Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy Welcomes Eight New Recruits

Cricket Ireland has announced that eight promising young players will join the Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy.

Among the inductees who will join the existing 22 Academy members is 14 year old Gaby Lewis who last year became the youngest player to represent Ireland when she lined out for the senior side in the 2014 ICC European Championships in the UK.

She will be joined by promising North County batsman Jamie Grassi who was the stand-out performer with the bat for Ireland Under-15s in 2014, whom he helped to victory in the European Championship as Ireland completed a clean sweep across all European competitions.

The National Academy players are under the stewardship of Academy Manager Craig Hogan, who commented: "Over the past twelve months since the inauguration of the National Academy, Ryan Eagleson (National Academy Performance Coach) and the Cricket Ireland coaches have been identifying young cricketers who have demonstrated the ability, attitude and desire to learn and be challenged.

"With the marvellous support from Shapoorji Pallonji these young players have a unique opportunity to develop as people through a programme that we trust produces future Ireland international cricketers. It is very exciting for the players and coaching staff."

Shapoor Mistry, Chairman, Shapoorji Pallonji, who became Cricket Ireland's Official Academy Partner in 2014 said: "I am pleased to learn about the intake of eight more interns in the Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Academy. I am sure these youngsters under expert guidance will blossom into great cricketers for Ireland.

"I urge them to work hard and focus on developing their cricketing skills as well as their personalities to handle the challenges of professional sport. I am enthused to note that our contribution is making a difference to the efforts of Cricket Ireland."

Commenting on the new intake, Cricket Ireland Performance Director Holdsworth outlined that the Academy will play a key role in the future of Irish cricket on the international stage:"The Ireland senior squad is putting in some excellent performances at the ICC Cricket World Cup, but we are not resting on our laurels. Of that squad, seven of the players are aged 24 or under which shows the future of Irish cricket is looking really strong. Hopefully we will soon see some of our Academy players taking the step up to the senior set-up in all formats as we plan for the possibility of playing Test cricket, for playing more ODIs as part of ICC's 12-team rankings table, and for qualification to WorldT20 events in 2016 and 2020."

Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy Recruits:
Gaby Lewis LCU YMCA
William McClintock NWCU Donemana
Morgan Topping NCU Waringstown
Jack Carson NCU Waringstown
Kim Garth LCU Pembroke
Josh Little LCU Pembroke
Varun Chopra NWCU Coleraine
Jamie Grassi LCU North County