Northants County Cricket Club have announced the 2022 selection to the highly competitive Northants Emerging Player Programme (EPP), with two Oundle Fifth Form cricketers chosen to join the squad.
Sam (G) and Ralph (StA) both had highly successful seasons for School and County last season, amassing over 3000 runs between them. They both registered centuries for Northants U15, as well as five additional half centuries by Sam and four half centuries by Ralph.
Both represented the School 1st XI as 15 year olds and Ralph recorded the highest average for the 1st XI with a top score of 98, whilst also showing his all-rounder status by picking up two five wicket hauls for Northants. Despite nursing a shoulder injury which prevented him from bowling, Sam started the season well, scoring 91* in a match winning knock against a strong Stamford side that were national runners-up at this age group. He carried this form for the County team where he was second leading run scorer across all Northants age groups, averaging 54.73.
They will join the EPP in November for a thorough block of training throughout the winter alongside their School sessions.
Selection for the Northants Emerging Player Programme follows a rigorous process to identify players aged 12-16 with the potential to go forward and push for academy places. Players are provided with strength and conditioning support, access to specialist coaches, as well as the sessions with the in-house coaching team.
Demonstrating the popularity of cricket beyond School, over the summer season twenty-one other Oundle cricketers played for U18-U11 squads representing seven different counties.
