Academy Celebrates End of Season Awards Night
Thu 13 Oct 2022
Leicestershire CCC’s pathway sides came together to celebrate their respective seasons at the club’s annual End of Season Academy Awards Night on Wednesday (12 October).
Head of Talent Pathway, Jigar Naik; CEO, Sean Jarvis; Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson; and Academy coaching staff were accompanied by players and parents from across the pathway to commemorate another successful year for our stars of the future.
The Under 18 side progressed to the final of the County T20 competition, while the likes of Josh Hull and Sam Wood flourished in their progression to Second Team level.
Wood enjoyed a fruitful summer, passing 1,000 runs and claiming 36 wickets at 28, as he scooped the Under 18’s Coaches’ Player of the Year award.
The all-rounder was joined by Vikai Kelley, who won the age group’s Batter of the Year, Uttam Ramji, who claimed Fielder of the Year, and Freddie Fallows, who earned Bowler of the Year after securing 50 wickets at 16.16.
Jairus Charles claimed the Under 16’s Batter of the Year after scoring four half-centuries and averaging 38.13, while Luke Ashwell was awarded Fielder of the Year. Liam Tew scooped both Bowler of the Year and Coaches’ Player, as he took 14 wickets at 20 for Paul Johnson’s side before he stepped up to the U18s.
At Under 15 level, James Laud won Batter of the Year, with his 2022 headlined by a magnificent 119 against Warwickshire. Alex Green, who featured at the prestigious Bunbury Festival, received Bowler of the Year, while Freddie St John and Divyeash Vaseeharan won Fielder of the Year and Coaches’ Player respectively.
Arnav Rai claimed Under 14’s Batter of the Year, with a stunning 153 not out off 93 balls against Bedfordshire capping his summer, while Harry Brindle was presented with Fielder of the Year. There was a double honour for Zethan Bandi, who walked away with both Bowler of the Year and Coaches’ Player for Dave Whitmore’s side.
For the Under 13s, Sharad Bhatt was the recipient of Batter of the Year, while Manav Bapodra won Bowler of the Year after topping the side’s wicket-taking charts. Fielder of the Year went to Zak Wainwright, while Coaches’ Player was awarded to Ben Macleod-Smith.
After his first professional deal was announced earlier in the day, the evening was rounded off by a Q&A with Josh Hull, who spoke after his First Team and England Under 19 experiences, as well as what the winter entails as the left-arm takes the next steps in his promising career.
