Durham Cricket are delighted to announce its Boys’ Academy intake for the 2024 season with five new players joining ahead of the summer.
Robbie Bowman, Owen Harwood, Brett Hutchinson, Luke Symington and James Minto have signed academy deals for the first time and will be part of a 10-strong group of players.
The new academy players will link up with the current group of players who will all remain on Academy deals for at least another 12 months.
Robbie Bowman is a wicketkeeper and top order hard hitting batter who plays his club cricket at Tynemouth in the North East Premier League, the 16-year-old has progressed through the Northumberland pathway and has represented Durham at Under 16s, Under 18s and Academy level.
Owen Harwood is a bowling all-rounder who currently studies onsite at Seat Unique Riverside at Park View Academy Sixth Form and plays his club cricket at Darlington in the North Yorkshire South Durham League. The quick bowler has been part of the ECB Super4s and Bunbury Festival in recent seasons.
Sunderland left-arm seamer Brett Hutchinson has signed his first deal this winter, having progressed though the Durham boys’ pathway programme, playing his club cricket with Sunderland.
Luke Symington who captained Durham boys under 16s side last summer, has been in fine form this summer for Durham Cricket’s representative sides scoring 1058 runs with a top score of 84 against Lancashire, while he enjoyed a fruitful season for his club side Norton.
Symington’s Norton team-mate James Minto has also signed his first Academy contract. The batting all-rounder was part of the Under 15s and Under 16s scored 545 runs for the pathway sides, top scoring with an unbeaten 74* in a 9 wicket win over Lancashire. Also scoring 728 runs for Norton last season with a best of 89 not out against Wolviston in the North Yorkshire South Durham Division 1.
The following players will remain members of the Academy squad this coming season; Jack Brassell (Sunderland), Callum Gaffney (Darlington), Sebastian Hughes Pinan (Chester le Street) Haydon Mustard (Benwell Hill) and Max Jackson (Hartlepool)
Academy Director John Windows will once again lead the academy young guns as they look for another successful summer on the cricket pitch – working alongside high performance pathway coaches Natham Rimmington, Cole Pearce and Stuart Poynter.
John said: “It is always a great time of the year when we announce our Academy intake for the up-and-coming year. It is pleasing for the boys’ and their families to know they are continuing their cricketing journey with us at Durham.
“I would like to send a huge congratulations to the new intake on their selection and for those talented players who will continue as Durham Academy players.
“We have an exciting winter schedule in place for these youngsters who can continue to develop and work hand on their own game, while we will look at each individual needs moving towards the summer.
“Myself and the coaches are looking forward to what the next year holds for these exciting young group of players.”