."

It is an all-expenses-paid exercise, with airfares, clothing, living costs and, where appropriate, university fees provided. The players receive $60 a week.

Away from the main academy group, New Zealand Cricket also fosters a junior programme for 17- and 18-year-olds and an under-19 academy.

Hadlee, who looks after the pace bowling, has assistance from Glenn Turner (batting), Mike Shrimpton (spin bowling) and Jason Mills (wicketkeeping) in providing the best possible coaching.

"The only regret is in cutting back the number of matches they play," said Hadlee.

"In the past the academy team used to go to Australia and India and then play the first-class teams.

"Now they only play the six association sides."