It’s an Indian summer for Academy North as part of a busy tours programme

Cricketers from JBCN International School in Parel, Mumbai on their tour of the region

Things are not going great for most of the Indian touring squads in England so far.

At Headingley, the men’s Test side became the first in history to lose a match having posted five individual centuries; the mixed disability side are 2-0 down going into today’s showpiece at Lord’s.

The women’s side have a chance to turn things around when they begin their white-ball clashes on Saturday.

But one group from India who definitely enjoyed their time on these shores was a team from JBCN International School in Parel, Mumbai. 

They were hosted by Liverpool-based coaching organisation Academy North on a tour of the region.

Coach Ste Cole said: “They had a few games against our local sides and a West Lancs team, then they had longer format games at Merchant Taylors and King’s Macclesfield schools. 

“It was good fun for everyone.

“We had a conversation with them and asked ‘how good are you’, to which their answer was ‘we’re OK’ – their idea of OK turned out to be a bit better than our idea. 

“They had a couple of lads who were fabulous players – it was hard to get the balance right but that’s part of the job. 

“Once you get the first tour in, you know their levels and how the fixtures will go, so you can plan accordingly.

“It’s a franchise of five different schools over there, so hopefully they’ll all be working with us from next summer onwards, which is pretty exciting.”

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Players from Switzerland at Liverpool CC with Academy North

As well as the Indian tourists, Academy North also welcomed a group from Switzerland – not a traditional cricket hotbed, but a sign of the game’s growing popularity in Europe.

“The guys said there are only about five or six grounds in the whole country,” said Cole. 

“Two Swiss teams came over for four days, they combined the national under-12 and 13 teams, and under-15s and 16s. 

“We’ve already had a dialogue with them to come back next summer.”

And the tours are not just a one-way thing. Earlier this year, Academy North’s Phill O’Brien led a group of eight youngsters on a trip to the SIX Cricket Academy, north of Bengalaru.

“That place is out of this world,” added Cole, who admitted he was jealous not to have been part of the tour. 

“There’s over 30 turf wickets in the same venue, 12 indoor lanes, gyms, swimming pools, restaurants, all in the same place. 

“It’s incredible – and we’re going back there in Easter 2027. 

“It caters to every level of cricket you could imagine, they give you a net session then they put you in whichever level you fit into. 

“It’s a brilliant experience and we’re very excited to head back – and we’re looking to take a lot more people this time. 

“A lot of the parents have said they want their kids to go next time as well.”

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The picturesque cricket ground in St Moritz, Switzerland

Academy North is also planning a post-GCSEs tour to Switzerland next summer.

Cole said: “A lot of kids miss two or three months of cricket because of their exams, so we’re going to head over to Switzerland for a few days. 

“It’ll give the kids something to look forward to after a tough few months of revision.”

There will also be a long-awaited senior tour to Barbados in October. Delayed several times due to Covid and its aftermath, this is not one which required much arm-twisting to get people to sign up for, according to Cole.

Future plans also include a girls’ tour to an overseas venue, and hosting multiple visiting sides at once in a festival or tournament.

This is on top of Academy North’s 1-1 and group coaching, with sessions available across the region and beyond.

“But the tours are the highlight,” added Cole.

• To express interest in any of the upcoming tours, or to find out more about what’s on offer, visit www.academynorth.co.uk.

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