ENGLAND selector and former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh today officially opened Kent County Cricket Club’s Academy at the St Lawrence ground at Canterbury (Mark Pennell writes).

Marsh, who is now national academy director to the England and Wales Cricket Board, launched what is the 15th county academy in the UK aimed at producing first-class cricketers and Test players.

Launched with the help of a £500,000 county council loan and £50,000 annual funding from the ECB, the academy will be based at the fully re-furbished Ames Levett Centre from next year.

In welcoming the 10 Kentish youngsters as the first academy intake for the start of their 12-month course, Marsh said: "This is the 15th academy to be opened in partnership with the ECB but that need not worry you inductees.

"The fact of the matter is, you are the first to be selected from Kent to come here and being first is a hell of a lot nicer than being second."

The 10, aged from 13 through to 19 are: Alex Blake (Bromley Town), Jolyon Bond (Bexley), Simon Cusden (St Lawrence), Joe Denley (Whitstable), Paul Dixey (St Lawrence), Lydia Greenway (Hayes), Charlie Hemphrey (Hythe), Kevin Jones (Gore Court), Johan Malcolm (Beckenham), Richard Piesley (Gore Court).