You don’t have to be good to enjoy cricket – that’s one of the beauties of the game. However, it certainly helps and it is important that you make a positive contribution to your team’s effort at whatever level of the game you play.

At Outwood we are always on the lookout for cricketing talent. This is so we can facilitate the progression of young players into adult cricket, but also so we can help you become the best player that you can or want to be.

Our most successful Academy graduate to date has been Alex Milton – son of the Club Captain from 2005 – 2007. After a handful of games for the U12s, Alex started playing for Outwood 1st XI in 2008. After a spell in the Surrey Performance Programme and at Cardiff MCC University (which he captained) he moved to Worcestershire where he made his County Championship debut against Somerset on 25th August 2018. Having made 8 in the first innings he came in to bat in the second innings on a hattrick and went on to score his maiden first class century – an unbeaten 104. Furthermore, he featured in a record last wicket partnership of 136, a Worcestershire record that had stood since 1906. The photo accompanying this article shows Alex on his way to his 104no

Outstanding members of the Outwood Academy can now win the Alex Milton Award – presented each year to a young Outwood player showing outstanding potential. Jonathan Wylie (now U13) was the lucky recipient as an 11-yr. old in 2019.

Other Outwood graduates from the Surrey Performance Programme include Ashley Middleton who was part of the inaugural Outwood Academy started by his father Chris in 2005. Ashley is the current 1st XI wicket keeper and one of the League’s leading batsmen.

The Surrey Performance Programme has produced several of the current County side. It is extremely hard to get into. Last year over 600 of the county’s best youngsters applied and were given trials – three of them from Outwood: Jonathan Wylie, Gabriel Blackburn and Dylan Manerowski.

All the lads performed extremely well, despite not making it through the initial trial. However, this is not a once-only opportunity and candidates are encouraged to try again if they are not successful first time around. Players evolve at different rates, and 12 months is a long time in developmental terms. Jonathan has vowed to have another go next year. For those who might be tempted to have a go too, here is an account, in Jonathan's own words of his experience earlier this year: