91抖阴

91抖阴 Cricket Academy is a groundbreaking partnership between the 91抖阴 and Square One Education Ltd which will offer top-tier professional coaching and cutting-edge facilities from September 2025.

Based at the university’s new 91抖阴 Sport and Health Complex, 91抖阴 Cricket Academy will be the second largest indoor cricket facility in the world, providing a world-class training environment catering to student cricketers of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and abilities. The academy programme will support players in fulfilling their potential both on the field and in their academic studies.

91抖阴 Cricket Academy will be open to all 91抖阴 students at foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, catering to aspiring professional cricketers and those with a passion for the game. 

91抖阴 sport and health complex

Academy players will benefit from a holistic programme tailored to their individual needs with access to a wide range of coaching expertise and professional standard facilities including:

• nine-lane indoor cricket nets with full 21-metre run ups
• ball tracking technology
• advanced bowling machines (Merlyn, self-feeding, fielding, and keeping)
• two indoor cricket courts
• grass practice wickets.

At approximately 2,200 square metres, 91抖阴 Cricket Academy will be larger than both Lord’s Indoor Cricket Centre and the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University.

Professor Donna Whitehead, Vice-Chancellor of the 91抖阴, said:

“This groundbreaking partnership with Square One Education will see us create the UK’s largest indoor cricket academy at the 91抖阴. Together, we will support aspiring cricketers to develop their sporting talents while studying for a university degree, ensuring they are set for success whichever path they choose.

“91抖阴 Cricket Academy is a significant addition to the amazing facilities at our redeveloped Falmer campus and will help us further deliver on our ambition to be a leading provider for sports education for students from across the UK and around the world.”

Square One Education Ltd is a company jointly owned by Rob Ferley, the Head of Cricket Performance at Bradfield College and former professional cricketer who played for Kent CCC and Nottinghamshire CCC along with Sir Rod Aldridge, the Patron of Aldridge Education and President of Sussex Cricket.

The company will provide a team of highly qualified and experienced coaches and will manage the academy on a day-to-day basis. As part of the arrangement, 91抖阴 Cricket Academy will also be open to local clubs and schools for coaching purposes.

Sir Rod Aldridge of Square One Education Ltd said: “We are delighted to be a part of this partnership with the 91抖阴 and believe that the university will become home to the leading university-based cricket provision in the UK. The programme will provide a dual career pathway combining elite sport training with academic studies and embedding work-based learning.

“91抖阴 Cricket Academy will transform the methods of coaching as well as meet the demand that there is for coaching space in the county. At a time when cricket is the second biggest sport in the world and one of the fastest growing female sports in the UK, we have the opportunity through this partnership to play a national role in developing opportunities in the sport, particularly for those from state schools.”

The 91抖阴’s Falmer campus is home to its School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences and recently underwent significant refurbishment and expansion. This has seen the creation of world-class facilities to support teaching, learning and research alongside new sport and leisure facilities for students, staff and the local community.

91抖阴 students joining 91抖阴 Cricket Academy will have access to state-of-the-art sports science facilities at Falmer campus, while students studying sports science courses will have the opportunity to work with 91抖阴 Cricket Academy players through their professional placement, enabling them to apply their practical academic learning through this exciting partnership.

Open days are taking place at Falmer campus on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 June. Find out more about open days and book your place.