Fast bowlers get attention

The search for some real fast bowlers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is on.

A 14-week bowling clinic conducted by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association (SVGCA) is the start in trying to address the shortage of fast bowlers in this country.{{more}}

The association has identified a cadre of 12 young and promising fast bowlers and has put them under the eyes of former West Indies fast bowler Nixon Mc Lean.

President of the SVGCA Julian Jack told SEARCHLIGHT that the motive for the clinic was as a result of the general slow down in the production line here and the wider Caribbean.

“We from the cricket association feel that there is a need for fast bowlers in the West Indies and we feel badly that the West Indies is struggling in this area and we are not producing any to offer them,” Jack said.

“We think the time is right for us to go back to them,” he added.

Of the seven Vincentians to have represented the West Indies, five have been fast bowlers, hence the association’s focus.

“The purpose of the clinic is to encourage and train youngsters how to bowl quickly and how to develop themselves into good fast bowlers for the region,” the local cricket boss said.

With a good physique an attribute, he further stated that was also a criterion which local selectors used to identify the current participants.

Jack told this publication that the 12 were drawn from the national cricket competitions as well as the schools league.

He revealed that legendary West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose who is attached to this country’s team for next year’s Stanford 20/20 tournament will visit here soon to give some assistance to Mc Lean.

But the clinic is not all about bowling as there are other areas that are being looked at.

Jack said that also working along with Mc Lean is fitness trainer Woodrow Williams and long distance athlete Pamenos Ballantyne who will undertake stamina training.

He mentioned etiquette training, media exposure, nutrition among other aspects

An upbeat Jack said his association was happy to put part of its development plan in place and the current clinic was one aspect of implementation.

The former St.Vincent and the Grenadines opening batsman said that his organisation were in a potent financial position to carry out its plans.

He said that the present clinic was being funded from monies received last year for this country’s participation in the inaugural Stanford tournament.

But the association’s plans do not stop with the fast bowling phase.

“After this, we intend to have a wicket keepers’ clinic, one for batting and one for spin bowling ,” Jack, also the chairman of the Windward Islands senior team selection panel projected.

The fielding component is expected to be incorporated into the other aspects.

Jack opined that his association’s programme can be helped by the continued coverage from the media and complimented SEARCHLIGHT for its coverage of the national competitions, but would like live radio broadcasts and television footage.