The success of the Eastern Province junior provincial team during the 2000/2001 season's national cricketing weeks, can be attributed to two main factors, says Russell Domingo, Youth Cricket Manager of EP Cricket.

"Eastern Province's junior provincial sides performed admirably during last season's national cricket weeks, thanks to a team of highly committed school teachers in the Eastern Cape and also because of the winter coaching programme, specially designed to nurture and improve the talents of EP's young brigade."

The sides achieved the following results over the last year:

Under 13 Standard Bank National Week in East London
Played 4 games, Won 3 and Lost 1

Under 15 PG Bison National Week in Port Elizabeth
Played 5 games, Won 3 and Lost 2

Under 17 National Week in Worcester
Played 4 Won 3 and Lost 1

Under 18 Coke Week in Bloemfontein
Played 5 Won 3 and Lost 2

Under 19 3-Day Competition
Played 3 Won 2 and drew 1

"During the u/18 Coke Week Championship, EP tried to defend their Coke Week Champions Title, but unfortunately lost in the final to Gauteng. But EP still managed to gain 5 SA Schools caps in Lazola Dipha, Chad Baxter, Zwelibanzi Homani, Craig Thyssen and Johan Botha."

Michael Price was selected to tour with the SA Schools player to New Zealand.

According to Domingo, reports received from the SA under 19 coach, Hylton Ackerman indicates that the EP boys performed very well in New Zealand and this augurs well for the future of EP Cricket.

"The success of the EP's junior sides impacts largely on the future of EP Cricket's senior side as currently players such as Robin Peterson, Murray Creed, Umar Abrahams, Dewald Senekal, Mfuneko Ngam and Johan Botha were all graduates of EP's intensive junior winter squad programme," he says.

The under 13's are undergoing final trails to select their winter squad, while the under 15's and under 18's selection will be completed before the programme commence by middle May.

"The winter programme exposes the cricketers to fitness testing programmes, cricketing talks by a specialist panel, matches against Border and intensive technical evaluation and correction session.

"All of this is done with the goal of preparation for the national weeks in December and to make the transition from junior to senior cricket much easier for the players."

Domingo says the Under 18 Coke Week serves as the flagship for junior provincial sides success. "Interestingly enough only two of the current senior provincial side are not graduates of the EP Coke Week Team.

"EP Cricket's success depends largely on the success and quality of our junior provincial sides and we are determined to maintain and improve the quality of the squads to ensure silverware returns to St. George's Park and ultimately produce class players, not only for EP, but also for South Africa."

© Eastern Province Cricket Board