Azeem Rafiq collects the Academy ARCH Trophy after a wonderful tournament for Yorkshire's youngsters

Monday, 22nd December 2008

It is a 2008 Abu Dhabi double as Academy triumph in UAE

FOR THE VICTORS THE SPOILS

A lot of work goes into creating a winning team, but when the practice and hard work is done and the victories happen you might as well enjoy the moment. Well done lads!

The squad with the trophy

And the coaches want their pictures taken too

Joe Root is presented with the Player of the Tournament Award

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And in customary style - you've got to bring it back home. Azeem Rafiq and Ian Dews pose with the Academy ARCH Trophy at Headingley Carnegie after the squad arrived back home on Tuesday 23rd December.

THE ACADEMY ARCH TROPHY SUCCESS - HOW IT HAPPENED

A win in the last match of the competition over Sussex Academy made it four wins in four matches and enabled Azeem Rafiq to lift the Academy ARCH Trophy for Yorkshire, emulating the success of the 1st Team in March.

Yorkshire Academy hit 273-6 (Joe Root 75, Jack Hargreaves 52, Charlie Roebuck 50) and then bowled out their Sussex counterparts for 155 to take victory by 118 runs and the trophy.

Joe Root took the Player of the Tournament Award for his outstanding performances where he has hit 276 runs at an average of 69.00, which included a highest score of 110.

FULL SCORECARD HERE

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY TOURNAMENT AVERAGES HERE

That's good news to take us in to 2009 - the future of Yorkshire cricket is bright!

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY BEAT GUERNSEY

Hundreds from Joe Root (110) and Alex Lees (112 not out) took the Yorkshire Academy to a total of 295-2 after winning the toss in Abu Dhabi.

In reply, Guernsey were 184 all out with Jack Hughes (3-23) and Jack Hargreaves (2-21) being the chief destroyers.

FULL SCORECARD HERE

This win makes it three from three for Azeem Rafiq's young side. A victory in their final match against Sussex Academy on Monday will secure the Academy ARCH Trophy and emulate the success of the 1st Team who lifted the Pro ARCH Trophy in March of this year. The air out there certainly seems to suit Yorkshire cricket!

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY BEAT GLAMORGAN ACADEMY

Yorkshire's youngsters followed their win over UAE with a three wickets defeat of Glamorgan Academy on Tuesday.

Glamorgan made 181 all out in Abu Dhabu with Chris Allinson taking 3-23. Allinson then top scored with the bat with 40 as Yorkshire made 186-7 to secure a second victory. Callum Geldart hit 35 to add to Monday's 91.

FULL SCORECARD HERE

The lads now enjoy a few well deserved days off, mixed in with a bit of training if Messrs Dews, Oldham, Blain and Pickersgill have anything to do with it, before taking on Guernsey Academy on Saturday.

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY BEAT UAE UNDER-19s

Yorkshire's young guns opened their tour with an emphatic 138 run victory over the UAE Under-19s on Monday.

The Academy batted first in Sharjah, notching up 265-4, with Callum Geldart (pictured left) hitting 91 and Joe Root (right) 80. In reply UAE were all out for 127.

FULL SCORECARD HERE

The Yorkshire youngsters now play Glamorgan Academy in Abu Dhabi in their second game of the tour on Tuesday.

BACKGROUND

Yorkshire's young guns will be paving the way for their older team-mates when they travel to Abu Dhabi in December to bolster their cricket eductaion.

See the lads as they set off on WRTV now!

A squad of 14 players, captained by Azeem Rafiq, set off from Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground today to play four one-day matches against the UAE, Glamorgan, Guernsey and Sussex in Abu Dhabi before flying home on 23rd December.

Their older counterparts will be travelling to the UAE for their pre-season tour at the end of March as the Yorkshire 1st team prepares for the 2009 domestic season.

The YORKSHIRE ACADEMY SQUAD

C. Allinson, J.E. Root, C.J. Geldart, C.G. Roebuck, A.G. Sharp, G.S. Randhawa, Azeem Rafiq, A.E. Lilley, M.A. Ashraf, J.B. Hargreaves, J.R. Lowe, J.M. Hughes, A.Z. Lees and Chevez Younas.

The touring party will be accompanied by Steve Oldham, Ian Dews, John Blain and Tony Pickersgill.