Zeri Tomlinson is the first local cricketer to take advantage of a new collaboration between Janeiro Tucker’s 186 Cricket Academy and the Cricket Foundation Academy in India.

The young player, who made his Cup Match debut for Somerset as a wicketkeeper last year, is being put through his paces in a 15-day training exercise under the guidance of ICC Level 3 coach Shantanu Ghosh at his academy located in Bhilai in eastern Central India.

Tomlinson has settled in well in the country according to Mahesh Hatkar, the head of youth development at the 186 Cricket Academy.

“Zeri has settled very well and has been doing good in his keeping and batting,” Hatkar told The Royal Gazette.

“He is in good hands and I am always receiving reports about how passionate he wants to turn professional. He’s definitely catching up and is definitely going to do good and move forward in his cricket profession.

“The coach has been working with him on all of his technical things; working on what he is doing good and what he has to work on. He is going to send me all the reports and we will take care of him in the future when he comes back.”

186 Cricket Academy founder Janeiro Tucker said Tomlinson met the organisation’s criteria for those keen on expanding their cricket horizons through the partnership.

“Zeri has all the accolades of being a professional cricketer so we had talked to him about getting professional training for the next couple of weeks and he agreed,” he said.

“We thought that the way he goes about his cricket he is the perfect individual for us to get out of Bermuda and get into a professional environment in India.

“That’s what we are looking to do going forward but we are only looking for individuals that are serious about their game and have to show us they really want to improve.

“It’s not just about calling us and saying they want to go to an academy because it’s our credibility that’s on the line; myself and especially Mahesh as the person who really set the whole thing up for Zeri and future stars of Bermuda.

“We want others to come forward and get the proper coaching but this is for individuals that are really serious about their cricket because we are not just trying to send somebody there for the sake of getting self praise. It’s all about the development of the individual.

“If we get a couple of guys that come forward it's not guaranteed that they will go. We don’t want anybody to get down there and mess up our credentials as people sending you to a different country to better yourself and then we get feedback that you’re doing a pack of nonsense. ”

Hatkar and Ghosh, who is head coach of Jammu and Kashmir Under-19 coach, BCCI Under-19 spinners coach and also works with India’s women’s team, are no strangers to each other.

“He’s a very good friend of mine and we worked together at his academy and also with Rohit Sharma’s academy in India and the United Arab Emirates,” Hatkar said.

“He’s trained 1,000 coaches in India and worldwide. He’s a very talented BCCI Level C coach and ICC level 3 coach and has plenty of state players training under him. He is also working with the India Under-19 team as spinners coach and the women’s national team.”

Tucker’s academy, which is named after his record-breaking innings of 186 in Cup Match at Wellington Oval in 2001, is set to open next month with details to be announced on the organisation’s social media platforms shortly.

In the interim, the organisation has been conducting individual sessions during the off-season at Somerset Cricket Club, which Hatkar said has been well attended by youngsters.

“We have plenty of children coming down here in the off-season and I am really happy that people just want to come and learn, which is a good thing for Bermuda and not just 186 Cricket Academy,” he said.

“In India we train harder before the season comes so you are ahead of the players who are just starting during the season. You know what to work on, what not to work on, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what food to eat and how you rest.”

Tucker added: “We are offering our cricket academy coaching to show players the technical side, assess the early and get them to the next level.

“We are opening the academy in March. That’s our plan so if anybody wants any personal coaching they can contact us.”