ENGLAND captain Joe Root is backing an innovative cricket academy set to be launched in Colchester.
The Sigma Sixth cricket academy, which will based at the new Northern Gateway, will offer a foundation for teenagers aged between 16 and 18 wanting to pursue a career in cricket while gaining academic qualifications.
It will be run by the Sigma Trust, a local partnership of academies in north-east Essex, in alliance with the Root Academy, founded by Joe Root’s father Matt and endorsed by the current England Test skipper.
The course will also link in with Essex CCC and Essex Eagles and local cricket clubs.
Root said: “The Cricket Academy is a fantastic environment for young players to enhance their skills, both mentally and physically.
“To be able to train during the winter throughout the week is just like being a professional; catch the opportunity with both hands!”
Cricket-mad students will have the option of studying either a BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport, equivalent to three A levels, or three separate A levels of their choice, alongside high-quality cricket coaching and development.
It will be run at the new state-of-the-art Northern Gateway sports hub by the Sigma Trust, which consists of 12 schools – eight secondary and four infant/junior schools.
They are Alton Park Junior School, Clacton County High School, Colne Community School and College, Harwich & Dovercourt High School, Holland Park Primary School, Monkwick Infant and Nursery School, Monkwick Junior School, Paxman Academy, Philip Morant School and College, St Helena School, The Stanway School and TLA.
Sigma are re-branding their sixth form provision across the Trust to form Sigma Sixth Tendring, based at the Tendring Education Centre and Sigma Sixth Colchester which will run across three sites – Philip Morant Sixth Form, Essex University and the new £25m Northern Gateway Sports Complex.
The football, rugby and cricket academies will be based at the Northern Gateway sports complex, the Basketball Academy will be based at Essex University as part of the Essex Rebels Academy and the Golf Academy will partner with Colne Valley Golf Club.