Lancashire choose AKS in Lytham as cricket development centre

AKS continues to extend its pupils’ sporting boundaries, having been selected as a Lancashire Cricket Regional Development Centre.
By Andy Moore
Published 22nd Dec 2020, 17:30 BST
Updated 22nd Dec 2020, 17:35 BST
Head of cricket Liam Castellas enjoys a joke with players at AKSHead of cricket Liam Castellas enjoys a joke with players at AKS
Head of cricket Liam Castellas enjoys a joke with players at AKS
Read More
AKS invites special guests to Enhance students' sporting experience

This new county development programme, to be launched next month, is designed to encourage young people to play cricket and to develop their skills.

Players will be taught how to play ‘the Lancashire way’ during the four-month programme delivered by county coaches, and the Lytham school has been selected because of its top-quality indoor and outdoor cricket facilities, including bowling machines.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leading the programme will be AKS’ new head of cricket Liam Castellas, a Cricket Australia Level 3 High Performance Coach (ECB Level 4), who has overseen programmes for Cricket Victoria in Australia, Myerscough College and Lancashire Thunder.

His arrival has boosted enthusiasm for cricket at AKS with the sport on the rise among the boys and girls.

The new term will see AKS launch a winter programme of targeted indoor training sessions and county indoor competitions for boys and girls.

AKS also competes in age group county competitions and hosts Wyre/Fylde and National Schools Twenty20 Cup competitions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

AKS Preparatory School offers a grounding in the sport, with all students learning the basic skills with soft balls, and there are further opportunities to enjoy cricket at lunchtimes and in afterschool clubs all year.

Competitions and festivals are staged in the summer term in partnership with the Lancashire Cricket Foundation and the Wyre and Fylde School Sports Partnership.

Development of girls’ cricket is a priority with large regular attendances at clubs. The girls won their latest regional competition and contested the county cup.

AKS will launch its first summer cricket camps in 2021 in partnership with St Annes Cricket Club, available to cricketers across the community. Tours are also planned.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Castellas said: “We are extremely pleased that Lancashire Cricket has chosen to base their Regional Development Centre here. It’s testament to our facilities and the prominence of the cricket programme here at AKS.”

Information about Lancashire’s Regional Development Centres is at: https://foundation.lancashirecricket.co.uk/lancashire-cricket-regional-development-centres/

Related topics:AKSLancashireLythamAustralia