Warne wannabees to consult 'spin doctor'

The England and Wales Cricket Board, in conjunction with the Brain Johnston Memorial Trust, will again be sending two aspiring leg-spin bowlers to Australia for specialist training at the prestigious Terry Jenner Elite Wrist Spin Programme in Adelaide.

David Barrick, a 16-year-old from Hull in Yorkshire, and Matthew Gitsham, 18, from Bridgwater in Somerset, will undergo two week's expert coaching from Terry Jenner, the former Australian Test Match cricketer and now Shane Warne's coach and mentor. The young 'leggies' will leave on Wednesday 5th April and return home on Wednesday 19th April.

The players have been selected from the ECB's flourishing wrist spin development scheme. This scheme was set up three years ago in order to discover and nurture wrist spin bowlers for the future. The programme currently involves 40 young wrist spin bowlers, aged 13-18, who attend regular tuition at one of four regional coaching centres - Headingley, Guildford, Trent Bridge and Taunton.

Matthew Gitsham has already visited Terry Jenner once before - he was one of two players originally selected when this overseas initiative first began last year. He made his Somerset County 2nd XI debut in 1998 when he was 16 years old and last season represented England at Under 17 level. "I got on very well with Terry last time and I learnt a lot. When I got back I was bowling much better and I am happy to be going out there again for two more week's training," he said.

David Barrick, who represented the North of England Under 15 last year and is a regular player at Hull Cricket Club, will be visiting Australia for the first time. He said, "It's brilliant to have been selected and it will be a great experience. I have been on the ECB wrist spin programme for two years now, which has been a lot of help, but I'm very excited about this new opportunity."

Hugh Morris, ECB's Technical Director, said, "I am delighted that we are able to send Matthew and David to Australia, and many thanks to the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust for their help in making this happen. To gain experience from Terry Jenner will be hugely beneficial for them - he is a world leader in the art of wrist spin coaching."