HAVING played club cricket alongside David Miles since he was six years old, Jon Sore was delighted to be named in the same Wiltshire Academy squad as his close friend.

The Swindon duo have been included in the county development set-up’s winter programme and, while it is Sore’s third year in the process, 19-year-old Miles will step into the breach for the first time.

Sore believes Miles’ inclusion is just reward for an impressive 2013 with the ball, during which his leg spin helped Swindon to promotion from the WEPL Wiltshire Division, and he’s looking forward to another winter of hard work.

“We had Jake Goodwin in with us last year but he’s gone over to Hampshire now so it’s great for Swindon to have another one in there in Dave,” he said.

“Dave played really well over the summer and he deserves his place there. We started our Swindon careers at the same time when we were six or seven and we’ve played together since so it’s really good to be playing with him in the academy.”

The Wiltshire Academy programme is demanding of its members over the cold months, with a series of fitness tests accompanying net practice.

“I’m probably one of the most experienced in the group and I know what to expect from it,” said Sore. “Some of the new guys probably won’t know what’s hit them when they get into the fitness tests and things like that. It can be a bit of an eye-opener.

“It’s quite a good thing to get involved in. It gives you the chance to train throughout the winter, do plenty of fitness work and net as well. It gets you really fit and ready for the summer and you can go straight into it.”

  • FORMER England wicketkeeper Jack Russell will be in Swindon on Saturday, November 30 for a book signing.

The ex-Gloucestershire gloveman will meet fans at Swindon Cricket Club’s County Ground between noon and 2pm, where he will also show off his famous artwork. Members of the public are welcome to attend the event.