Fazakerley enjoying new challenge

Leicestershire CCC all-rounder Will Fazakerley is enjoying every minute of his new challenge at the Fischer County Ground.

The teenager signed his first professional contract with the club in September after finishing his studies and has been taking part in the winter training programme.

It has been a tough learning curve for Fazakerley but he has got stuck in and is soaking up the knowledge of coaches Pierre de Bruyn and Graeme Welch.

“The early fitness testing has been tough but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, it is all part and parcel of being a professional cricketer,” said Fazakerley.

“While I was in the academy, we only trained once or twice a week whereas professionally we’ll be training every day, because it’s what is needed.

“Fitness testing is something I’ve done before but when you come into a professional environment you always want to step up and improve your score, so you push yourself that extra yard. It’s at a higher level of intensity because there’s more fitness testing.

“Before we started, I’d been playing golf for a month so it was good to get a bat in my hand rather than a club, and I’ve enjoyed working with Pierre de Bruyn and Graeme Welch. They have a vast amount of knowledge and it’s been good to pick their brains and learn from them.”

Fazackerley was part of the club’s Academy intake for 2015-16 and had a taste of league cricket in Leicestershire alongside former Fox Matthew Boyce at Barkby last summer.

He is now living in the county and is learning the process of becoming a professional cricketer, including a high level of training all year round.

Fazakerley said: “I played for Guernsey until I was about 12 and then moved to Boarding School. I played age-group cricket at Sussex up to Academy level before coming to Leicestershire.

“When I joined in October last year I was still at Boarding School, so I only came up a few times over the winter around studying. Then it was more full time from July onwards.

“I’m living in a house on my own at the minute, which I’m quite enjoying, as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. So I’m travelling into the Fischer County Ground and training every day and it’s a lifestyle that I’m enjoying.

“It was good to learn the basic life skills that I needed at Boarding School, so it’s not too much of a change. I’m enjoying it and sometimes one of the lads will stay with me because it’s one of the club’s houses.

“I’ve been getting around the county of Leicestershire, I played a little bit of club cricket at Barkby last summer. I really enjoyed playing league cricket in Leicestershire and it was a good group of lads to play with.”

* Don’t miss a ball during the 2017 season! Leicestershire CCC’s Membership packages are now on sale through the club’s website HERE, or alternatively you can call 0116 283 2128.