Derbyshire select academy intake

Paul Borrington and Jake Needham have signed new full-time county contracts

Derbyshire’s academy line-up will have a new look next season after four players graduated to sign professional contracts.

Batsmen Paul Borrington and Dan Redfern, all-rounder Jake Needham and left-arm fast-bowler Atif Sheikh will all be part of the professional squad next year, opening up spaces in the academy for two more players.

Eddie Ikin, 15, is a seam bowling all-rounder who plays his club cricket at Ticknall CC while opening batsman Tom Hamilton, also 15, is a product of Swarkestone CC.

Academy director Karl Krikken said: “The two new players played a starring role for the Under-15 team that performed brilliantly in finishing third in the ECB Under-15 County Cup and therefore thoroughly deserve their opportunity on the Academy.

“It is fantastic news for Derbyshire that the academy is producing first-class players and long may that continue.

“The eight players on the current academy now have an excellent opportunity to develop their game as they aim for a future in county cricket.”

The full academy intake for 2008/09 includes Ben Slater, Alex Hughes, Sam van Doesdonk, Chris Durham, Georgia Elwiss, Danielle Wyatt, Ikin and Hamilton.

They will benefit from specialist coaching and development throughout the winter, which will range from lifestyle information and sports psychology through to technical work on their cricketing skills.

In addition, fellow graduates - Staffordshire based fast-bowler Ed Jones, left-arm seam bowling all-rounder Ross Whiteley and wicketkeeping prospect Tom Poynton - have all penned summer contracts for 2009.

A total of nine academy products have played first-class or List A cricket for Derbyshire.