The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) celebrated the victorious national Under-15 cricket team for its capture of the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 Championship with a celebratory dinner at Cricket Legends of Barbados on Friday.
The side, led by captain Damarko Wiggins, won four of their five matches, the other being abandoned because of a wet outfield.
At the event that was attended by a cross section of personnel that included BCA officials, sponsors’ representatives and families of the players, saw the young men being rewarded with gifts from the association.
In his opening remarks, BCA vicepresident Calvin Hope conveyed the Board’s congratulations to the triumphant squad which was supervised by a management unit consisting of team manager, Jabbar Niles, head coach Roderick “Roddy” Estwick, assistant coach Barry Forde and physiotherapist, Kwayne Dalrymple.
Hope, a former national Under-19 captain, praised the leadership of Wiggins, whom, he said, “led from the front and when the team was in trouble, gathered them successfully at the times when top performances were needed.”
Hope also commended the team for the way they conducted themselves both on and off the field and noted the presence of the country’s Honorary Consul in Antigua, Pedro Corbin, a former Barbados Youth opening batsman, who offered much support while the team was in Antigua.
He also revealed that there are plans to keep the group together and hinted at a possible trip to Guyana to engage with that country’s national team, hopefully in the near future.
Hope further disclosed that the Board, at a retreat held last December, devised a fresh Cricket Development Plan.
“We are being called upon to get cricket back to the centre of national consciousness and the Board is committed to doing that,” he continued.
BCA Board Director and Chairman of Youth and Women’s Cricket Committees, Pedro Greaves reminded the youngsters that winning the title was not an end in itself but more so, could possibly be the beginning of “a bright future”.
“There are a number of career opportunities in cricket and I encourage all of you to keep putting your best foot forward, playing with purpose and passion and loving and enjoying the game,” Greaves said.
He encouraged the young men not to neglect their studies noting that prowess on the field and in the classroom made for a successful combination.
Niles, a first time manager, gave a comprehensive review of the entire process from preparations ahead of the tournament to the actual execution once the competition started.
He noted the part played by not only the 14 players who eventually went to Antigua but the six reserves, all present on the night, who were part of the training squad in the weeks leading up, and whom he regarded as vital members of the overall group.
He described the four-week period as one of growth and maturity, especially for the youngsters but also as being very informative for the management team.
The former wicketkeeper/batsman for the national Under-19 team expressed pride in how the team carried itself.
“The attitude among the group was very good, the focus was very good and there is no doubt why we came out as champions. We were, undoubtedly, the best prepared group,” Niles said.
He described the victory as one where “each member of the team came to the fore at some point, thereby making it a total team effort.”
Wiggins, who scored two centuries, was the tournament’s leading scorer, while wicketkeeper Seth Smith took the most dismissals.
(GH)
