17 February 2023

Building on our longstanding relationship with the ECB, we created an innovative programme of activity for the ‘Young Lions’ ahead of their tour of Australia.

 

It was such a privilege for Leading Edge and Performance Edge to design and facilitate skills development activities for the England Men’s Under 19s cricket squad training camp, held at the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

Nigel Rothband (Leading Edge Team Coach) and Chris Musgrove (Performance Edge Owner Director) facilitated the sessions, tasked with helping the squad win in Australia by focusing on the critical components for performance away from tactical and technical. This involved supporting the squad to learn about both themselves and each other while developing the skills needed to deal with pressure out in the middle.

The weekend training camp consisted of a ‘Big Brother House’ cooking activity, a children’s coaching afternoon planned and delivered by the Young Lions themselves, and role-play sessions to build the players’ communication skills and help them handle difficult conversations.

To wrap up, players and their coaches had a full-blown cricket coaching session – a fantastic opportunity for the players to put their learning into action, and for Nigel and Chris to helpfully challenge and guide the players to build on their skills development.

 

About ECB Young Lions development

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) runs successful England teams. At the top of the game, its Men’s and Women’s England teams are current 50-over World Champions. The ECB also runs four England disability teams.

The organisation oversees the professional domestic game (for men and women) as well as recreational cricket played by around two million people across the country each summer. Through participation programmes, the ECB gives more than a million children and young people a chance to play cricket. It also invests in new pitches and facilities to give more people opportunities to play the game.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) runs successful England teams. At the top of the game, its Men’s and Women’s England teams are current 50-over World Champions. The ECB also runs four England disability teams.

The organisation oversees the professional domestic game (for men and women) as well as recreational cricket played by around two million people across the country each summer. Through participation programmes, the ECB gives more than a million children and young people a chance to play cricket. It also invests in new pitches and facilities to give more people opportunities to play the game.

Team Coach Insights

Nigel Rothband

Leading Edge Team Coach

Leading Edge Team Coach Nigel Rothband shares his insights:

“As someone who still plays competitive cricket and is a proud member of the MCC, being able to support the England Men’s U19s cricket team with their preparations for an Australian tour was very special indeed.

One big question drove every activity that Chris and I facilitated during the development weekend: ‘How is this going to help the squad to win in Australia?’ I was so impressed with how this group of lads, still relatively young at 17 and 18, threw themselves into the experiences and worked so hard to get the most out of this opportunity. And it was brilliant to see so many coaches involved, too – an entire community there to support the future generation of England Men’s cricket.

History says that at least three of these ‘Young Lions’ will go on to play at the highest level for England. What an absolute privilege it was for me to be able to play just a small part in their development by facilitating sessions and guiding those lightbulb moments when they recognised how the weekend’s development would help them in Australia.

I’ll be closely following their progress and wish them all the very best.”