National Under-19 cricketer Loyydel Lewis was last Sunday named Cricketer of the third annual BCB/Scotia Bank Cricket Academy held at the area “H” Ground, Rose Hall Town from August 29 to September 2.
Lewis was so named by the four-member Berbice Cricket Board coaching staff headed by Julian Moore.
The other awardees named were Best Batsman – Shimron Hetmyer, Best Bowler – Clinton Pestano and Most Committed Player – Keirre Henry.
Chairman of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Special Events Committee, Hilbert Foster, at the closing ceremony, hailed the 2011 Cricket Academy, which saw over 75 young cricketers drawn from all sections of Berbice attending, as a huge success.
The true success of the academy, Foster said, would be shown in the near future when the players go on to represent the county, Guyana and the West Indies at the highest levels.The long-serving cricket administrator, who is also the Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, urged the cricketers to put into practice what they had learnt and to assist others who were unable to attend the academy.
Foster challenged them to always be disciplined and to develop a culture of love for the game and not to play cricket for the financial benefits alone.
He also pledged that the BCB would continue to invest heavily in the careers of the youths as they are the future.
Foster also expressed gratitude to the Bank of Nova Scotia for its sponsorship of the academy, noting that Jennifer Nelson, Marketing Manager of Scotia, was a true friend of Berbice cricket.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Moore, in giving a review of the academy, stated that it had achieved its aims and objectives. Special emphasis was placed on indentifying technical problems with individual players and correcting them.
The four coaches concentrated on four areas – batting, bowling, fielding and physical fitness. Moore praised the young cricketers for their dedication, discipline and focus.
Cricketers Hakeem Hinds, Loyydel Lewis and Dominic Rikhi spoke on behalf of their colleagues and expressed satisfaction at what they had learnt from the coaches.
The players also expressed gratitude to Scotia Bank for investing in their future and pledged to work harder on fulfilling their potential.
