Durham Cricket are delighted to announce its Academy intake for the 2021 season with four new faces joining ahead of the winter training programme.
Mitchell Killeen, Ben McKinney, Jack Scott and Ross Whitfield have signed academy deals for the first time and will be part of a 12-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.
Mitchell Killeen is a right-arm batting all-rounder who plays his club cricket at Burnopfield.
Playing for the under-14s in 2019, Mitchell claimed 12 wickets with a best of 3/1 against Cheshire with a highest score of 96 against North Yorkshire.
Sacriston Cricket Club top order batsman Ross Whitfield amassed 693 runs in the 2019 ECB Under 14s campaign, including an outstanding century against Derbyshire.
Hetton Lyons duo Ben McKinney and Jack Scott also make the new Academy squad. Jack was the leading wicket taker for Durham Under 14s in 2019 with 20 wickets for the off-spinner.
Batting, all-rounder McKinney scored four centuries for Durham Under 14s in 2019, his highest score 135 against Derbyshire in an impressive second wicket partnership of 224 with Ross Whitfield.
The following players will remain members of the squad this coming season, after the 2020 Academy season was disrupted heavily due to the pandemic – Jonny Bushnell, Luke Doneathy, Brodie Glendinning , Tom Mackintosh, Harry Crawshaw , Joe Defty , Stanley McAlindon and Alfie Taylor Clarke.
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, James Lowe and Cole Pearce.
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.”