Packman joins 18th Academy intake

Three first-class players were inducted into the 18th intake of the Australian Academy at Allan Border Field today. James Packman, the New South Wales batsman who played in the Pura Cup final victory, Tasmania's David Dawson and Ryan Harris, from South Australia, were part of the 23-man squad that opened with an exhibition match in Brisbane.

The players in the Australian Institute of Sport program will undergo a 13-week course that has been used by 67 cricketers on the way to international honours. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence was a pivotal component for Australia's aspiring cricketers. "It forms an integral part of the pathway to help these talented players refine their skills and prepare for the next step in their career," he said. "For some that may culminate in representing their country."

Since the course started in 1988 there have been 240 inductees and 72.5% have reached first-class level while 30 have played Tests. Shane Watson was the last Academy graduate to figure in a Test while James Hopes, the Queensland allrounder, is the most recent one-day international representative. At the end of the two training blocks in July a 14-man squad will be picked for a three-week tour to Bangalore and Chennai.