A GROUP of dedicated young cricketers are preparing for their first season of competitive cricket following a successful winter training programme.

The Blackburn and Darwen Cricket Development Group has selected 18 boys and girls for its Under 10s Academy for the season ahead.

Since December, the squad has been introduced to hard ball cricket and are now ready to play competitive hard ball matches beginning in May with a match against the winners of Thameside or St Helens in the Lancashire Schools Bob Hurst Rosebowl.

They will also take part in an Under 10s festival in June.

The Academy players were selected following a series of coaching programmes and tournaments last year.

During 2007, Primary Year Four boys and girls were given coaching by ECB qualified cricket coaches which included indoor competitions at St Bedes Sports College and a final at the JJB Soccer Dome.

The Cricket Development Coaches pick out 44 talented nine-year-olds and included them in an indoor competition at the BRIC where 25 were chosen to take part in a Specialised Coaching Programme from September until December.

That group was further reduced to 18 boys and girls to form the Under 10s Academy.

The CDG concluded the winter programme with a competition for boys and girls of 9 - 11years of age.

The six-a-side indoor competition, which included 36 young cricketers, was held at Darwen Vale High School.

Six teams competed for the Academy Cup on a round robin format and it was Team C won the competition with Team D finishing as runners-up.