By Simon Sinclair, ECB Reporters Network
John Windows might not be a household name in English cricket, but he should be.
Windows has helped oversee a production line of talent in Durham over the past two decades that is the envy of any other county, and which is set to be at the heart of a new era for the England Men's Test team under Ben Stokes.
The 46-year-old has been the Academy Director at Durham for 17 seasons after first joining the club in 1999 and serving as an Academy coach alongside Geoff Cook in 2002.
Since then almost every iconic moment the England Men's team has enjoyed has hinged on a player to have come through the Durham system.
From Stephen Harmison and Paul Collingwood in the 2005 Men's Ashes, to World-Cup winners Stokes, Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood.
Indeed, Collingwood was captain for the breakthrough men's 2010 World T20 success while Stokes is now tasked with leading the Test revival.
It was, of course, Windows who brought Stokes across to the club from Cumbria as a raw 17-year-old to begin a journey that has taken him to the top of the game.
In a crowded field, Stokes’ ascent to the Test captaincy is the crowning moment for the programme in the north-east under Windows, whose tried-and-tested philosophy has been to focus on the development of the individual rather than simply technique.
So as Stokes led out the England Test team at Lord’s against New Zealand - before Matthew Potts struck four time in the first innings - Windows could be forgiven for thinking his fingerprints were all over the Test team’s new era.
Anyone who know Windows, however, would know it is his deep love for the game – especially cricket in the north-east – that drives his passion to unearth the next wave of talent.
And according to Windows, simply having Stokes as Test captain has already set the wheels in motion for the next generation of north-east players to emerge.
“Absolutely there was a buzz around the academy,” Windows said, following Stokes' appointment as skipper.
“The lads wouldn’t say so, but you could tell. It certainly is inspirational for the players. It reflects positively on the region and the club as a whole.
“It creates an environment for the lads in the academy that someone that has trod in their footsteps to see those possibilities ahead of them can only spur them on.
“Success breeds success. You can never take it for granted. We’re really fortunate in the north-east that there is a real strong cricketing network. Due to the fact that there are so many clubs per person in the population you would say that it is firmly rooted in the local communities.
“If you’re half-decent and like you’re cricket you don’t have far to travel to find a club.
“The knowledge of those clubs has been crucial because they know if you have the talent, they will point you in the right direction to improve and develop your cricket.
“We start with individuals with different strengths and weaknesses that we can try and mould into a performer, and provide experiences that we look to build on and improve.
“It does come with a little bit of pressure, but it is what you do it for.”
Windows’ latest search for the next crop began this summer during the Easter break.
Windows and his team at the Academy conducted a team-building activity aimed to identify the key leadership and skills that have seen Durham produce such high-calibre players.
Windows grouped his new cohort of players, 13 on academy deals and another eight through the Emerging Players Programme, at Swalwell Cricket Club for a series of team-building activities on a six-mile walk up the River Derwent.
Over the course of the six hours, Windows put his charges through their paces with a series of exercises aimed to bring a togetherness and cohesion to the squad, also with an onus on leadership in a bid to prise out a potential captain of the future.
Windows said that although identifying quality on the field is a key issue, the hard yards in developing his young players as individuals is just as an important role.
“It was a super day out and we had lovely weather. But, you just want to see a good group of lads getting on,” he said.
“You went to see lads that are well adjusted and care for each other, so they can look after each other on the field and in the dressing room. You do want to get too sucked into a tag line or a mission statement.
“We have an exciting group of players at the moment, with a high level of ability across the board. We want to set their standards high both as players and as individuals. This type of exercise and grounding that stands them in good stead.
“The more the fellas know about each other, the more confident they feel to express themselves both on the cricket pitch and in the dressing room.
“I was really looking for the players to stand up and express themselves. It’s another step down the path in their development as people as well as cricketers.
“It’s about getting them to develop good habits. Although we play as a team, the team element is secondary to lads learning how to get together and organise themselves as a group and become an effective unit.
“It is to them to become the leaders on the field in their respective age groups to draw on the knowledge that they’ve gained from this type of experience.”