At the Arnosvale Sporting Complex on Saturday 13th November, the SVG Cricket Association conducted the first day of a two-day specialized cricket training programme with young male cricketers from the Jules Anthony Cricket Club. This programme is part of the SVGCA’s plans to increase the skill level of young promising cricketers throughout the country by providing them with fundamental knowledge of the rudiments of the skills that comprise the game. The programme is being facilitated by coaches with regional and international cricketing experience headed by Ian Allen, former Windward Island senior team coach.
The aim of the programme is to equip the players with the basic knowledge to adopt a drill based approach in developing their cricket skills in the absence of formal tournaments due to the current pandemic. The Association believes that these specialized training programmes can serve as a critical tool towards grooming an improved crop of cricketers that can go forward to regional and international stardom.
Lead coach and program coordinator Ian Allen called the progreamme a “great initiative”. He said further that “[Players] now have an avenue to turn to rekindle that interest and passion for the game and also to enhance their skills and knowledge of the game. It is my hope that there will be follow up sessions to monitor the progress of these players and that this initiative will form a part of the SVGCA’s yearly calendar.”
The programme will continue next Saturday 20th November when the North Leeward group will complete their training. Cricketers from the Windward and Central zones will follow for two Saturdays each thereafter. December 18th will mark the conclusion of the programme that would have seen 42 players between the ages of 15 and 21 participating.
