WILTSHIRE cricket is at last emerging from the doldrums, but according to the county's development officer there is still a long way to go.

Speaking at the end of a week that saw two Wiltshire youngsters produce massive innings, Richard Gulliver, the Wiltshire cricket development officer, believes the future is looking rosy, but only if the hard work continues.

In the past week Andy Davis hit an unbeaten 218 to guide Wiltshire under 17s to their first win for three years and Liam Dawson hit 203 for Chippenham under 13s in a North Wilts League match and Gulliver believes this is the product of a long-term strategy which has been in place since 1995.

He said: "We need to look at how it has got there and why it has improved. Most of our young sides are winning and our senior side is in with a chance of winning the Minor Counties championship league for the first time for many years.

"It all goes back seven years and is not a short-term solution.

"The next two years will be vital in trying to sustain the development we have achieved."

Wiltshire became the first minor county to appoint a development officer in 1995 after the England and Wales Cricket Board recognised the need to improve minor county cricket. Since then major improvements have been seen.

Gulliver said: "Wiltshire cricket really was struggling between 1980 and 1995 but thanks to support from the ECB and also all the individuals involved we seem to have got out of this.

"It has been a team effort. The coaches, parents, players, local authorities and umpires all deserve a lot of credit."

He believes a big factor in the recent improvement has been the development of youngsters.

He said: "We are introducing youngsters to the game at a very early age. There are now some 35 to 40 clubs with junior sections and most main towns have got well-established teams.

"Chippenham is a great example of this as they had nothing five years ago and are now one of the leading clubs."

Gulliver also believes that the teaching of cricket in primary schools has increased tenfold.

He said: "In 1995 there were only 25 primary schools interested in cricket, there are now over 200.

"Within this you have got a sports co-ordinator so teachers are actually trained to coach cricket.

"The sport has been written into a lot of schools curriculums as it teaches children how to throw and catch. Last week's two big innings were undoubtedly the product of what has been going on since 1995."

A Wiltshire groundsmen's association was set up in 1999 and Gulliver believes this is another factor in the improvement.

"Better pitches in turn creates better performances," said Gulliver.

"It's much easier to coach kids how to play if the pitches are playable.

"It would be fair to say that we are getting there and have now reached a competitive level.

"However there is still a way to go.

"We now hope to improve both the outdoor and indoor facilities to make the sport more accessible and we also want to continue the development of coaches. I cannot over-emphasise how much of a team effort this has been."

Paul Rowson, administrator for the North Wiltshire Junior League, agrees that Wiltshire cricket is in a good state at the moment.

He said: "It is encouraging. There are a number of young kids coming through who are showing impressive form."

By Andy Cryer