Sir Viv Richards: One of the all-time greats

Full details will be announced next Monday and an internationally-known company is already on board to provide funding.

Age limit

A group of 24 students will be the first to benefit from the cricket facilities at the university campus when they arrive for a three-month course.

"We are going to start off with people between the ages of 18 and 23, who maybe have played for their respective islands," Webster told BBC Sport Online.

"We will teach them how to transfer their practice form to the playing area."

Webster has been involved with West Indies cricket for 25 years, having managed the team during the Kerry Packer era and latterly worked with the players on their mental approach.

He was with the team during the early part of their tour to England last summer, but has not travelled to Australia where they have been comprehensively outplayed by the home side.

Past provides inspiration

Webster: Understands the psychology of cricket

Jimmy Adams' team lost the Test series 5-0 and reached a new low on Tuesday when they were bowled out for 91 by Zimbabwe in a one-day match.

Despite that, Webster has not lost faith in the current squad.

"I don't think our Test team is that bad. We have quite a few talented players, but they haven't been expressing themselves on the field," he said.

The focus is now on the next generation of West Indies players, however, and the signs are promising following last year's victory in the under-15 World Cup.

Studying past successes will be part of the academy's curriculum - hence the involvement of star names.

"We want them to hear about our history from the horse's mouth," Webster added.

Northamptonshire and Sussex will be using the university's facilities as part of their build-up to the 2001 English county season and there are plans to invite overseas students to the academy in future years, if the first courses go well.