SPORT & LEISURE
The SP Isle of Wight Cricket
Academy is a state-of-theart , dedicated cricket centre
which is open to players
of all ages and abilities.
Overlooking the unique Steephill
ground, the Academy provides
great opportunities for players to
learn and develop their game, no
matter what their age or level of
ability – as well as being available
to the whole cricket fraternity
on the Island and beyond.
The facility is a three-lane
complex, with bowling machines,
video analysis equipment
and a video viewing room.
The centre, which has wheelchair
access throughout, boasts a top
quality Uni-turf playing surface,
three different underlays to
simulate specific pitch conditions
(spin friendly, fast and standard)
and state-of-the-art shock
absorbers at the bowling ends.
One of the Isle of Wight’s upand-coming cricketers, teenager
Danny Briggs, is one of the
centre’s most frequent users.
Danny, who lives in Freshwater,
was born on the Island in 1991.
A left arm spin bowler, he started
his cricket career at Ventnor CC
at the tender age of just five. Just
a few years later, at the age of 10,
he took five wickets on his debut
and enjoyed a rush of publicity
in the national newspapers. As
a result of this, he was invited
as a guest to play in Hampshire’s
Kevan James’s testimonial match
against Ventnor in which he took
four wickets, and ended up being
interviewed on national television.
Danny has won many awards
from both the Isle of Wight
and Hampshire Cricket Boards,
including Player of the Year twice
and Best Bowler on a number
of occasions. His ambition is to
play cricket professionally …
and the way he is heading, the
dream is well within his reach.
If you reckon you might have
a hidden talent in this most
traditional of English sports, then
take advantage of the Island’s
fantastic facility and contact the
Aca