Girls 2019 Academy & EPP announced

Three girls have been selected for the 2019 Sussex Cricket Girls’ Academy. A further five girls have been given places on the Emerging Players Programme (EPP).

Cassidy McCarthy, Ella McCaughan and Ella Wadey form the Academy. Amie Anderson, Frankie Angel, Elise Jorgensen, Freya Kemp and Hollie Young are included in the EPP.

The Academy players attend one-to-one training sessions twice per week during the winter and members of the EPP meet as a group for one batting and one bowling session each week.

Within the EPP, Freya and Hollie will take part in a new ‘EPP Plus’ programme, which rewards players who have excelled over the previous summer and are deemed to be extremely close to an Academy place. EPP Plus players will receive an extra one-to-one training session every fortnight during the winter on top of their regular EPP sessions.

Both programmes are based at the Sir Rod Aldridge Cricket Centre at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and are made possible by funding from the Aldridge Foundation.

Ian Cox, who, as well as being Sussex Women assistant head coach, leads the girls Academy and EPP programmes, said: “We have an excellent group of girls this year and it’s exciting to see the progress that the girls are already making with their hard work and commitment.

“Thanks to the continued backing of the Aldridge Foundation, we are extremely fortunate to be able to run these dedicated programmes for girls in Sussex and use the first-class facilities at The Sir Rod Aldridge Cricket Centre.

“The environment this creates and the programme that this allows us to deliver gives those on the Academy and the EPP the best chance of reaching the next stage of their cricketing development.”

News regarding the Sussex Cricket boys’ talent pathway will follow in the New Year.

Sussex Cricket Girls’ Academy 2019

Cassidy McCarthy – After impressing in the EPP and in matches for the Sussex under-17 and Women’s teams in 2018, Cassidy has been selected for the Academy for the first time. A wicket-keeper until the age of 13, the 16-year-old is now an opening bowler and middle-order batter. Cassidy made her debut for the senior side in 2017 and took 3 for 10 against Kent in last season’s T20 competition She is a pupil at St. Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells and plays club cricket for Bells Yew Green CC.  

Ella McCaughan – 2019 will be Ella’s third-year on the Academy, despite the top-order batter and leg-spinner being the youngest member of the programme. The 16-year-old made her Sussex Women’s debut during the summer and was recently selected for the England Academy squad. No female player scored more runs for Sussex in 2018 than Ella. The Seaford Head pupil plays her club cricket for Seaford CC and Ansty CC.

Ella Wadey – A top-order batter and medium-pace bowler from Goring CC, 17-year-old Ella is also entering her third year on the programme. The Worthing College student made her debut for Sussex Women in 2017 and scored 71 against Essex last season.

Sussex Cricket Emerging Players Programme 2019

Amie Anderson – 15-year-old Amie is in her second year on the EPP. The Bexhill Academy pupil is a quick, left-arm seamer and right-handed middle-order batter that plays club cricket at Bexhill CC and Hastings & St Leonard’s Priory CC.

Frankie Angel – Frankie is in her first year on the programme. A goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion and England at under-15 level, the 14-year-old took up wicketkeeping in 2018 for Sussex Under-15s and impressed with how quickly she took to the role. The Downlands Community School pupil is a top-order that also plays for Ansty CC.

Elise Jorgensen – An off-spinner and middle-order batter from Rye CC, Elise is in her second-year on the EPP. The 16-year-old is a pupil at Highworth School in Ashford, Kent.

Freya Kemp – The youngest player on the EPP at 13 years old, Freya played in both the under-15 and under-17 teams in 2018. The left-arm seamer and top-order batter is a pupil at Bede’s School.

Hollie Young – Off-spinner, Hollie was the leading female wicket-taker for Sussex in 2018 with 35 dismissals and is in her second . The 15-year-old pupil at St. Richard’s Catholic College in Bexhill is also a top-order batter and plays at Ansty CC.