Young cricketers get sound advice

Young Under-15 Windward Islands cricketers who were fortunate enough to attend the three day Digicel camp here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field from August 7-9, were given a sound piece of advice.{{more}}

And there was no better person to give them this advice than the greatest all rounder of all times, Sir Garry Sobers.

At the completion of the camp last week Thursday, Sobers told the forty cricketers, which included two females, “You should always try to practice the right way, for there is practice and practice”.

“Talent and ability alone do not work, show dedication. You must be dedicated if you are to get anywhere. Show dedication, application and concentration and you will succeed”, Sobers remarked at the Sir P H Veira Pavilion, where the closing ceremony was staged.

“I am speaking from experience, and can tell you not what someone has told me, so it’s up to you”, the legendary Sobers advised.

Sobers, a former captain of the West Indies said that during the three days here he saw lots of talent, but challenged the young cricketers to put into practice what they have learnt every time they go to practice or play in a match.

“The coaches cannot do it for you, they can only demonstrate and explain, you have to do it for yourselves”, Sobers, who played 93 Tests, amassed 8032 runs and took 235 wickets said.

Sobers, who was present at all three days, observing the players and coaches going through their paces, admitted that he learned a lot from the experience and told the cricketers they were lucky to be exposed to such high quality coaching.

He further counselled them, “You never stop learning, no matter how great you may become, you can always learn”.

“Today cricket is a viable sport, not like long ago; there is a lot of money to be made from it”, Sir Garry, a Barbadian, and that island’s lone living national hero, remarked.

Sobers was disappointed that he was not able to see the young cricketers in a real match situation because of wet pitches at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, caused by the porous nature of the covers.

The three day camp was conducted by certified coaches, former West Indies players, fast bowler Kenny Benjamin and middle order batsman Keith Arthurton and former fast bowler Bernard Julien.

Also in attendance were current West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul.

The participants in the three day camp came from the Windwards Under-15 team that won this year’s regional competition, top performers in the recent Scotia Bank Kiddy cricket competition as well as some members of the Neil Williams Cricket Academy and some coaches.

Windwards Under 15 and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-19 all rounder Atticus Browne, was named the best batsman on show. His countryman Ray Jordan copped the award of best bowler. Kurt Edwards was adjudged the best fieldsman and Kurwin Peter, the best wicketkeeper. Both are from St. Lucia.

The top performers got autographed bats as their prizes, while all participants received gift packages.