[CRICKET]

Posted May 15, 4:20 PM

Hall wants flexibility from cricketers

WICB's President Rev. Wes Hall (second from left). (PHOTO: Modern Photo Studio)

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Rev. Wes Hall wants young Caribbean cricketers to become more flexible in the sport.

Hall, a former West Indies pacer, told the participants of the 2003 Shell Cricket Academy that cricket calls for allrounders and the programme at the Academy lends support to that initiative.

The WICB President was the main speaker at the opening of the three-month programme at the St George’s University.

“The academy programme is not about cricket only. You must not feel that you are here for the next three months to bat and bowl and field every hour of the day. This programme is about personal change, it’s about growth, and it’s about development.

You’re here to get a new skill everyday, be flexible therefore. Just because you came in here as an off-spinner or leg-spinner doesn’t mean that in another year you can’t open the bowling for the West Indies.

May I remind you that Curtly Ambrose was 26 before he started bowling fast, he was playing basketball. Malcolm Marshall was a leg-spinner, Charlie Griffith was an off-spinner, Wes Hall was an opening batsman and a wicket keeper. You should be flexible, he said.

Hall said that some of the best coaches in the region are involved in the programme this year and this will ensure the programme is successful.

“The coaches will determine for you what area of the game you may even try and I may think of no better person in the West Indies than Mr Roger Harper to take up this job, Hall said.

Also addressing the young cricketers were Director of the Academy, Dr Rudi Webster, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Graduate Studies, Dr Theodore Hollis and Shell’s External Affairs Manager, Mrs Carol Smith.

Dr Webster said the achievement of the Shell Cricket Academy over the past two years is unparalleled.

“When you look at cricket academies around the world and compare what the Shell Cricket Academy has achieved in its first two years you’ll see that our academy has done pretty well. Our Academy is not just about cricket, it places great emphasis on human development and personal development and this component, in my opinion, it’s just as important as the technical component of cricket, he said.

Dr Webster said a new programme of life-skills has been included this year which will ensure that the cricketers understand the rudiments of life.

“One of the most important goals of this academy is to get our players to value themselves as worthwhile human beings, to believe in themselves and in their ability and to understand the importance of self discipline and self control.

And this year, we have included an exciting life-skills programme in our course, he added.

St George’s University (SGU) has reiterated its commitment to the Academy with the provision of first-class facilities. The University is partnering with the WICB and Shell.

“Each of you is about to undergo an experience that will be both physically and mentally challenging. I suspect the likes of which you have never experienced before. You’ll learn cricket history, technical and mental skills but more importantly than just cricket, as a university you are here to learn about nutrition, sports psychology, sports physiology, anatomy, preventive medicine, computer science, public speaking, media training, bookkeeping and other things”, said Dr Theodore Hollis, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Graduate Studies.

He said reading and mathematics would be part of your curriculum.

Shell’s representative at the opening, Carol Smith said the sponsorship of the Shell Cricket Academy is a clear statement of their deep-rooted commitment to the future of the region, its development both economically and socially and the important integrating role sport can and does play.

“Our sponsorship of the academy facilitates the attainment of the Caribbean Dream of again producing a world-class cricket team. The Caribbean has produced a set of talented young cricketers, such as yourself. The Academy will take that talent; it will couple it with great technical skill on a road to developing a set of first class cricketers, said Smith.

“Our thanks are also due to the Council of Deans of St George’s University for being able to provide these first class facilities, and for their commitment to continuous improvement of both the facilities and the programme; which we are sure will come to be recognized as one of the very finest in the world, she said.

Former West Indies cricket coach Roger Harper is the head coach of the Academy. Darnley Boxhill, tactical and strategic coach and Kenneth Benjamin, bowling coach, will assist him.

Twenty-four young cricketers are participating in the 12-week programme. They are from

Barbados, Ryan Wiggins, Mwanghi Broomes, Randy Thomas, Carlo Morris, Dwayne Smith, and Jason Bennett; Grenada, Dennis George; Dominica, Greg Francois; St Vincent and the Grenadines, Othneil Baptiste; Jamaica, Dwight Washington, Jerome Taylor, Danza Hyatt, Maurice Kepple, Shawn Findlay and Tamar Lambert; Guyana, Krishna Arjune, Brian Stephney, Derwin Christian and Damodar Daesrath; Trinidad and Tobago, Amit Jaggernauth, Denzil James and Kenton Thompson; Nevis, Tonito Willett and Antigua, Juari Edwards.

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