Hampshire’s Development Squad are this week embarking upon their pre-season trip to South Africa, just two years on from their last overseas trip to India.

The nine-day trip includes five matches, of contrasting formats, as well as a range of coaching sessions at local clubs meaning the squad will take in a variety of conditions and experiences.

As well as a diverse cricketing experience, the development squad will be taking in arguably the most beautiful country in the world as well as bonding as a group in a unique way.

The tour is entirely self funded with help from a number of sponsors, patrons, players and parents.

The dedication from these parties in terms of time devoted towards the development squad and the money invested by them has been invaluable and it’s certain the tour would never have gone ahead without these special individuals.

Jordan Finney, a member of this upcoming squad, paid tribute to the support the players have received and that the team as a whole appreciates the trust put in them implicitly.

“I speak for all the players when I say that we know how much hard work has been put in. We might get all the plaudits but it’s the people back at home who should get the real recognition”

An investment in the tour itself is also an investment in the future of those players going on the tour to South Africa.

Three members of previous tour to India have since signed contracts with Hampshire Cricket and have then turned out for the England Under-19’s at this years World Cup.

Raj Maru, Development Squad Coach, seems confident that this year will be no different in terms of the tour’s success at helping to develop players for the future.

“We’ve had three players come from the last tour, and hopefully we’ll have a similar success from this tour.

“The tour gives us a huge idea about which players can perform under pressure and who can’t, this tour will be vital to see how players will get on in the future, it’s a big indicator.”

As well as players developing during the tour it’s important that any skills learned could be transferred for the regular season, and Raj noticed a concerted improvement after the last tour and expects that trend to continue this time around.

“So many of these players will come back from this tour and have fantastic seasons following, very much like last time, this tour brings these players up a notch and it’s so rewarding to see, it proves the tour is worth investing in”.

Another component of the tour is the team building that will go on during the trip, invaluable bonding in what is sure to be a difficult environment and team manager Mike Brogan believes the trip can develop the members of the tour not just as cricketers, but as people as well.

“The whole trip is a fantastic team building experience, they come back as better people not just better cricketers and in what is one of the most beautiful countries in the world they’re sure to develop as individuals.”

The skipper for the tour, Jordan, was a member of the last tour to Mumbai so he knows better than most how to adapt in different conditions not just as a player, but also as a person and he explained all the different variables you have to contend with.

“In my first tour is was me who was learning but now it’s my job to show the young ones how to behave, what goes on during the tour and look after them.

“In addition my responsibility extends beyond helping others, I’ve got to keep my own game in order and condition myself properly, it seems daunting trying to combine the two.
 
“Something the tour really teaches you to do is to adapt quickly and scrap for each other in intimidating circumstances, you can bond both on and off the pitch”

For maybe the first time, a development tour in this country incubuses a more professional attitude, the conditioning and re-hydrating of players, how they eat, sleep and live off the pitch and prepare for a match the following day.

It’s impressive to see such professionalism at this level of cricket, and the intensity of the tour, with five matches in nine days, means the players are right up against it from day one.

But it’s keen to stress that the development of players like James Vince now a Hampshire 1st team player, and that of Jordan, and boy whose maturity is far beyond his age, wouldn’t be possible without the support and money of certain sponsors and the hard work of so many individuals, many of whom volunteer.

Written by Nick Howson
Photo by Jamie McLean