Imran Qayyum to play in Australia as part of ECB initiative

Kent spinner Imran Qayyum is one of 20 spin bowlers to travel overseas to gain vital playing experience as part of an ECB initiative to develop promising spin talent.

The 22-year-old is set to fly out to Australia this winter for a spell at Fairfield & Liverpool Cricket Club in the Sydney Grade League.

The club is the home of ex-Kent paceman Doug Bollinger and is based 29 miles west of Sydney.

Only 21.5% of the total number of overs in the 2015 LV= County Championship were bowled by spinners – and Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel, a New Zealander, was the only spinner to take more than 50 wickets.

The percentage rose to more than a third at only two counties, whilst the proportion of spin bowled in the home matches of two Division Two counties was less than 10%.

EPP Lead Spin Bowling Coach Peter Such said: “There are a number of talented young spin bowlers in the game – sadly it is proving difficult for them to break into county first teams, in particular in First-Class cricket.

“The most important factor in a player’s development, particularly for spin bowlers, is match play overs to hone the skills and work out how to apply them effectively in game situations. There is no substitute for this.

“The most important factor in a player’s development, particularly for spin bowlers, is match play overs to hone the skills and work out how to apply them effectively in game situations. There is no substitute for this.

“We are looking to expose our spinners to cricket overseas during the off season, for the experience of competing overseas, taking more personal responsibility and also to continue their development by bowling those much needed match play and practice overs.

“This is an extension of the work we already do with these young bowlers in partnership with the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust (BJMT), and the First-Class Counties and MCC Universities, which involves providing an experienced spin bowling coach to each County Academy and MCC University programme.”