THE OVERTON twins are to join the Somerset Cricket Academy.

Craig and Jamie, 16, have caught the eye with their impressive performances for North Devon in the Francis Clark Devon League this summer.

And the all-rounders have accepted an invitation from Jason Kerr, Somerset's academy director, to join the first-class county's respected training school.

Colin Payne, chairman of North Devon, said: "The whole club is delighted for Jamie and Craig, they are both very fine young cricketers and we are extremely proud of them.

"Their performances in our first team this year have certainly got them noticed."

The aim of the academy is to "identify cricketers between the ages of 15 and 18 who have the potential of playing at the highest level of the game".

A small group of players is selected each year by Kerr and Brian Rose, Somerset's director of cricket.

From October, the players follow an intensive five-month training programme featuring technical, mental, tactical and physical development, as well as lifestyle management.

They have a minimum of two one-to-one technical sessions each week with a senior county coach.

During the summer, their playing schedule is planned by Kerr. For the Overtons, that is likely to include regular appearances for North Devon.

Payne said: "We have been told by Somerset that part of their development will be to continue to playing cricket at North Devon, which means our club will benefit from their talent for several years into the future."

Jos Buttler, who starred for Somerset in the Friends Provident T20 finals day, is a recent graduate from the academy.

Lewis Gregory, of North Devon's league rivals Plympton, is another to have gone through the system. He has just been awarded a full-time contract by the county and has been capped by England Under-19s this summer.

The Overtons, from Bideford, attend West Buckland School.

Both pace bowlers, they have taken more than 20 wickets between them during North Devon's premier division title challenge this season.

Craig has also scored three half centuries and a highest score of 118 not out.

He made his debut for Devon in June, scoring 68 in the first innings of the Minor Counties Championship match against Wales at Abergavenny.

Only Mike Garnham, in 1976, and Orlando Le Fleming, in 1992, have played for the county at a younger age.

Gwynne Jones, senior coach at North Devon and a former director of the Zimbabwe National Academy, said: "I'm really pleased for both Jamie and Craig and I'm sure they will do well.

"This really is a great credit to the whole club, its colts development and the chance it gives to young players to shine.

"I'm proud to coach at a club which this year alone has played no fewer than five under-17s in the first team, giving them the opportunity to perform and get noticed."