Barron’s Andrew Phelps launches cricket academy for rising stars

He’s one of the region’s best cricketers, and now he plans on stopping the rising stars from flowing down to southern programs. FIND OUT HERE >>>

One of the Far North’s top all-rounders is hoping to mould the next generation of cricket stars in our backyard, rather than in the south.

Barron River’s Andrew Phelps spent much of his early cricketing career building his craft outside of Cairns, and felt there was a gap in similar programs in the region.

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The 25-year-old therefore kickstarted his own coaching clinics, named AP Academy.

“I got a bit more coaching than there was on offer up here,” Phelps said.

“There’s not really any academies up here to take your coaching a cricketing to the next level.

“The game is what I love and I’ve always wanted to do this, I really want to advance the kids up here and build up cricket in the Far North.”

In the one-day season last year, Phelps ranked first in runs scored for Barron with 574, and fourth in wickets taken with 18-279.

In the T20 first grade season, he had seven wickets for 88 runs in six matches, with five sixes and 10 fours to boot through six matches.

The Designer First Homes Dare Devils batsman Andrew Phelps. Picture: Brendan Radke

In the Barrier Reef Big Bash, Phelps led all players with an aggregate of 275 runs.

“I’ve always been a leader-type player,” the Barron skipper said.

“For me to be able to give back, put smiles on kids faces with coaching and knowing that their parents are getting a benefit out of my service is a rewarding thing to me.

“Giving these kids a certain type of training that I feel will benefit them up here in the Far North to push when they head south if they pursue a cricketing career.”

While fundamentals are naturally important to nail down before becoming a quality cricketer, Phelps said his Academy would take a young gun’s in-game IQ to the next level.

“We (can) get a lot of the habit is get in – have a bowl – have a bat – and then go home,” he said.

“Mine’s more game scenarios – get them thinking, be proactive when batting and bowling, variation, field dominance especially when you’re out there for 70 per cent of a game.”

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With the Barrier Reef Big Bash being pushed to March 2023 due to the September ODIs at Cazalys Stadium, Phelps decided to throw his hat in with the Townsville tournament instead.

He said he was surprised to be the fifth overall pick in the Mendi T20 Tropical Big Bash with Queensland masterclass mentor Tony Hampson and the Gold City Bulls.

“With our Big Bash up here getting postponed, I thought I may as well get some cricket in,” Phelps said.

“It will be good to work with him (Hampson) and anything I can take out to help my coaching up here.”

Originally published as Barron’s Andrew Phelps launches cricket academy for rising stars