Players heap praise on ICC Global Cricket Academy
England's players have heaped praise on the facilities at the ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA) after using them extensively during the first week of their tour of the United Arab Emirates.
The England squad has been based at the ICC GCA at Dubai Sports City, first for training and then for the ongoing opening match of a tour which will see it play Pakistan in three Tests, four One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The players have been able to utilise the outdoor and indoor facilities that include practice nets offering different types of pitches, as well as bowling machines, ProBatter (which allows a batsman to replicate facing any of the world's leading bowlers), two full-sized ovals and a fully equipped gymnasium.
And the players, led by captain Andrew Strauss, have been delighted by what has been on offer for them.
Strauss said: "The facilities here are fantastic. There are a huge number of net surfaces and we have had very good middle practice.
"It has allowed us to get into the swing of things pretty quickly which is important because we intend to hit the ground running? Our preparation so far has been really good."
Batsman Ian Bell said: "You can't ask for better facilities. For us to come here is absolutely incredible. To see the nets with that quality - it gets you excited about a Test match around the corner."
That first Test takes place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from 17 January and another player expected to be part of England's line-up is fast bowler Stuart Broad, who took 4-46 on day one of England's match against an ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI on Saturday.
"Things have been absolutely brilliant," said Broad. "The conditions are excellent, the nets have been flat which is what we're expecting the Test match pitches to be like and we have been treated really well. I have thoroughly enjoyed it."
A player hoping to be part of that first Test is Broad's fellow fast bowler Steven Finn, who sought to press his claims for inclusion with 2-59 against the ICC XI.
Finn said: "The training facilities are great. There are two very good ovals here, there is an indoor practice centre and we drive past the (Dubai International Cricket) Stadium every day and it looks humungous.
"We are enjoying being here, we have got all the facilities we need and we are going to practice really hard to make sure we are ready for that first Test."
Captain of the ICC XI William Porterfield, who is also Ireland's captain and who plays county cricket in England for Warwickshire, has also been delighted with what is on offer at the ICC GCA.
"A lot of the (ICC XI) lads have been here on a number of occasions and obviously there are fantastic facilities," he said.
"There are not many places that can offer 16 to 20 outdoor nets as well as three outdoor pitches within the same vicinity.
"We have obviously got the indoor nets as well with ProBatter. There is everything at your disposal. They are fantastic facilities - you cannot fault anything really."
