ECB reveals coaching award winners

Ravi Bopara presents Andy McCrea, a level three ECB coach, from County Antrim with the Sky Sports outstanding coaching achievement award at Lord's

The ECB today announced the winners of the annual Sky Sports Coach Awards, which are designed to recognise those who have made a significant contribution to the support and development of coaches and coaching in cricket.

Lizzie Harrison, a level two ECB coach, who works with Burton Latimer Cricket Club and the Northants Girls under-17 squad was named young coach of the year.

She is currently studying at Bedford University and coached Burton Latimer’s under-15 girls’ side to victory in the national club finals this year.

Eighty-three-year-old Les Bishop from Worcester won the award for outstanding contribution and services to cricket coaching.

A founder member and former president of the Worcestershire Coaches Association, Bishop has been involved in cricket coaching and administration for more than 60 years and is currently secretary/trustee of the Lord Cobham Cricket Trust.

The outstanding coaching achievement award was made to Andy McCrea, a level three ECB coach, from County Antrim.

McCrea, a teacher, has made a major contribution to talent development in the local area and helped achieved significant participation growth at his club, Templepatrick CC.

The three winners were presented with their awards by Essex and England cricketer Ravi Bopara at a special presentation dinner held at Lord’s over the weekend.

Now in their fifth year, the awards are made by Sky Sports as part of its wider sponsorship of the ECB’s Coach Education programme and based on nominations received by the ECB’s Coaches Association.

ECB and Sky Sports recently announced that more than 45,000 coaches have graduated from the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme since it was first launched five years ago – including 11,000 who have received new qualifications in the last year alone.

Praising the winners, ECB chief executive David Collier said: “These awards are an excellent way of recognising and rewarding the very significant contributions coaches make to the development of our non first-class game.

"We thank Sky Sports for their continued support and send congratulations to all our winners.”

Sky Sports commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain said: “This is a fantastic programme that is proving how important coaching is to the game of cricket.

"Everyone at Sky Sports is immensely proud of our involvement and we congratulate all the winners from the Sky Sports Coach Awards.”