The National Cricket Performance Centre first came into existence in the winter of 2001–2002 and has been based at Loughborough University since 2003. In 2007 following the "Schofield Report" the National Academy was renamed the National Cricket Performance Centre. It consists of a state of the art £4.5 million indoor training complex. Facilities include lanes enabling full runups for fast bowlers and wicket-keepers stood back, Hawk-Eye cameras and advanced biomechanics analysis equipment. In addition to the indoor complex the academy also provides top class outdoor training facilities.
The National Academy is integrated with the England A cricket team, with touring parties being taken from the Academy squad.
Each year the best up and coming cricket talent from around Britain are invited to train with the National Academy, originally under the tutelage of Head Coach Rod Marsh and now under that of Director David Parsons. These young players are those that have been earmarked as possible players in future English cricket teams and it is for this reason that the National Academy was set up. Current England players that have come through the Academy system include James Anderson, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root and Andrew Strauss.
Players in bold have represented England at either Test or ODI level prior to their call-up to the Academy.