Essex starlets Alastair Cook and Ravinder Bopara were celebrating today after their call-up to England's prestigious Cricket Academy this winter.
Academy joy - Alastair Cook has been picked for this winter's training camp at Loughborough University. (44683-24)
Stylish 20-year-old left-handed opening batsman Cook and promising all-rounder Bopara have been named in the 17-strong squad that will attend the academy's Loughborough University training centre.
Highly-rated Wickham Bishops-based former England Under-19 captain Cook - who hit a double-century against Australia recently - greeted his call-up by saying: "It should be a good experience for me.
"One of my aims for the season was to do enough to earn a place in one of the England squads so I am pleased to have done that.
"Getting in the academy is part of the natural course on the way into the England squad.
"This selection has capped a good year and now I just need to keep working hard and see what happens from there."
"It's a fantastic honour," said a delighted Bopara, who was also rewarded for his outstanding season's work for Essex by the award of his county cap 24 hours earlier.
"Good times like this don't come along too often and it's been a great two days for me," he said.
"Getting my cap, totesport League championship winner's medal and selection for the academy has capped a good year for me."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Tuesday, September 20, 2005
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