DESPITE attempts to improve standards, the Forest is still lagging behind when it comes to developing young cricket talent for the county.

A record number of Gloucestershire clubs have produced players for the county's winter youth squads – but very few of these hail from the Forest.

In total 43 affiliated clubs provide players for the performance programmes, which started on January 5.

In total, 119 players have been taken under the wing of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's army of age-group coaches, but only four of these players come from the Forest - and all of them from the northern tip.

For the full story, read The Forester.