Chris Stone is one of the Hampshire Academy’s younger players, and I caught up with him while he was doing some work experience at The Rose Bowl, which seemed to entail being 13th man for the Second XI. Having just finished his GCSEs, the Portsmouth Grammar School batsman was spending a fortnight working in the cricket side of the business.

“It’s a good way of ticking the box for work experience” he told me. “I’ve been doing batting training, fielding and fitness; watching and analysing what the professional players do on a day to day basis. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done for work experience and it looks like a very nice career.”

So aside from the work experience, what sort of playing season has Chris had to date? “I’ve been playing a lot of [age group] county cricket for Hampshire and playing for my school. I’ve scored quite a few runs and I’ve recently got into the South West team for the 16s tournament so it’s been quite a good season so far. The tournament’s in late August at Loughborough University and all the regions play each other. I’m looking forward to it!”

This will be Chris’s first representative tournament and it is a definite milestone in his cricketing career. Most of the older members of the Academy have played regional cricket and then go on to be selected for England in their age group.

Naturally, an Academy player spends time playing for the Hampshire Academy in the Southern Premier League. However so far this year Chris has been closely tied to his school. “While we’re playing school cricket they won’t release me” he says. “It’s been going well though – I’ve scored a few runs and the team has done well. It’s a young team this year so I’m pleased with how it’s gone. I bat at three for the school, or open in Twenty20.

“But I have played a few games so far for the Academy” he adds. “I haven’t done so well for them – I made six runs in the first two games. I’ve been batting well, but I’ve managed to find ways of getting out.”

Having finished his GCSEs, what does Chris plan to do next? “I’m going back to school to do my A-levels, and I’ll keep working on my batting and general cricketing skills.”
 

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