Desert Springs Resort, announced as the Home for Spanish International Cricket

It is with pleasure that we announce that Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort with its very own dedicated ODI ICC accredited Cricket Ground and Academy, located in Almeria, Andalucía, south-east Spain has reached an agreement with Cricket España for it to become the ‘Home for Spanish International Cricket’.

Having successfully hosted two ICC European events, Spanish international matches, and a tour by the MCC last year, it seemed the next logical step for Cricket España to forge a stronger relationship with the Almeria resort.

Already in 2022, the counties of Leicestershire, Hampshire and Derbyshire have completed pre-season training camps at the ODI ICC accredited venue, and Cricket España themselves completed a training camp at Desert Springs between March 24^th to 28^th.

On top of the training camp, Cricket España have also agreed to host numerous T20I Men’s and Women’s ranking events this year, starting off with a tri-lateral series in May/June involving Spain, Norway and Guernsey.

Importantly, Cricket España will work with Desert Springs Resort to reach out to the local community to promote cricket with the Criiio programme and organise educational and cricket opportunities for schools and Junior boys and girls in the region.

Corey Rutgers, Spain’s national team coach stated;

“Absolutely fantastic news that we can align ourselves at Desert Springs Resort for 2022 and beyond. The facilities are second to none, and as a coach it gives me confidence that I can take the national team to a higher-level training on some of the best facilities in the world. It promises to be a big couple of years in the development of España cricket, so a big thankyou to Desert Springs Resort and Simon who share our vision and have been very helpful in helping us align our vision and goals along with their very own. 2022 has so much to offer and I know all the squad members & coaching staff can’t wait to get back to training at Desert Springs Resort in the coming weeks”.

Desert Springs Resort Sales & Marketing Manager, Simon Coaker remarked;

“In 2018, the inauguration of the Desert Springs Cricket Ground was celebrated by Cricket España playing in the grounds first competitive match. Since that time, both Desert Springs Resort and Cricket España have worked closely together to develop and grow the game domestically in Spain, and on the International stage.

Confirmation of the world-class facilities and outstanding quality of the cricket ground and academy at Desert Springs Resort was confirmed in 2020 by its award of ODI ICC accreditation, ensuring an additional location for staging events and providing an added stimulus for the development of cricket in Spain and other European cricket nations.

Desert Springs Resort is extremely proud to now be recognised as the official ‘Home of Cricket España’.

In conjunction with Cricket España we shall continue to work together to further attract high level international cricket to Spain and to help boost what is already a growing sport in this part of the world.

We enjoyed welcoming the National Squad of Cricket España between 24^th-28^th March, for a five-day training camp as important preparation prior to their hosting at Desert Springs Resort a triangular T20I ranking series against Norway and Guernsey between 29^th April and 1^st May.

Desert Springs Cricket Academy

Resort accommodation for players, officials and spectators is provided in the villas, apartments & townhouses at Desert Springs Resort. Meals are served in the resort’s Crocodile Club Restaurant and the award-winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House. Guests benefit from resort gated security and full management and services that ensure all aspects of their stay are taken care of.

Resort Villa Accommodation

Desert Springs Resort is served by three international airports, Almeria 45 minutes, Murcia/Corvera 70 minutes and Alicante 110 minutes away by car, making the area easily accessible with 2 1⁄2 hour chartered and scheduled flights from all parts of the UK and Ireland, as well easy access from the rest of Europe.

For further information about Desert Springs Cricket, please CLICK HERE

For further information about Desert Springs Resort, please CLICK HERE

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NOTE TO EDITORS

About Desert Springs Resort

Desert Springs Resort is already known as a resort specialising in family holidays, however it is also known as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers, athletes, and footballers, as well as golfers and is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for sports warm weather winter training camps.

Visiting Cricket teams have included; The England Test team for their 2015 Pre-Ashes Training Camp, the England ODI team for their 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Tournament training camp, as well as the England Women’s’ Senior Academy, the ECB Young Lions, the ECB Pace Programme and the ECB Lions squad.

In addition, Desert Springs has hosted the National Teams of Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Holland, Denmark and Gibraltar as well as a number of first class Counties including; Lancashire, Hampshire, Sussex, Leicestershire, Glamorgan, Middlesex, Somerset and Derbyshire for pre and winter-season training camps, to name but a few.

Desert Springs Resort

Facilities at Desert Springs Resort include:

The Indiana course, a par 72 -18-hole USGA specification golf course, designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California;
a golf academy whose PGA qualified teaching professionals cater for several international teams, for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour, PGA Europro Tour and LET players.
two tennis courts, two padel courts, beach volley ball and two football pitches – one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
an ICC accredited cricket ground with an eighteen (18) wicket square, constructed to ECB standards and specifications open all year round. Complimented by a Marquee pavilion, sightscreens, scoreboard, sprint strips, and associated facilities
a Cricket Academy with facilities that comprise; twenty-four (24) grass wickets and run up with nets, requisite training equipment and a specific hard standing area, which provides outside space for facilities such as a free weights gym, stretching mats and a medical area.
a Spanish colonial style Golf Club House with a lounge, bar, restaurant, locker rooms, TV and reading rooms, and Golf Boutique;
The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped sand play areas, as well as a Jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
a health and fitness club and spa.

Awards

Desert Springs Resort was awarded Best Golf Resort for Groups in Europe by the European Group Travel Awards (EGTA). The Indiana Course at Desert Springs Resort has also been recognised within the top 40 Best Golf Courses out of 404 courses in Spain, based on the reviews of players who rated the course on the Leading Courses website.

Desert Springs Resort has been awarded the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture, as well as the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development, the SICTED award for the distinction of “Commitment to Tourism Quality” and Andalucía’s Premier Tourism prize, the coveted and prestigious ‘Excellence in Management’ Award.

El Torrente Restaurant has received the New Millennium International Gastronomy Award for the Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry. This award was created by the Trade Leaders Club with the aim of distinguishing companies from all countries, for the outstanding quality of their products or services.

The climate of the Almanzora coastal region

Desert Springs Resort takes its name from the region’s desert microclimate, which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200mm. The Almanzora coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.

Reader Enquiries:

Simon Coaker

The Almanzora Group

Sales & Marketing Manager

Tel: +34 678 235 716

E: scc@almanzora.com

www.desertspringsresort.es