How does a young cricketer make the jump from playing for their local Club to playing for Wales? Well the Cricket Board of Wales has recruited coaches across its eight regions and within each one to run five youth squads, in all 40 squads will operate below full Welsh level, scouring the field for talent to challenge to play for Wales. The Director of Cricket Mark Frost said:

"The conveyor belt of good Welsh cricketers has been in operation for some time, however this summer sees the start of a complete picture of the model that has been developing for some time. This will be a comprehensive talent identification system whereby making the jump from club to Country and we hope higher honours, will be smooth, progressive and create a net which will not leak talent."

On average 10 fixtures per squad will be run this summer against Welsh regions and English opposition in Festivals, however the culmination for each age group will be a Welsh National Competition to discover the top team. More importantly it will give young aspiring hopefuls the opportunity to perform outside and challenge peers for a place in on of the 6 Welsh youth squads (11-16). Mark Frost added:

"Following on from a winter of indoor coaching for each squad, coaches will be honing squads down to smaller number to select from. We hope that this selection process will now be as transparent as possible and that any club coach with a useful prospect will know exactly to whom they should refer their prodigy by reference to the CBW Newsletter for a full listing of their regional coaches."

The Sports Council for Wales' Coach Cymru scheme, which is funding the 40 coaches' fees, has substantially supported this effort. Alongside the CBW plan to sharpen up the quality of coaching standards in the future, this tier of competition will become increasingly important. The eight regions are Eryri, North EastWales, Mid Wales, West Wales, West Glamorgan, Cardiff & Vale, Mid Glamorgan and Gwent.

© ECB