THE cricket season is still five months away but Gloucestershire’s top youngsters are already back in training as part of the 2014/15 Emerging Players’ Programme (EPP).

Fifteen players aged 13 to 17 from across the county are currently attending specialist weekly sessions in Bristol and Gloucester led by GCB head of performance Tim Hancock.

Eve Alder of Cirencester is one of only two girls in the 15-strong group.

Tim said: “The players have been selected on performances but also importantly on potential. Rather than focus all our attention on a small number of players we want to give more people the opportunity to be part of the programme.”

Over the winter the squad will receive strength and conditioning support from trainers at the University of Gloucestershire. They will also have the opportunity to take part in specialist sessions led by top coaches in their field.

Last season former Gloucestershire and England bowler Jon Lewis put the county’s young seamers through their paces. This year current county bowler Tom Smith will work with the spinners and ex-Glos all rounder Paul Muchall and current second XI coach Steve Cashmore will also be involved.

In 2014, eight girls took part in a 10-week programme but starting in January, ten will take part in the girls’ EPP programme of 12 weekly two-hour sessions. They include Eva Shoemark of North Cotswold Young Cricketers.

Once again the programme will be run by GCB coaches Lisa Pagett and Luke Sellers.

Lisa said: “We are delighted to be able to extend this year’s Girls EPP programme both in terms of the number of girls and the amount of time we get to work with them.

“It was fantastic to see that the majority of girls who were on the EPP went on to have successful seasons and make significant contributions at county level. This shows not only the talent of the girls involved but the value of being able to give them this additional coaching.

“There are now more opportunities for girls in Gloucestershire at all levels and the EPP ensures that we are able to help our best players reach their potential.”

Gloucestershire Emerging Players Programme 2014/15: Eve Alder (Cirencester); Matt Brewer (Bristol); Sujan Canagarajah (Brislington); Benny Ellis (Charlton Kings); Olly Forbes (Dumbleton); Danielle Gibson (Dumbleton); George Haynes (Downend); Dominic Hooper (Claverham); Ben Hopkins (Frocester); Callum Loud (Downend); James Palmer (Cheltenham College); Duvall Pierre (Bristol West Indies and Phoenix); Tommy Probert (Bristol); Ben Slade (Winterbourne); George Stone (Hanham).

Girls EPP: Ella Budd (Bristol Phoenix); Alice Hill (Hatherley and Reddings); Naima Milhofer (Downend); Molly Thomas (Bristol Phoenix); Eva Shoemark (North Cotswold Young Cricketers); Natasha Smith (Frocester); Abigail Whybrow (Cheltenham College); Emily Wilkins (Frenchay); Ellie Wookey (Bristol Phoenix); Natasha Wraith (Frenchay).