TTCB – News

Tobago cricketers spice up Balmain camp
September 19, 2011

TOBAGO cricketers Addrien Daniel, left, and Jahron Alfred, centre, are congratulated by president of the T&T Cricket Board Azim Bassarath on their induction into the T&T Cricket Academy Camp on Saturday at Balmain, Couva.
Photo courtesy T&T Cricket Board

THREE young cricketers from Tobago are among the latest inductees in the T&T Cricket Academy ‘s 17-23 development programme which was officially launched on Saturday at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at Balmain, Couva.

The trio who represent the future crop of raw, young talent that abounds on the sister isle is allrounder Addrien  Daniel, 17,  of Carnby, son of former national cricketer Alston Daniel; and Belle Garden’s Jahron Alfred, 20, a fast bowler;  and Ronald Scotland.

Both Daniel and Alfred were present with their fellow participants at the launch when they were addressed by  president of the T&T Cricket Board Azim Bassarath, feature speaker Mark Mungal, head of the Alliance for Sport and Physical Education, and Kumar Rampat, the West Indies Cricket Board’s Territorial Development Officer  (TDO).

Unfortunately Scotland could not attend the event chaired by national coach Glen Dwarika because of illness and has since expressed his disappointment  in not  attending  because of educational pursuits. The 25-day camp is spread over weekends starting on Saturday and ending in mid-December.

Among the lecturers listed to speak to the young cricketers are Kelvin Williams, coach of the national senior team; former explosive West Indies opening batsman Gordon Greenidge; Antiguan Test fast bowler now leading regional coach Kenny Benjamin and ex-national cricketers Rajendra Dhanraj, Tony Gray and Alec Burns.

There will also be intensive practical sessions  which will cover 240 contact hours to enable the cricketers to get a wholesome perspective on their future development as national and Test class material.

T&TCB president Bassarath sees the recognition of the cricket talent in Tobago as a positive indication of the Board’s objective of giving all persons in the twin republic an equal chance of fulfilling their potential on the cricket field and participating in all programmes organized by the present administration.

In his short address Bassarath told the inductees that a foremost Swiss psychologist once declared that only education can save modern society from collapse and is also quoted as saying that “Play is the work of childhood,” to which the cricket chief added, “Play is also the work of adulthood.”

He said the T&T Cricket Academy is founded on firm and fundamental educational principles and praised his predecessor Alloy Lequay under whose watch the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre was envisaged and built despite the more  dire economic climate compared to the present.

Bassarath told the youngsters that some of T&T’s leading cricketers had all passed through the “Sir Frank” and among them are current WI fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, recalled Test wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, opener Lendl Simmons, T20 superstar Kieron Pollard and many others.

“Young cricketers, you have a wonderful  life ahead of you. You have demonstrated a unique talent for the game of cricket and you have been selected for special and more intense training as you mature and develop. You have parents who stand by you and who seek your very interest. All these are essential  ingredients to your success,” Bassarath said.

He said those who fail to prepare often prepare to fail reminding them that Pollard, the most sought after and highest paid T20 cricketer in the world had his skills developed and nurtured at the T&T Cricket Academy camp and is an inspiration to all presently seeking to aspire to national and international recognition.

Bassarath said the cricket industry is one of the fastest growing in the world, rewarding cricketers with tidy wages and royalties while also defining the contribution of caterers, umpires, scorers, commentators who all contribute to the finished global product.

The T&TCB boss said the aim of the SFWDC is not only to nurture outstanding cricketers but to mould successful, decent human beings and towards this end a curriculum has been provided to bolster the all-round development of the course participants.

He commended parents for being the driving force behind their child’s achievements to date and pledged the support of the T&T Cricket Board who he said will strive to provide the best facilities, equipment and guidance at all times.

“The T&T Cricket Academy stands for excellence, honesty and integrity. It’s programmes are designed to draw the best out of the players and participants. The facilities and its administrators have been sought out by many foreign teams. The facilities have been in continual use by various national age group teams so much so that we are contemplating expansion and modernisation  of the present holdings,” Bassarath said.