Luke has enjoyed a fantastic season for Hyde, establishing himself in our first team, and for Cheshire under 17’s, for whom he is a leading performer.

During the 2019 season he made his maiden first team century and other significant contributions, with both bat and ball.
He was of course a key member of the team which lifted the Cheshire Cup by beating Chester Boughton Hall in the final last September.

For Cheshire Under 17’s he scored 574 runs at an average of 48, including 2 hundreds, with a highest score of 158 v Warwickshire. He also took 20 wickets.

The Academy squad recently came together for an induction at Emirates Old Trafford, after undergoing fitness tests with Lancashire’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, Tom Webster.

Winter training has since commenced in the Trafford Cricket Centre, with the players attending three times a week prior to Christmas, with additional sessions planned for the New Year.

Performance Director Mark Chilton, Second XI Head Coach Chris Benbow and Performance Coaches, Steve Titchard and Karl Krikken, are all part of the Academy winter support staff, along with First Team players Graham Onions and Steven Croft.

Academy Director Gary Yates said:

“Congratulations to the new intake of players on their selection.
With the amount of international and county first-class cricket now on offer, along with the introduction of The Hundred, there will be more opportunity at the top level for our county pathway players.
To move forward quickly, the Academy players must deal with high competition, often working outside of their comfort zones and constantly being challenged.
Our Academy programme stands for high challenge and high support. The reward for the player is that the individual will develop as a leader.”

Luke joins a select bunch of the very best in his age group, as Gary went on to explain;.

“Since it was recently announced that the maximum age for a national county Academy player is restricted to 18-years-old, we have selected a younger set of promising players.
There are (only) 10 players currently selected onto this year’s Academy, including six new players.”

I’m sure I speak for everyone at Hyde CSC when I say we are so very proud of Luke’s achievements so far.
This latest acknowledgment of his great promise offers a fantastic opportunity, as one of a small handful of elite young players, to really progress in the game.
We all wish him the very best…