How the Seaxe Club helped fund a young Middlesex Academy players trip to India to broaden his experience and improve his game…
“I went to India to play cricket in early November and returned in late February. With much uncertainty about how the trip would unfold as India is not the most common destination for young cricketers, it turned out to be the most fulfilling and eye-opening experience of my life. After a few weeks of training with the renowned DY Patil team in Mumbai (facilitated by Josh Knappett and his contacts within DY Patil and the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Cricket Academy), I moved to Delhi in search of more match practice. During my three-month stint in Delhi I was able to play 27 high quality games for “Push Academy” (effectively a club). The quality of spin bowling was expectedly very high, but the scary depth of batting talent led to very competitive and high scoring games. Most matches were 40 overs per side and no score downwards of 300 was truly safe. I was able to gain exposure in matches to multiple players who play state cricket and even one who played in the IPL (Mayank Dagar). In addition to this I was able to have training sessions with India legends such as Mohammed Kaif and Vijay Dahiya (current Lucknow Supergiants assistant coach) all of which were rich learning experiences. With over 1200 runs at an average of 50, I felt it was very good preparation for the English summer and am excited to see what this summer will bring.
“My experiences away from the field were as valuable as those on them. In Delhi I had the opportunity to live in a flat by myself, which forced me to learn how to cook, clean and generally run a household (dealing with plumbing issues, electrical issues etc). I returned with a new found appreciation for the need to keep the sink clean and the value of an organised room - the greatest achievement of the trip according to my mother. Being in India my Hindi improved tenfold to the point where I was able to converse fluently with the locals and make friends within my apartment complex.
“Finally I must thank the Seaxe Club for their continued support and without whom this wonderful experience would not have been possible. It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip and one I am very grateful for the role the Seaxe Club has played in it.”
Atharva Prasad - Middlesex Cricket Academy
How a donation from Seaxe Club has helped Middlesex Cricket deliver All Stars and Dynamos National cricket programmes into schools and clubs in the county through Seaxe providing bursaries to the Club…
“It has been a busy summer of National programme delivery in Middlesex. Through the generous support of Seaxe, we were able to offer 265 free places on National programmes this summer. As I mentioned in the last update, with the cost-of-living increase affecting everyone, not just those families who live in areas of high deprivation, we spread the bursaries across the county this year to give the greatest impact for families who would be struggling to pay for places for their children on the programmes.
“In my last report, I included this feedback from a parent who had two children at one of the centres in Tower Hamlets. She said, that without the free place she never would have been able to afford the £40 per child cost of All stars. She said that with the cost of living continuously rising as a family they are having to make difficult choices about what leisure activities they can do and trying to find £80 at the moment would have been extremely difficult and her children probably wouldn’t have been able to attend. They were so pleased that their children could take part alongside their friends from school and didn’t miss out on playing cricket.
“This message was just one of 37 we received this summer. Our staff on the ground were continuously thanked by the parents for providing places for their children. We could not have done this without the incredible support of Seaxe.”
Below is a breakdown of all the centres we delivered in this year and how the bursaries were split via gender.
All Stars: Hague Primary School (Tower Hamlets), Kobi Nazrul Primary (Tower Hamlets), Christ Church Bentinck (Westminster), Church Lane Rec (Brent), Cowley Hall Rec (Hillingdon) and Millfields Park (Hackney).
Dynamos: Church Lane Rec (Brent), Paddington Rec (Westminster), Middlesex Indoor Cricket School (Barnet), Stepney Green Park (Tower Hamlets), Centenary Park (Harrow), Heathfield Rec (Richmond), Millfields Park (Hackney), Inwood Park (Hounslow), Chiswick House (Hounslow).
Breakdown of bursaries in 2022:
All stars: 135 – 64 Girls & 71 Boys
Dynamos: 130 – 56 Girls & 74 Boys
Pete Jones – Former Participation Manager, Middlesex Cricket
How Seaxe Club are helping a young Middlesex cricketer through the donation of kit and ongoing funding of coaching to assist the development of his game…
“Tyrone Visvakula is a young cricketer, aged just 14, who was brought to our attention by Rory Coutts and Mark Lane, Coaches in the Middlesex Youth and Academy programmes.
"This young man plays for Sunbury CC and at the tender age of 14 plays in one of the senior sides. He has scored numerous 100’s and 50+’s, and we are delighted to report that he has now been selected to play for Middlesex CCC in his age group.
"When I met Tyrone and his father at Sunbury CC to discuss their needs, he told me that his ambition was to play professional cricket for Middlesex. Unfortunately due to the pandemic and a change in the family finances, they found it difficult to provide new kit for a growing teenager. The Seaxe committee unanimously agreed to provide Tyrone with a new helmet, boots, shirt and whites. We have also agreed to finance his one-to-one coaching sessions on an ongoing basis, but reviewed regularly.
"All those who have seen this young man play say he has a great future as a batter.”
Glen Birkwood – Chair, Seaxe Club
How the Seaxe Club continued supporting Tyrone Visvakula...
"Last year we agreed to support Tyrone Visvakula with his coaching costs, resulting in an improvement in his batting skills, so much so that he excelled in senior matches at Sunbury CC and also when representing Middlesex CCC in his age group.
"His next stage is an academy that John Maunders, the Sunbury coach has set up. Basically, it is the most promising 15 players from Sunbury CC from 14-18 yrs. They have group sessions, master class sessions, a Lord’s trip and two group sessions at Lord’s, plus each player receives 6 x one to one sessions in the package. This academy is supported by our very own Martin Andersson and Owais Shah for the one to ones.
"The fee for the academy is £500 and the Seaxe Committee had no hesitation in agreeing to finance Tyrone’s place, and we look forward to receiving further progress reports on Tyrone’s development. Martin Andersson having already been impressed with Tyrone’s technique.
Herewith a quote from John Maunders “It’s tremendous support from you all, it really is and I’d like to personally thank you and applaud what you have done for this young lad, for others in the past, and no doubt in the future”.
A response from Tyrone: “Dear Glen and Seaxe Committee, I would like to thank you for being so generous for sponsoring my cricket. It truly means a lot to me and my family. I had a great season last year performing for both club and county; and I am really looking forward to this season! Again, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity that has helped me develop my cricket”. Tyrone.
We’ll keep you posted as to his progress.
Glen Birkwood
How the Seaxe Club helped with a request for kit support from Middlesex Women's player Amelie Munday…
We received a bursary form requesting assistance for a young university student with a great Middlesex future. Her need was for a new cricket helmet, the cost of which was prohibitive for her whilst at University. It didn’t take long for the Seaxe Committee to agree to this request. We are delighted to say that Amelie is now safely kitted out and we look forward to her representing Middlesex in the future.
Amelie Munday commented:
“I just wanted to drop you an email to say thank you so much for the helmet that Seaxe have bought for me.
“My last helmet has fallen to pieces and given that I have had it since I was 12 it's done a pretty good job, but as both Middlesex and Western Storm told me, I also need one that will give me better protection now - the bowling is definitely quicker than when I was 12!
“I think I will play about 60 games this year if I stay fit, so the helmet will get plenty of action. That will include games for Western Storm Academy, Devon CCC (I'm on loan from Middlesex for some of the year), Exeter Uni, Middlesex (later in the summer) and Teddington CC - if I can fit it in (I played some Second XI games in the Middlesex League at the end last year which was great experience).
“Once again thank you so much for helping me with my cricket, it's very much appreciated. I hope to see you sometime during the summer.”
