TTCB – News

Aussies give Narine, Cooper green light
August 18, 2011

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s national cricket team coach Kelvin Williams is optimistic that Kevon Cooper  and Sunil Narine can continue their cricket careers with more confidence following a series of  tests and remedial work at a top Australian university.

The match officials at the 2011 Caribbean T20 Championships last January had expressed concern about the bowling action of medium fast bowler Cooper and Narine, a right arm off-spinner. Trinidad and Tobago won the tournament which was contested in Antigua/Barbuda and Barbados.

As a consequence of the  concerns raised, the Ministry of Sports financed the trip Down Under for the bowlers and their coach.

The T&T Cricket Board on Thursday commended the Ministry of Sport in making an investment in the two young cricketers to get the best possible opportunity to test their action and ensure that they enjoy a long and successful career in the sport.

Coach Williams said after the rigorous ten-day drill involving bio-mechanical tests and remedial  exercises, the young promising bowling are on their way to reclaiming their  places on the national team without the cloud of suspicion hanging over their heads.

He praised Cooper, 22, and Narine, 23, for their hard work with the Australian experts at the University of Western Australia in Perth which he said was equipped with the most modern equipment costing more than Australian $1.2 million.

Following the stint both were issued with encouraging reports said Williams.

Of Cooper it was stated: “He seems to be on the right track to fix his action but continued strength and flexibility work is needed.” And of Narine: “He impressed a great amount and just needs to bowl more with his new action to increase the repeatability of his action.”

Williams said every aspect of the T&T bowlers’ action was scrutinised  by a team from the university comprising Kane Middleton, Jackie Alderman and former Western Australia and Kent coach Darryl Foster aided by 15 infrared cameras.

“Sensors were placed on what the experts thought were the most important areas of their action and recommend what was necessary to help them to correct their faults,”  said Williams.

Following the Caribbean T20 Championships, a stint was arranged for them at the High Performance Centre in Barbados through the West Indies Cricket Board after which it was recommended t hat they refrain from bowling and work with their respective club coaches in an effort  to correct their action.   

However in an effort to get additional help the Ministry of Sport assisted financially to ensure that the two players were exposed to the ICC approved experts in the bio-mechanics field.

Coach Williams now feels that  Cooper of T&TEC Sports Club and Narine, who plays for champion club Queen’s Park are poised to get back into top class competitive cricket fully as soon as the final report has been received from the university which he expects as soon as next week.

Williams said the cricketers were very excited to receive the assistance offered at the University of Western Australia which is the only institution recognized for biomechanical testing by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body for cricket.

“They were in good hands and responded very well to the effort put in to get them back on track. We are certain that with the follow-up work they will be better-prepared to serve Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies in the very near future,” said Williams.