Durham Cricket are delighted to announce its Boys’ Academy intake for the 2022 season with six new players joining ahead of the summer.
Max Winskill, Daniel Hogg, Sebastian Hughes-Pinan, Henry Hopkins, Haydon Mustard and Callum Gaffney have signed academy deals for the first time and will be part of a 13-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.
Max Winskill is a right-arm fast bowler and middle order-bat who currently studies at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, ahead of joining Durham Cricket Academy he has progressed through the Cumbria age group programme while playing club cricket at Lindal Moor Cricket Club.
Durham City trio Daniel Hogg, Henry Hopkins and Callum Gaffney are also included in the new Academy squad. Hogg is a right-arm fast bowler and right-hand lower order bat who studies at Durham School.
Callum Gaffney, who also studies at Durham School joins the Academy on the back of a successful summer across all age groups and club games – his highest score for Durham under-14s came against Yorkshire with 74, going onto take a best of 3/27 with the ball against Cumbria.
Right hand top order batter and right arm off spinner Henry Hopkins scored 479 runs for Durham junior teams in 2021 with a best of 94 against Scotland, while he took 11 wickets with 2/11 against Staffordshire his best.
Sebastian Hughes-Pinan is a slow left arm bowler and left-hand middle order batter who plays his club cricket at North East Premier League side Chester le Street. He took 23 wickets in Durham age group cricket in 2021 with a best of 2/3 against Cumbria while he scored 221 runs with the bat.
Wicket-keeper batsman Haydon Mustard joins Durham Academy having played within the Northumberland county age group pathway. A member of the 2021 Bunbury North team, Mustard scored 733 runs last summer at age group cricket, averaging 43.12 which included a top score of 136 against Cambridge.
The following players will remain members of the squad this coming season; Alfie Taylor-Clarke, Joe Defty, Stanley McAlindon, Ben McKinney, Mitchell Killeen, Ross Whitfield and Jack Scott.
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.”