YOUNG cricketers are being given the chance to receive some much sought after summer training, thanks to the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge.

Scroll down for training video clips and pictures from the sessions. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Fred Gurney bowls to Dan Cox at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.Fred Gurney bowls to Dan Cox at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.

Free sessions are being offered to those who have taken part in the successful online skills challenges run by leading Island-based Andy Woodward, who is the Isle of Wight Cricket Board's performance and Emerging Players Programme lead coach, currently on furlough.

The Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge’s YouTube channel has been hosting a series of demonstration videos, challenging players to replicate the skills and post their best scores, since late April when the Island was deep into Covid-19 lockdown.

As well as individual challenges, Island teams missing out on regular seasons due to the current government-led ECB restrictions on recreational cricket, such as Ryde, Shanklin and Ventnor, have been pitting their best scores against each other in a series of fixtures.

Island youngsters, who would ordinarily be playing county games, have also taken part in fixtures against teams from as far afield as Somerset, Leicester and even an all-island clash against Guernsey.

Isle of Wight County Press: Dan Cox getting some wicketkeeping practice at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.Dan Cox getting some wicketkeeping practice at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.

Building on this success, Andy and his team of volunteers have arranged a programme of free training sessions for around 40 young Island cricketers, which got underway recently.

Following the latest guidance from the ECB on how to deliver 'bio-secure' training sessions, Andy and four coaches are operating a circuit of five different training ‘stations’, where a group of up to five players will spend ten minutes honing their skills before moving on to the next.

Spread out over the course of a day, this will allow for registered players to spend time with each coach, as well as allow time to clean and sanitise the playing equipment.

All players are encouraged to bring their own cricket ball to use, as per strict ECB guidance, with hand washing equipment provided on site for all players to use before and after each session.

Isle of Wight County Press: Leading Island coach, Andy Woodward, putting Oscar Vandercasteele through his paces with the bat during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.Leading Island coach, Andy Woodward, putting Oscar Vandercasteele through his paces with the bat during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.

Andy, who was stunned and disappointed by prime minister Boris Johnson's 'vector of disease' ball comment in the House of Commons last week, said he was overwhelmed by the response to the latest challenge.

"We have had a fantastic response to these planned sessions and the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge overall," explained Andy.

"I think that if we can keep our young Island cricketers engaged and try to offer some form of cricket for them during these extraordinary times, it will go a long way to keeping them engaged in the sport.

Isle of Wight County Press: Skills training at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.Skills training at Ryde School during one of the Isle of Wight Cricket Challenge summer sessions.

"We have received some clear guidance from the ECB on how to run these small sessions as safely as possible, so the team and I are really looking forward to welcoming these players.”