SKIPPER Chris Adams is throwing his full support behind Sussex's plan for a new junior cricket academy.

The county hope to get planning permission next week for the complex which will transform playing fields in the village of Blackstone near Henfield.

Organisers hope that the facility will be in use in two years' time and Adams believes Sussex are setting an example for other counties to follow.

He said: "We must give the young cricketers of the future in Sussex every opportunity to succeed.

"This is such a worthy project and I'm sure that if it is successful then other counties will want to follow the lead we have set."

Adams kicked off the appeal by donating £1,000 on behalf of the Sussex players.

Cricket Year Zero (CYZ) which aims to raise the £500,000 needed to equip and maintain the site which would be the first of its kind in England.

The project has attracted the support of stars of show business and sport and among those attending yesterday's launch were Hove-based comedian Mark Little, fashion designer Wayne Hemmingway, whose son Jack plays for Sussex under-14s, and boxer Chris Eubank.

Plans for the site include a full-sized and junior cricket pitch, practice nets and a double-fronted pavilion. The proposals also include a football and stoolball pitch to cater for the existing users.

Patrons of CYZ include Adams, former Sussex captain Ted Dexter, broadcaster John Inverdale and TV presenters Des Lynam and Jamie Theakston.

Chairman Guy Walker believes it is vital that the county has a purpose-built facility for its junior cricketers.

"At the moment we have had to beg and borrow pitches to stage high-calibre junior cricket, but through the ideas and enthusisam generated by CYZ we will hopefully soon have our own.

"It will also show other counties the way in trying to raise the next generation of county cricketers."

Fundraising begins in earnest at a launch dinner at the Grand Hotel on May 10 while the Benson and Hedges Cup tie against Hampshire, which will be Shane Warne's first appearance in county cricket, is being earmarked as a benefit match for the project.

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