England squad completes a successful four-days pre-series bonding & training camp in the build up to the Ashes at Desert Springs Resort in Almeria, Spain.
England Squad Members; MarkWood, Ben Stokes, Mark Footitt, Adam Lyth, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root & Liam Plunkett with Management and Officials at Desert Springs Resort
Fourteen (14) members of the England Cricket Squad, accompanied by fifteen (15) Management, staff and coaches are now back in England having completed a successful 4-day pre-series bonding and training camp between Friday 27th – Tuesday 30th June in the build up to the Ashes at Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course with its very own dedicated Cricket Academy, in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía in south-east Spain.
During the Pre-Ashes Camp the players have become acquainted with their new head coach, Trevor Bayliss, as they prepare for next week’s first Ashes Test.
England Squad Members with Head Coach Trevor Bayliss (Far Right) at the Desert Springs Cricket Academy
‘Close Fielding Practice Session’ at the Desert Springs Cricket Academy
The camp was designed to be a relaxed affair, to provide an opportunity for the players to both work seriously on their fielding skills and fitness levels, whilst at the same time having the opportunity to benefit from the extensive resort facilities with planned bonding activities.
James Anderson getting his eye in at the Desert Springs Cricket Academy
Strength & Conditioning sessions held at the Gym at the Sierras Sports Club at Desert Springs
Phil Scott, ECB Strength & Conditioning Coach said;
“An outstanding camp made possible by the highest quality of staff. They catered brilliantly for our specific needs that covered nutrition, on field and gym based training.
A great environment to train hard and relax!”
A 14km round- trip to the local beach along private tracks from the resort, a couple of rounds of golf on the highly acclaimed Indiana course, team meetings held at the Resorts Private Reserve and social evenings at the Crocodile Club restaurant were par for the course!
With the new coach Trevor Bayliss only arriving from Australia last Thursday, the director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss, considered the camp at Desert Springs Resort to be essential in Bayliss forging bonds with his new charges before the series opener begins in Cardiff on the 8th July.
Andrew Strauss, ECB Director of Cricket commented:
“To all at Desert Springs, thank you very much for an outstanding camp. The organisation, the attention to detail, and the friendly service were all of the highest order. We hope to see you again soon.”
Trevor Bayliss, ECB Head Coach remarked;
“The was my first ever visit to Spain. Desert Springs has outstanding facilities and a beautiful golf course. The resort was the perfect relaxed setting for me to spend some time getting to know the players and thank you to all of the staff for a wonderful stay.”
England Vice-Captain Joe Root on the 1st Tee of The Indiana Course at Desert Springs
England Captain Alastair Cook remarked of his experience;
“We have had an absolutely fantastic time. Nothing was too much hassle and all the staff were brilliant, the villa amazing & golf brilliant – great course!! Thanks again everyone at Desert Springs for looking after us so well and can’t wait to come back!”
England Vice-Captain Joe Root said;
“I had a fantastic stay here at Desert Springs!
The standards of the food, service, facilities and of the golf course were of the highest quality. Couldn’t be more grateful and truly impressed by the all round resort. Thanks to all of the staff and management for their hospitality.”
A typical example of a privately owned Villa at Desert Springs Resort where The England players and team officials were accommodated.
Simon Coaker, Sales & Marketing Manager for The Almanzora Group Ltd. said;
"At Desert Springs Resort we have been supporters of English cricket for a long time. Since the addition to the existing cricket facilities in 2013 of six top quality grass wickets at the Cricket Academy we have hosted numerous cricket teams, both professional and amateur, as well as university and school groups.
Desert Springs is delighted to have been selected to host the England Pre-Ashes Camp, an event that will allow the Resort to continue to grow in terms of its reputation for quality, a factor of benefit and prestige to the Resort, its members, property owners and the local area."
- For details of Cricket, Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website, www.almanzora.com
- To find out more about the Desert Springs Cricket Academy visit the website:
http://www.almanzora.com/en/holidays/activities/desert_springs_cricket_academy.php
Additional background Information
Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs
Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, is already known as a resort specialising in family holidays, however it has rapidly gained popularity 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.
All sports camps to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the resort for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’
During their stay attendees have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.
Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.
Accommodation is provided in the apartments, townhouses and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals are served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club that is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities and the award winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House.
A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.
The Desert Springs Resort & golf club
Facilities already completed and in use at Desert Springs include:
§ a par 72 -18-hole USGA Indiana 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 the women’s elite squads of the Golf Union of Wales and for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour and LET players.
§ two hard tennis courts, two paddle courts, beach volley ball and two football pitches – one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
§ Cricket Academy training facilities comprise; a six bay grass wicket and run up with nets, a two bay artificial wicket with nets, a full length artificial grass wicket, a Professional Bola Bowling Machine with 28 ball feeder, a slip catch cradle 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 a Ralph Lauren Golf Boutique;
§ The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped sand play areas, a kid’s battery powered John Deere Gator circuit and a games room as well as a Jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
§ a health and fitness club and spa.
Awards
In 2005 Desert Springs won the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture. In 2006, it was awarded the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development. In 2007, the El Torrente Restaurant 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 takes it 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 200 mm. The Almanzora coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.
Reader enquiries:
Note: High Resolution Images available upon request.
Simon Coaker
The Almanzora Group Ltd
The Manor, Boddington,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116
