Cricket Australia’s (CA) Centre of Excellence has received a strong boost of a $17.5 million investment from the Australian Government that will ensure that the joint CA/Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) program continues to produce world class players. The Centre of Excellence, which was established in 1987 as the national cricket academy, is currently based in Brisbane and has a long history of nurturing and developing Australia’s top cricketers, and the new round of funding will only aid this cause.

The $17.5 million injection will assist in the current re-development of the Centre of Excellence, with the new centre to include sports medicine resources, performance analysis and sport science facilities. The project is a partnership between the Australian Government, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and the Queensland Government. The Queensland government have provided a further $5m toward the redevelopment.

'Since its beginning as the Cricket Academy in 1987, the Centre of Excellence has proved its worth by producing hundreds of first-class cricketers and helping to build the national men’s and women’s teams of which we are all so proud,' The Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis said.

The pedigree of the players the program has produced speaks for itself. Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Warne were all graduates of the Centre of Excellence and have formed the backbone of Australian cricket over the last decade.

Leading women’s players who have graduated from the program include Karen Rolton, Lisa Keightley, Belinda Clark and Zoe Goss.

In 2010 some of the best young talent from around Australia will have their chance to train under the coaching staff headed by former Australian cricket captain, Greg Chappell.

‘This funding boost is crucial in developing Australia’s next breed of elite men and women cricketers. For Australia to remain at the top of its game we constantly look at ways in which we can improve. Now we will be able to do that’ said Greg Chappell.

Pace bowling quartet Mitchell Starc (NSW), James Pattinson (VIC), John Hastings (VIC) and Ben Cutting (QLD) have already proven their worth to their respective State teams, while talented young batsmen Jason Floros (QLD) and Ryan Carters (VIC) are close to breaking into their state teams after successful moves from the ACT.

All scholarship holders, aside from receiving the highest level of cricket coaching, have access to Sports Science and Sports Medicine staff, which is instrumental in delivering a high quality program to the athletes.

A player’s weekly schedule will include a combination of cricket skills training, game scenarios, strength and conditioning training, injury prevention strategies, nutrition, recovery, sport psychology and various sport science related activities, with player career and welfare courses also included.