Chris Brice believes the experience of touring Abu Dhabi with Yorkshire’s senior team could launch the careers of six of the Academy’s most promising stars.
Holly Garton, Fran Lonsdale, Amelia Love, Elicia Pollard, Lucy Randle-Bissell and Emma Wrightson are jetting off to the Arabian Desert today, supplementing the county’s 12 senior professionals on their pre-season tour.
With Yorkshire having a small senior squad – and two of those 12 are carrying injuries – the plan was always to give exposure to Academy players, as will happen during the summer as well.
Brice is Yorkshire Women’s lead Academy coach as well as the assistant to senior head coach Rich Pyrah.
“We’re not just taking them to carry the drinks,” he said. “It’s not a myth that there will be opportunities for them.
“We need to find out about these players. It’s going to be a hell of a learning opportunity for them and will stand them in good stead for this season and their future careers.
Picture by YCCC. Chris Brice, Yorkshire’s lead Academy coach and Rich Pyrah’s assistant with the county’s senior squad.
“To have that opportunity, hopefully it will give them that launchpad for their careers and accelerate their development.
“For them as people as well, it will be a big thing.
“There are some really, really good people around, it feels like a good time to start them on their journey and learn from the experience in the touring party.
“We’ve got the opportunity to pull on the experience of some of the senior players and pass that onto the Academy to help accelerate their development both on and off the field.”
Brice is a former Yorkshire second-team left-arm spinner of the early 2000s, a team-mate of his current coaching colleagues at Headingley, Pyrah, Anthony McGrath and John Sadler as well as general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton.
He was also a serial trophy winner with Bradford League side Woodlands up until a couple of years ago.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Chris Brice and Rich Pyrah in conversation during the latter stages of last summer when the Northern Diamonds faced Southern Vipers at Headingley.
Brice’s hybrid role at Headingley comes after he worked as an assistant coach in the Northern Diamonds set-up during the latter stages of the regional era.
“It feels like a fresh start,” he continued. “It’s very, very exciting.
“I’m privileged to work in the system from day one, really, and help put this infrastructure in place and build for the future. We’re looking at a five to 10-year project, which is something you can really sink your teeth into.
“It’s something everybody at the club, not just myself and Rich, are very excited and passionate about.
“You look at what’s coming through the Academy, the wheels are definitely turning, and the future’s bright. That’s how Yorkshire Cricket’s always been. It’s always had a strong conveyor belt.
“Hopefully we can help keep that production line going and provide players for the cap. Not only that, but a few will be lucky enough to kick on and play for England, which is great.”
Picture by Francois Nel. ICC via Getty Images. Yorkshire’s Women set off to Abu Dhabi today. They will be based at the Skeikh Zayed International Stadium complex.
Brice is heading up Yorkshire’s Academy, which has been given Tier 1 status and feeds into their Emerging Players Programme.
There are 12 players on the Academy, seven of whom have trained with the senior squad this winter, and 11 on the EPP.
“The support network that the players have got is second to none,” said Brice.
“I can’t thank the Science and Medicine team enough for the support they give us. Obviously the club as well, for supporting us through the year in Tier 2. They’ve fully backed us. Everything they’ve said, they’ve followed through on.
“The girls are very, very fortunate, but they’ve earned the right to be here wearing that shirt.
“They’ve had three sessions a week with full science and medicine support throughout the winter.
Picture by Matthew Lewis. ICC via Getty Images. The six Yorkshire Academy players will tour alongside Erin Thomas, who came through the Yorkshire age-groups and the Northern Diamonds Academy. Batter Thomas has been awarded her maiden professional contract for 2025 and beyond.
“We haven’t taken a backwards step at any stage.
“We’ve got some excellent coaches, medical and strength and conditioning staff who have been working with the seniors and Academy throughout the winter, so it will be a seamless transition when players move up.
“This is one section of the club. It has to be that way – we’ve integrated closely – because there will be a lot of movement, not just player wise but staffing also. It’s going to be a very close family. It very much has that feel about it.
“And because of that synergy, the girls can see that the opportunity for a professional life is not that far away.”
Brice expects the county’s fledglings to play between 20-25 county matches this summer, added to the cricket they will play elsewhere for their home clubs.
“The Academy schedule is full-on this summer,” he said. “It’s back-loaded until after exams, for obvious reasons.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Wicketkeeper-batter Maddie Ward is another of Yorkshire’s contracted professionals. She was on the Northern Diamonds Academy last summer and made her senior debut for the now defunct region.
“But our senior games are predominantly on a weekend, so you’d like to think that a healthy blend of study with a release of exam stress through sport with their friends can only be a good thing for them.”
One thing which was evident in the days of the Headingley-based Northern Diamonds in the regional era, which concluded last summer, was their grit and determination to always stay in the game. Yes, the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy champions lost their fair share of games, but rarely were they hammered. Put simply, they were resilient and always in the fight.
“The Yorkshire way is to never back away from a challenge, and you can see that coming through already with our girls,” said Brice. “The net battles have already been quite lively. There’s a lot of fire burning in these bellies, and I can’t wait to see it on the field.”
And, of the pride which comes with his own role, he added: “This club gets under your skin, doesn’t it! It’s given me a new lease of life.
“Going back to playing for the Yorkshire Under 15s with Rich, and someone like John Sadler being in the year above, to come back together and be able to pass on the knowledge that we’ve gained, it’s amazing.
“I spoke to Steve Oldham, who was my Academy coach, only a couple of weeks ago, and to know that there’s people like him wanting to support you and help Yorkshire Cricket is fantastic. It’s one big family this club. It always has been, it always will be.”
