BIDDESTONE Cricket Club youth co-ordinator Graham Horn is hoping that his club can continue to reap the rewards of their relationship with the Assam Cricket Academy in India.

Three club youngsters spent two weeks revolutionising their game in the northern state of Assam in April, in a scheme organised by ex-Biddestone overseas player Nishi Bordoloi.

Horn accompanied 14-year-olds David Comport, Akito Jacques and James Bartlett as they received top-class coaching and immersed themselves in Indian culture and the Biddestone coach wants to carry on developing his club’s partnership with the Assam academy.

“It was a great experience for the boys to experience what it’s like to stand out over there – they almost had celebrity status with people wanting to take photos with them once they found out they were there for cricket,” said Horn.

“The players all had to get used to calling the coach ‘sir’ and get to grips with the intensity of the coaching. The pitches were all rolled mud and there’s such a big emphasis on spinning the ball over there.

“We’re lucky to have the link over there and we’d like to take another group next year. We’d like to look into the possibility of having some of the kids from over there come to visit us.”

Youngster Comport, from Chippenham, said: “The extra boost in confidence will put me in good shape for the upcoming season and I can see improvement parts of my game.”

Jacques, from Nettleton, added: “It was a great experience seeing what life is like as a young Indian cricketer and what sort of training they do.”

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