Young Australia players bound for MRF Academy in India

Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel has selected a total of eight young players to participate in an intensive cricket training program at the MRF Academy in Chennai in August. With a focus on developing first-class batters, all of the men's players comprise a group that encompasses a variety of skills from various formats.

Along with the Western Australian duo of Cooper Connolly and off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, the Victorian quartet of Will Sutherland, Campbell Kellaway, and Sam Harper are in the eight-member group. The team also consists of Sydney Thunder gun fielder Joel Davis, Tim Ward of Tasmania, Nathan McSweeney of South Australia, and Tim Davis, who led Australia's Under-19 team against England earlier in 2023.

Beau Casson, a former Australia spinner who is currently an assistant coach with Western Australia, and former Sri Lanka all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera will join the group on the tour as coaches. All of the cricketers will train and compete with local players in T20, one-day, and two-day matches over the course of the upcoming two weeks.

For almost two decades, Cricket Australia has sent players to the MRF Academy. Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey are two current Test players who have attended the course in India previously.

Star Australian spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann, who made their debut in Test cricket during the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India in February and March, were part of the group in 2022.

According to Sonya Thompson, head of national development at CA, the board is excited to keep working with the MRF Academy and give young players the chance to get involved in such a special event.

“We’re delighted to continue the partnership with the MRF Academy and offer some of our best young players the opportunity to be exposed to such a unique experience.

"Training tours such as this are vital to help ensure players continually develop their skills and are fully prepared for whatever conditions they might face throughout their careers," Thompson was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au.