Bengaluru, Aug 12: For the young trainees of Dunes Cricket Academy in Dubai, it has been one memorable trip as they have not only got to work on their skills but also got to make new friends at the academies they visited.
The group of trainees, which also included a few girls, trained at the Just Cricket Academy where they worked with the coaches of the Bengaluru-based academy and honed their skills.
Under the watchful eyes of their coach Vincent Stephen and others including assistant coach Hari, the youngsters went through batting, bowling and fielding drills. Also, they were put through fitness sessions.
Vincent, a former cricketer himself before turning a coach, said the trainees were happy to be part of the Summer Tour 2023 to Just Cricket Academy.
“It is a good experience for them (trainees) to come (to Bengaluru) and train. They get to play under different conditions and it will stand them in good stead,” head coach Vincent said about the trainees, which included three girls.
Apart from the usual net sessions and fitness drills, the Dunes Academy youngsters also took part in diving training to help improve fielding skills.
He said cricket was becoming popular in the UAE and felt there was a need for more tournaments at the school level.
“There are a lot of talented kids and with proper training and guidance they can make it to the higher level,” Vincent said.
A coach with a lot of experience,having worked previously with the legendary Terry Jenner (mentor of Shane Warne) and Ashley Mallett, Vincent feels that coaches have a huge role to play in the development of a cricketer.
His assistant Hari agrees and says, “it is important to guide the youngsters and help them realise their potential.”
Hari has previously worked with former Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore and at a popular school in Chennai. He said he was  happy to link up with Vincent at Dunes CA.
“I have learnt a lot working with Vincent Sir. It is up to the coaches to provide a proper pathway to aspiring young cricketers,” he added.
Former India cricketer Abhishek Nayar, who visited the academy, interacted with the Dunes CA trainees and gave tips on how to succeed in the game.
DCA had already done similar tours for the last couple of years.