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The Institute Of Sport (www.InstituteOfSport.Org) was launched in 2002 in London, with the first project being the World Cricket Academy (www.worldcricketacademy.com), with the purpose of being an independent international programme welcoming all types of cricketers from professionals to amateurs wanting to experience cricket development in a new culture and environment at some of the best grounds and facilities in the world.

The WCA's flagship is a state of the art practice facility just outside Nagpur city, the facility has been purpose built for cricket practice. It has a twenty four hour restaurant, residences for over fifty cricketers, a variety of sports facilities for entertainment (a pool table, table tennis tables, chess and carrom boards) and also includes a swimming pool for aqua therapy. In addition we have scientifically built practice wickets of varying bounce and turn, so that players can hone their skills and prepare holistically for the challenges ahead. There are wickets prepared with two different soils (black and red), as well as a variety of different surfaces like granite and concrete.

Over the years WCA ran special programmes structured for Essex and Middlesex counties with Graham Gooch and John Emburey taking these groups from their respective counties to the WCA in India for pre-season training and development. Nottingham CCC, GloucestershireCCC and Lancashire CCC players attended a second programme in March. Recently we had England's Ed Smith (Kent and England) attended the batsman's camp, as did Andrew Strauss (Middlesex and England) as well as Robin Martin-Jenkins (Sussex). The programme was conducted by former WCA Head Coach the Late Mr Hanumant Singh, also a former Director of the National Cricket Academy, India, an ICC representative, as well as former Manager and Coach of the Indian team. He was ably supported by Mr Vasu Paranjape a former India coach. The spinners programme was led by Mr B. Bedi and Mr E.A.S Prasanna. The WCA have also gone on to become the official managers of the entire Lords and Commons cricket tours, and have concluded a research paper with the England Cricket Board (ECB) on spin bowling.

As mentioned above The World Cricket Academy has now put in place all plans for Franchise, Affiliate and Facility development operations. This will ensure high standards are maintained across the world at all WCA centers. With this in mind WCA has launched the Coach Development Programme, which is the WCA's own independent examination curriculum and structure to qualify coaches.

In addition WCA has launched Skills For Champs™ a structure to certify students, so that progress is monitored and quality in the system is maintained at all times. WCA is opening Franchises, Affiliates and Facilities with partners and wish to promote the structure to other parts of the world as well.

The main thrust of the WCA centers will be focused outside of the metros in India. This is to ensure that opportunity is created where it is most needed bringing about a more level playing field across the country.

The WCA also firmly believe in constantly giving back to the community and have invested its own money in taking fifteen Afghani youths to India to learn cricket, as part of a Joy Through Cricket campaign. In addition it has donated hundreds of cricket kits to needy children all over India, and continue to provide free coaching to hundreds of youngsters at its head quarters outside Nagpur. This campaign of giving back to sport will be an integral part of the WCA as we spread the gospel of the game, and sports around the world, and look forward to the continued support of various individuals to make this a huge success.

In addition the WCA have also launched the World Sports Trust (WST) www.WorldSportsTrust.Com with the sole purpose of bringing sport to all, using corporates and celebrities to assist us in bringing purpose to the lives of youth across the world through the medium of sport.