HIGH Wycombe Cricket Club are joining forces with the Bucks New University to create a new cricket academy aimed at giving the best young talent in the area a helping hand at reaching their potential.

By tapping into the expertise of a wide pool of level three and level four coaches, with a focus on specialist skills, the newly-created Young Guns Cricket Academy is intended to give young players every chance of succeeding.

Wycombe chairman Geoff Morgan said: “We want to challenge players to reach their potential rather than just turning up and playing.

“We’ve got a pool of level three and level four coaches. Most club coaches are level one or two so we think the coaching available will be above that of other coaching courses in the area.

“Ultimately, what we want to do in the future is take individuals with talent onto an elite academy.”

Coaching will take place at the BNU Sports Hall on Saturday afternoons and plans to incorporate everything from core skills such as spin bowling and wicket-keeping to fitness and mental attitude.

Video analysis, thanks to the BNU students, is also on the agenda.

The first nine-week course begins on February 2 and invitations will be sent to schools and cricket clubs in the area in the next two weeks.