Cricket Wellington, through the Wellington School of Cricket (WSC) is pleased to announce that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s St. John’s Sports Coaching Foundation (SJSCF) on Saturday 25 July.

This exciting new partnership, for an initial period of two years, is a joint venture between the two like-minded cricket academies, involving coach and student exchange programmes and courses, reciprocal tours and other ongoing opportunities beneficial to the development of cricket in both countries.

This unique agreement between the WSC and the SJSCF, who are based in Hyderabad, is intended to be the first step to developing a range of options linked to cricket development, coaching and education.

WSC manager Asoka Weerasundara said this is a tremendous opportunity for both parties with wide-ranging possibilities.

“In a rapidly globalising cricket world we are very exited to shake hands with another overseas cricket academy, particularly the St John’s academy which has a long history and a high profile in India,” he said.

“At this historic moment we also want to acknowledge the hard work of cricket loving Wellingtonian Mr. Partha Sarthy in bringing both parties together, for which we are very appreciative.”

SJSCF President Manohar Viswanathan agreed “The SJSCF is extremely excited with this partnership which will benefit players and coaches alike and further extend their horizons and provide an enriching overseas experience to budding cricketers from both countries.”

“The SJSCF has developed 20 first-class and eight international cricketers such as VVS Laxman who has been training at the academy since he was ten.”

Cricket Wellington Chief Executive Gavin Larsen and SJSCF President Manohar Viswanathan signed the MOU at 10am in the boardroom of the Brierley Pavilion at the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve.