Tom makes county cricket academy

Tom Bailey, a second year National Diploma student at the college, was invited to practice with the County’s Under 19’s side back in February, after a recommendation by Myerscough’s course tutor for cricket, Richard Dearden.

Tom soon caught the eye and was drafted into the team and impressed hugely by finishing top of both the bowling and batting averages for the 2010 season with 9.2 and 50.5 respectively. He was subsequently selected to represent the Lancashire 2nd Team in games against Glamorgan and Middlesex and performed well enough for Lancashire’s Director of Cricket, Mike Watkinson, and Academy Director, John Stanworth, to sign him for the academy.

19-year-old Tom commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to have joined the Lancashire Academy and can’t wait for the 2011 season. There is little doubt in my mind that the superb coaching from Myerscough staff has played a big part in my selection, as they have helped me improve my skills as a player as well as my all round fitness.”

Cricket has been a big part of Tom’s life from an early age when he began playing for his local club, Vernon Carus Cricket Club. Here Tom progressed through their youth teams to become an integral part of their first team setup, before continuing his interest in cricket from an academic perspective at Myerscough College. Although initially regarded as a bowler, his batting has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and he is now thought of as a genuine all-rounder. His next target is to improve his fielding to the standard he sees fit in order to play for Lancashire at the highest level.

He said: “When I first began training with Lancashire they made it clear that they see good fielding as an absolute priority. While I am quite happy with my own performance in this area, I know I can improve further and that working with staff and coaches at Myerscough and Lancashire will help me achieve this.”

Myerscough College’s course tutor for cricket, Richard Dearden, added: “Tom has done exceptionally well since he became involved with Lancashire and I have little doubt that he will go on to play the game at a very high level.

“It’s been a great year for the Cricket Academy here with our Under 17’s reaching the National Cup Final and both Mike Watkinson and John Stanworth commending the College on the good work we are doing with our young cricketers. They have also agreed with our recommendations that second year National Diploma students, Ben Willis and Jake Sunderland, should join up with their Under 19s for practice sessions in February 2011.”