Our Team
Duncan Norris
England Delegate to the World Indoor Cricket Federation
Duncan trained at Loughborough University in Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreation Management, graduating in 1990. A 20 year career in sports management led to the acquisition of Action Indoor Sports UK in 2009. His investment into indoor cricket has been significant, directing the National and International framework for England since 2013. Duncan has led the England squads into 6 World Cups: South Africa 2013, New Zealand 2014, Birmingham 2016, Dubai 2017, England’s first Junior World Series in New Zealand 2018 and also played in the Masters World Series in South Africa 2019. Next campaign, Melbourne Australia for the World Cup in October 2022.
Neeta Patel
Head Safeguarding Officer
Neeta has been hugely committed to the development of female cricketers both indoors and outdoors, for over 20 years. She was a coach with Leicestershire CCC for most of this time and has coached England Indoor Squads at every World Cup since 2011. She possesses the ECB level 2 coaching qualification as well as the Club Coach Award. Neeta is the team’s most qualified and experienced safe-guarding officer.
ECB Level 2 Coach.
Matt Henderson
England Men's Coach - World Cup 2022, Australia
Matt had a glittering indoor player career at international level for New Zealand. Now focussed as a specialist indoor coach and performance trainer, Matt's experience and skills are sought after globally. England engaged Matt for the Tri-Series in Dubai and are doing so again for the World Cup in Australia (October 2022).
Matt will be supported in preparing the squad in UK by Dave Brown and Aaron Watson. Aaron and Duncan Norris will travel to Australia. Matt will join the squad from New Zealand.
Dave Brown
Coach - 13 & Under Boys, Assistant Coach - England Men
Dave has been an ECB Level 2 coach for 19 years. Formerly the Staffs Under 10 County & District Coach, Junior club coach at Dunstall and Staffs skill set lead in Wicket Keeping and Fielding. Dave is a now focusing his time purely into the indoor format. Invaluable experience was gained in New Zealand 2018 where Dave acted as an Assistant Coach to the 13 and Under squad, who performed so brilliantly on their first outing on the world stage. Since then he has coached successful Super League teams, represented England over 35s in Cape Town in October 2019 and more recently in the Dubai Tri-Series s 2022. Dave will be assisting the preparation of the Men's squad for the 2022 world Cup in Australia before focussing as Head Coach of the 13 and under Boys.
ECB Level 2 Coach.
Anish Patel
Head Coach - 17 & Under Girls
Anish studied at Loughborough University, completing a BSc in Sports Technology and a second BSc in Sports Management. As well as being previously a semi-professional outdoor player and England Indoor Captain, Anish has been passionate about the indoor format since the age of 16. Now with over 50 England caps (many as captain) Anish is a great asset behind the development of many of our young players with his experience from international leadership in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. Most recently Anish captained the exciting squad that played in the Dubai Tri-Series in March 2022 and also played in the 2022 World Cup in Australia.
Now Anish is focussing on the 17 & Under Girls squad in preparation for the Junior World Serioes in Dubai.
ECB Level 3 Coach.
Matthew Dawson
Coach - 15 & U Boys
Matt has a wealth of experience that he brings to the team.
As a player his CV includes Yorkshire 2nd XI, Cheshire CC for 7 years and 4 years in Australia (playing indoor too). As a coach, 4 years in Australia, 10 years as Head Coach at The Cricket Asylum plus management of the indoor leagues.
ECB Level 3 Coach
Mike Farmer
Head Coach - 17 & Under Boys
Mike grew up playing Indoor Cricket, inspired by his step father who gained international honours.
Although late to the outdoor game he achieved fast recognition for his skills, developed in the indoor environment.
A qualified and professional cricket coach, Mike understands the benefits of the indoor format as much as any. He also brings additional qualifications in children's and young peoples mental health and wellbeing.
Having promoted indoor in Cambridgeshire Mike has recently located nearer the Midlands and is looking forward to assisting AICE develop and grow.
Mike has been working hard with the 17 and Under Boys age category and has recently been appointed Head Coach of this squad ahead of the Junior World Series in Dubai.
ECB Level 2 Coach
Pete Staley
Manager - 15 & U Boys, 13 & U Boys
Pete has been coaching and administering cricket for over 20 years and playing long before that. He played a lot of indoor cricket 30 years ago when the sport had better provision in the north.
Pete coached the indoor U11 AICE National champions and U14 AICE Super League winning sides in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Still playing Masters indoor cricket and currently administering the Lancashire District cricket competitions, Pete's managerial skills as well as his coaching experience will be very well utilised as we gear up our junior programme ready for the Junior World Series in late September 2023.
UKCC2 Level Coach
Aaron Watson
Assistant Coach - England Men
Aaron has an exceptional coaching CV working with a plethora of sides. His most recent work has seen him coaching at Sussex CCC on the Pathway and Academy structures. He has also been working as the Assistant Fast Bowling Coach to the professional side alongside James Kirtley. Day to day Aaron is a PE and Games teacher at Eastbourne College.
Aaron is now part of the England Men's Management team after playing in the Men's squad against Sri Lanka. He also played for the Over 35's Squad in the Masters World Series 2019 in Cape Town and in the Dubai Tri-Series in March 2022.
ECB Level 3 Coach.
Jordan Croft
Assistant Coach - 15 & U Boys, 13 & U Boys
Jordan is a quality keeper batsman currently playing in the Halifax Premier Division. Current coaching roles include Indoor Cricket Lead at The Cricket Asylum, the Halifax U13 representative team and Outlane CC (since 2019).
Jordan will be a great asset in supporting our England Boys coaches.
ECB Level 2 Coach
Kieran Cooke
Consultant Coach
Kieran brings a First Class Honours degree in Sport & Exercise Science and a Masters in Research in Sports Biomechanics, along with 10 years of cricket coaching and administration experience. In outdoor cricket, Kieran coaches on the pathway with Derbyshire County Cricket Club. In 2018, Kieran was head coach for the 13&U squad in New Zealand, where the boys performed fantastically well but narrowly missed out in the semi-final (by one run!).
Kieran has brought an enormous energy and strength to junior indoor cricket across the boys age groups.
ECB Level 2 Coach.
Nanette Kritzinger
Indoor Ambassador - Women & Girls
Niki Patel
Consultant Coach
Charles Harrison
Consultant Coach
Charles is successfully introducing the benefits of the indoor format to numerous outdoor female players which is encouraging ahead of the 17 & under Girls squad competing in the Junior World Series in Dubai.
He has a wealth of experience in Women's and Girls Cricket and is currently the head coach of Oxfordshire Women's CCC and Under 17 Girls Team. Charles is also the Academy Director and Head Coach at J & G Meakins Academy as well as still being involved with coaching at Staffordshire CCC.
ECB Level 3 Coach.
Chris Guest
Consultant Coach
Chris has a degree in Physical Education and PG Dip in Personal and Professional Development. He was a player for Worcestershire and Northamptonshire, as well as fielding coach for England Women and Coaching Assistant for Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Chris has represented England indoors at the World Cup in Australia in 2009 (6 caps) and most recently also as Coach of the 17&U squad in New Zealand 2018. He is now the Regional Talent Manager for England & Wales Cricket Board.
ECB Level 4 Coach.
Russell Cobb
Consultant Coach
Russell brings a wealth of 30 years cricket experience as a professional player, captain and coach (Leicestershire CCC, Northern Transvaal). Russell is currently Head Coach of MCCU Loughborough, and has supported the indoor England squads at 3 World Cups (South Africa 2011, New Zealand 2014 and Dubai 2017). Russell’s experience playing and working with first class cricketers, as well as running the Loughborough MCCU scheme brings world class management, preparation and coaching to our team.
ECB Level 4 Coach.
Jess Ward
Consultant Coach
Zar Suliman
Midweek Cricket Director
Zar Suliman requires no introduction. He has played outdoor cricket as a semi-professional for may years, amassing over 15,000 runs at an average of over 50.
His indoor career has included 3 wickets in the final over versus Australia in the 2007 World Cup to win the game (the last time England beat the world's top team). He represented England as a 45 year old playing two age categories down for the 35 and overs in Birmingham 2016, reaching the semi finals.
Most recently Zar was Player / Coach of the Masters team that competed in the Dubai Tri-Series in March 2022.
Zar still plays and manages the most successful team in National League history and has won more Most Valuable Player awards than any other player in the English game. He is also Coach of the current Super-League champions, The Lions.
Tariq Ali MBE
Masters Lead
Navin Patel
Consultant Coach
Nav Patel has played in 14 First Class and 8 List A Cricket fixtures for Central District Stags in New Zealand. He was the non-travelling reserve for the Under 19 New Zealand team for the outdoor World Cup.
Fortunately he now plays for the England Men's Indoor Squad after playing in the 2014 and 2017 World Cups for New Zealand and produced some outstanding performances in the recent Tri-Series in Dubai.
Nav is now the overseas Pro and Director of Junior Cricket at Preston Nomads Cricket Club. He will be assisting Aaron in helping develop all AICE players with their bowling.
ECB Level 2 Coach
Ashfak Hussain
Masters Lead
AICE is also supported by a trusted Health, Medical and
Rehabilitation Team that have in depth understanding of
their specialty alongside hands on experience of the
demands of our sport and tournament formats.
Dr Rak Patel MBChB, MRCGP, DRCOG
England Tour Doctor
Ben Lapworth MOst
Registered Osteopath
Fran Baldwin BScANutr
England Nutritionist
Steve Allen MScDip
Head Physiotherapist
Stacey Plant BSc MSST
Senior Sports Therapist