By Delvon McEwan
Since the Steven Jacobs-led side won the Regional under-19 tournament in St Kitts in 2007, the national youth teams (U-15, U-17 and U-19) have not won a Regional title and are plagued by financial and other encumbrances as well as the perception that they are less competent than their peers abroad.
From 2008 to date and with young talents like Eugene La Fleur, Seon and Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Brian Sattaur, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Amir Khan, Andre Stoll, Kwame Kross, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Seion Daniels, Shaquille Williams, Ricardo Adams, Delon Heyliger, Norwayne Fredericks, Keon Joseph, and Steven Sankar passing through the youth system it is impossible to believe that Guyana does not have the capacity to win any titles.
What is even more alarming is that nine local youth cricketers (Beaton, Kross, Griffith, Joseph, Khan, Hemraj along with the recent members of the U-19 youth world cup squad: Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer and Kanhai) have represented the West Indies under 19 (WI U-19) team during this period. As such cricket administrators and players must act now as a matter of national interest. There are several boards countrywide that fall under the purview of the Guyana Cricket Board, with responsibility for cricket and every year the board hosts inter-county competitions for all three levels of youth cricket to scout talent for the various national youth teams. The cricket board also partners with entities like Scotiabank (Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Festival) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) (Grass Roots Cricket Programme) to host programmes across the country.
The three GCB subsidiaries also host competitions within their zones. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) hosts the inter-club, inter-zone U-15, U-17 and U-19 tournament along with the U-17 male and female schools competition. The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) runs competitions for all the youth levels at inter-zone; however, the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) competition committee chairman was not available to provide data for this location.
Stabroek Sport asked several current cricket administrators and cricketers about the dearth of titles at the youth level and what can be done to remedy the situation. Nazimul Drepaul, chairman of the junior national selection committee, was quick to note that Guyana did not lose any match in the Regional U-19 tournament in 2011, but placed second due to a points system. He believes that the U-19 team is doing well as its players are being selected to the WI U-19. Drepaul said selectors chose the best possible squads so players must perform at first class level for Guyana to be successful.
“A system should be put in place so players would be given a stipend to afford cricket equipment that will better their development and for the persons who finished school and are working…Each club, countrywide, should try seeking sponsorship from business organization/s (have a business organization adopt the club) so that the individual/s who represented Guyana at youth level would be given a stipend or a job that would allow them time off from 3pm to get in the necessary training,” he said.
Talent
On the other hand, Hilbert Foster, chairman of the special events committee for BCB, believes that the calibre of young cricketers is not comparable with earlier years, and the players have varied interests. “A lot of school cricket should be played and more coaching programmes should be done,” he said. Andre Percival, former captain of the West Indies Under-19 shared Foster’s views that there is a lack of talent in the teams being selected. Further, he said, for Guyana to revisit its ‘winning ways’ experienced individuals knowledgeable about the game must be sourced to help in its development.
Meanwhile, Alvin Johnson, a former manager for the West Indies Development Team and several of Guyana’s youth teams from 2000 to 2013, believes that Guyana can benefit from many of the new proposals the WICB plans to implement in cricketing territories.
Jacobs, the successful 2006 and 2007 under-19 captain said enough opportunities are not available for youngsters to practise cricket. “When I played under-19, we played cricket on a weekend and at times during the week so there were always opportunities for improvement and also to gain experience.” Although he did not rule out the weather as a factor for less cricket being played, Jacobs said it is imperative that more matches and events are organised to enhance junior performance.
Poor administration
Vice President of the Georgetown Cricket Association Neil Barry and Former Chairman of the National Selectors, Claude Raphael believe poor administrators are responsible for the decline. According to Barry, there are no consistent programmes from the club level or otherwise so cricketers are not being tested.
“If you look at the Georgetown scenario, they play cricket but they are not part of the DCB. The boards usually do everything hurriedly: sanction trials within a short period and players who they favour are selected, more so in Demerara…With the state of cricket in Demerara, Berbice is not being tested and it is evident that most of the national players are selected from these two counties,” he said.
Raphael said, “The way cricket is being administered in Guyana and by the WICB, vividly there’s an improper structure imminent.” A lack of funds at the club level adds to these difficulties as coaches cannot groom young talent and then ask them to commit to the game without any resources. Further, he opined, “Cricket must be played from the school level through to the senior levels, otherwise we will have individuals venturing to baseball, basketball, among other sports.”
DCB president Alfred Mentore recalled that over the years Guyana would have won because of a spin-based team; however, with changes in competition rules to reclaim the fast bowling heights of the 80s in the region, Guyana needed to adapt to the changes. “We lost a tournament because we (Guyana team) did not adhere to the rules …what is happening there is too much emphasis being placed on spin, that focus also needs to be emphasized in the fast bowling department.”
Youth development is also critical. “We continue to produce young West Indies players so there’s definitely young talent but, there need to be qualified coaches involved that can get the best out of the young players,” he said.
According to Colin Stuart, Territorial Development Officer of the GCB, there are four general development areas that affect players’ performance. “These are the technical aspect, physical fitness, the psychology …of the game and nutrition.” Resources; the provision of support staff and materials such as agility apparatuses, are also needed. Personal development of each player is also important.
“Therefore, there is a need for us (the GCB) and employed coaches to place a greater degree of emphasis on the mental aspect of the players’ game. This focus will narrow its attention to players’ capacities and abilities to apply themselves effectively to a variety of game situations,” he said.
Further, the GCB is currently considering adding a psychologist and a social worker to its staff. “Already, the social worker has conducted sessions with one of our senior players who is not yet in the senior national team, but has shown growth in his discipline and approach to the game,” he said.
Having ventilated these issues, the onus is now on administrators to make crucial changes to their operations. Also, since nine players have been selected to the WI team over a five-year period what is inhibiting players’ performance at the Regional level? Inter-county cricket at youth levels is still on the GCB agenda therefore one wonders whether it is that these programmes have been poorly designed, if the selectors are properly qualified or if they are being financed in the interest of national cricket. What are the criteria for coaches?
Also, what remuneration or other resources are made available to players? Finance for cricket does not only affect cricketers, but the clubs which must maintain practice facilities and make available other ground equipment and services. While the cricketers at most clubs pay a fee to maintain their membership, the cost of cricketing gear is prohibitive. Transportation costs also deter attendance. These circumstances sometimes force players to seek contracts at an early age, or some choose another career path which makes corporate sponsorship crucial.
Although there was one major low in the two youth inter-county (under 15 and 19) competitions held so far this year, where the West Demerara under-15 team was dismissed for a record low 13 with all the batsmen failing to score, eight batsmen recorded centuries (two at u-15 and six at u-19). The GCB was also behind other regional boards who selected their under-17 teams more than a month before the GCB.
Guyana has won 12 Regional under-19 titles with their latest coming in 2007, though it has never won a Regional under-17 tournament. Their only success at the under-15 tournament was 1998. The Guyana U-17 squad is set to open the youth campaign for the 2014 regional season today in Tobago. The team was named four days before departure, which may be yet another indication of poor preparation by the governing cricket body for cricket. If this team is to clinch the title then it will be a boon to the U-15 and U-19 teams.
