The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) is delighted with the increasing participation in and improving standard of youth cricket. The importance of offering high quality coaching and opportunities for today's young cricketers is recognised so that children are inspired to play cricket. The hope is that the Union continues to produce high quality club and representative teams and, hopefully, future Knights, First Class and Ireland cricketers.

NCU Chairman Alan Waite commented 'The youth programme within the NCU continues to grow and develop. From February 2017, it is intended to have coaching at Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 age groups as well as the usual Under 11, 13, 15 and 17 age groups. This is to support the numbers  of players and talent coming forward from our clubs.'

Under 15

Thirty-seven players from sixteen different cricket clubs within the NCU have each received four hours expertise from the regional coaches. As a result, six of these players have been invited to join a further twelve previously selected to form part of the next development phase between November 2016 and January 2017.

This will consist of a further five hours of coaching at the Ulster University Sports Centre at Jordanstown campus. Commenting on the sessions to date, lead coach Scott Irvine said, 'I have been impressed with the standard of this initial stage of the programme. It is the highest quality we have seen for a number of years, so great credit must go to our clubs and the work of their coaches, the content they are delivering is clearly paying off.'

Those players selected for the next phase of the Under 15 age group are:

• Luke Allison (Donaghcloney)
• Ben Buchanan-Rolleston (Carrickfergus)
• Jack Dickson (Instonians)
• Nathan Doak (Lisburn)
• Michael Glass (Lisburn)
• Rahul Gondhia (CSNI)
• Andrew Greer (Templepatrick)
• Matthew Humphries (Instonians)
• Ethan Hanna (Saintfield)
• James Hunter (Instonians)
• Archie Johnston (CSNI)
• James Lambert (Instonians)
• Reece Malone (Derriaghy)
• Oliver Metcalfe (Instonians)
• Hugh Minford (CSNI)
• Adam Simmonite (CSNI)
• Adam Speers (Laurelvale)
• Adam Wylie (Instonians)

Under 17

Twenty-five players from thirteen different cricket clubs within the NCU have each had four hours expert coaching. As a result, six of these players have been invited to join a further thirteen previously selected to form part of the next development phase between November 2016 and January 2017.

This will consist of more coaching at the Ulster University Sports Centre at Jordanstown campus. Commenting on the sessions to date, coach Nikolai Smith said, 'The U17 Regional Development Squad has been of a good standard. It has been a tough selection process but we feel that we have equipped each boy with enough knowledge to be able to go back to their clubs and practice these skills and hopefully come back next summer in a better position to perform well for their clubs and schools'.

Those players selected for the next phase of the Under 17 age group are:

• Jonathan Browne (Ballymena)
• Jack Buchanan- Rolleston (Carrickfergus)
• Max Burton (Carrickfergus)
• Jack Carson (Waringstown)
• Adam Clarke (Templepatrick)
• Josh Cowan (Templepatrick)
• Rohan Dravid (CSNI)
• Matthew Fleetham (Cregagh)
• Matthew Foster (CSNI)
• John Glass (Ballymena)
• Daniel Humphries (Instonians)
• James McClean (Ballymena)
• Tom McCord (Instonians)
• Bradley McNamara (Instonians)
• James Metcalfe (Instonians)
• Adam Reid (Saintfield)
• Ben Rose (Instonians)
• Charlie Shannon (Holywood)
• Ewan Scott (Woodvale)
• Jonathan Waite (Waringstown)
• Callum Walsh (Holywood)
• Harry Warke (Carrickfergus)

The NCU would like to convey it's thanks to parents, club coaches, regional coaches and volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment over the previous phase. Most importantly it wishes to encourage those players who haven't made it through to the next phase to keep developing their game to achieve future success.