15th August 2013
| Mallory Gray
Back row (l to r): Joe Voke (Sudbrook CC), Jack Thorpe-Yon (Newport CC), John Derrick (Cricket Wales Performance Manager), Sam Pearce (Bridgend CC), Jeremy Lawlor (Newport CC), Anush Patel (Cardiff CC), Jimmy Cook, Kieran Griffiths (Haverfordwest CC), Ellis Richards (Llanelli CC), Morgan Murray-Williams (Pwllheli CC). Front row (l to r): Kieran Carlson (Cardiff CC), Scott Thornton (Newport CC), William Smale (Newport CC), Tegid Phillips (Cardiff CC), Robert Clarke (Newport CC), Adam Keane (St Fagans CC), Chris Matthews (Tondu CC)
Glamorgan’s batting coach Jimmy Cook hosted a batting Masterclass this week at the SWALEC Stadium with sixteen players selected from the representative Cricket Wales age group squads.
Former South Africa Test and Somerset batsman, Jimmy Cook joined Glamorgan on a short-term contract in July to work closely with the Glamorgan squad players and also the Club’s academy players and Welsh age grade squads. Born in Johannesburg, Cook has excellent pedigree, with over 60 first-class hundreds in his playing career so has plenty of experience to pass on to youngsters.
Jimmy was joined by Cricket Wales coaches to run the session which included one member of the Under 11s, a number of players from the Under 12, 13, 14 and 15 age groups and one 17 year old. The session comprised a 45-minute talk from Jimmy Cook followed by a 4 hour batting session in the Indoor School with the players. Jimmy was able to give one-to-one tuition to each participant.
Cricket Wales Performance Manager John Derrick said, “It’s worked really well, having Jimmy on board; he’s fitted in well with the team structure and the set up with the coaches and players. He’s watched a lot of cricket and given his input. His individual work has been good, doing one-to-one sessions and group sessions. He’s worked some long days watching a lot of cricket.
“Our coaches have been really pleased with the way it’s gone and I think Jimmy has been pleased as well. His feedback from today was excellent and there are some very good players there for us, which Jimmy has also identified and he was thankful for the support the coaches gave him.
“The more one-to-one sessions we get with people like Jimmy Cook, the better it is for the youngsters coming through.
“We do have some good talent coming through and some of the young teams are already showing promise. Wales under 15s are playing their quarter final against Lancashire at Mumbles this week and the Under 17s are playing Devon here at the SWALEC Stadium with a chance to qualify for the quarter-final in their competition too.”
Jimmy Cook said, “I’ve enjoyed working with Glamorgan and with these young Welsh cricketers. It’s been a new and interesting challenge and one I have very much enjoyed. It’s a great opportunity for me to work with new players and I hope I have been able to develop further the talented pool of exciting young Welsh cricketers coming through."
This batting Masterclass follows a similar spin session hosted by Robert Croft late last year.