FOUR talented cricketers have been included in the Lancashire Cricket Board’s Emerging Players Programme (EPP),

Ed Moulton from Chorley Cricket Club and Lowerhouse CC trio, Joe Halstead, Georgie Holt and Libby Heap are among 18 boys and girls selected from across Lancashire and Cheshire.

And they could be following in the footsteps of Haseeb Hameed and Emma Lamb who progressed through the programme to represent the senior England teams.

The young players have been selected from the county age group squads and may progress in the future on to the next tier of the talent pathway to the Lancashire County Cricket Club’s Academy.

Under 18s player Moulton plays for Chorley and also featured in the Super Fours North of England Under 17s.

And of the Lowerhouse contingent, Halstead plays in the Under 17s age group while Holt is an Under 16s player for both the Burnley club and Tottington St John Woman. She is also in the newly formed Thunder Development Centre.

And Heap, who at the age of 10-years-old became the youngest girl to score a century for Lancashire, is now in the Under 13s age group.

The programme has provided support to many players over the years including many current and Ex Lancashire CCC Academy players along with new England debutant Hameed and Lamb recently called up to the England Women’s squad on tour in Sri Lanka.

Players have been selected based on performances this season and consultation with county age group squad coaching staff. They will receive additional support throughout the winter months including skills sessions alongside strength & conditioning support in preparation for the 2017 season.

This year the boys’ EPP programme has been extended to include some older players from the county age group squads, with the girls’ programme containing players who are also in the newly formed Thunder Development Centre.

Stephen Titchard, LCB’s Performance Manager, said: “An opportunity to train within the Emerging Players Programme will provide learning experiences alongside Lancashire CCC’s Academy for this group of boys who performed well in the county age group squads this summer, some of whom had also represented England at various levels. “I am excited to see the quality coming through and seeing them develop over the coming months with the possibility of some of them making it into the Academy in the future.”

Jen Barden, LCB’s Women & Girls Development Officer, added: “With the addition of the Thunder Development Centre, it provides girls with a robust pathway in women’s cricket.

“Some of these girls may be the next Lancashire Thunder players which is an exciting thought! The programme gives girls the opportunity to develop their games and gain experience at the next level.”

for the younger ones to push for a place on the Thunder Development Centre.”