Youth coaching at Edgbaston dates back to the 1950s and now, through the Warwickshire Cricket Board, hundreds of boys and girls are being trained to realise their sporting potential.

Ian Bell, who has just been called up to join the England Test squad in New Zealand, went through the county representative squads, joining at the under-11s stage and working right through to under-19s. Up to 120 youngsters attend specialist winter coaching sessions each year and then, after trials, are selected for the county squads.

Coaching is funded through a combination of sponsorship, a grant from the England Cricket Board and monies raised through the Warwickshire County Cricket Club Supporters' Association's weekly lottery Super Six.

Warwickshire skipper Michael Powell and Mark Wagh, who has just returned from the ECB National Academy in Australia, are also graduates from the Warwickshire youth coaching scheme as are Neil Smith, Dominic Ostler, Mo Sheikh, Graham Wagg and Anurag Singh (now with Worcestershire).

Keith Bell, Ian's 17-year-old brother, is currently receiving coaching as is Gladstone Small's son Zac.

Neal Abberley, head coach at the Edgbaston Cricket Centre, said: " I'm personally delighted for Ian because of the time I have spent with him. I have worked with him since he was a 10-year-old and it has always been a pleasure. He has an excellent work ethic and is very responsive. His selection says a lot for the coaching system here."

© Warwickshire CCC