Kerrigan: “Academy prospects have talent to play Second XI and beyond”

Simon Kerrigan is preparing for his first season in charge of Warwickshire’s Second XI – and believes many of the Club’s Pathway prospects will soon be pushing for places.

The former Lancashire and England spinner was appointed Pathway High Performance Coach in December 2023 and saw first-hand the wealth of talent in the Club’s junior ranks.

Kerrigan was recently promoted to Second XI Coach and Spin Bowling Coach as part of Bears’ High Performance Review.
And he’s confident many of the Club’s Academy and Emerging Player Programme (EPP) teenagers have what it takes to follow him to the second string and beyond into the senior side.

“There are so many talented cricketers throughout the pathway,” said the 35-year-old. “I worked from Under-13s upwards, helping develop their technical skills but also provide an understanding what it takes to be a professional cricketer.

“Passing on advice on what they need to do to make it to the top level, how gruelling it can be, the discipline you need as a player, the fitness, nutrition or mental discipline, how you approach the game.

“I saw a real desire to improve and be the best. I’ve high hopes we’ll see a lot of those faces in the Academy and EPP moving into the Seconds this season.”

Kerrigan – who spent 10 years with Lancashire (2008-18) – retired from playing professional cricket in summer 2023 after four seasons with Northamptonshire.

He describes himself as a “spin badger” and is passionate about developing top level spinners of the future.

“Spin bowling is my passion,” added Kerrigan, a Level 3 qualified coach. “There are many talented spinners here, and a lot of the prospects bat as well which is exciting. It’s the way the game is now, you need a second string to your bow.

“I hope I’m helping our young spinners challenge batters, how can they force mistakes and take wickets. Spinning the ball hard, being repetitive, and as they learn their craft, looking at the nuances in bowling, subtle changes of pace, and challenging both sides of the bat.

“In international and franchise cricket, a growing percentage of off-spinners have carrom balls, while leg spinners all have googlies and sliders. It’s important we encourage those skills from our Pathway spinners.

“I’ve enjoying working with all the senior lads as well. It’s been an easy transition, I’m not a stranger to the group. I ran a couple of Second XI games last year, and been around first team training.

“Working in the Pathway has been a good grounding for me at Warwickshire, to get to know the Club as a whole. There are some brilliant people in the Pathway. Coming from a player background, I was quickly struck by the work and tireless amount of effort and commitment that goes on. It’s impressive. The Club is in a good place with its youth development.”