The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to invest heavily in the development of its youths with the successful staging of a bowling clinic at the Albion Cricket Ground Sunday last.
The clinic was conducted by former West Indies Test player, Reon King and former Guyana youth player Sean Devers.
King was responsible for the fast-bowling clinic while Devers worked with the off-spinners.
Some 24 young pacers including West Indies under-19 pacer, Isai Thorne, attended the clinic.
King, who played 19 tests and 50 One-Day International matches for the West Indies, spoke of the importance of been physically fit, a proper run up, follow through, mental strength and grip.
King, who is currently an International Match Referee and a Level Three Coach, also supervised the fast bowlers in an intense training session where he provided advice on several technical problems.
The off-spinners’ clinic was attended by over 30 passionate under-19 youths.
Devers, who is a Level Two Coach and a qualified umpire spoke of the importance of discipline, which, he said, was the most vital part of bowling spin.
Devers noted the need to develop a culture of consistency as spin bowling is a game of patience. Work was done on gripping the ball, how to bowl the arm ball, the run up and the follow through. The youths were advised to let the batsmen make the mistakes and to be consistent with good control at all times. Both King and Devers hailed the BCB for organising the clinic and expressed delight at the discipline and positive attitude of all.
BCB president Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to both coaches, who live in Georgetown for taking time off their schedule to pass on their knowledge to the youths. He stated that the BCB hopes to produce a minimum of 10 players for the West Indies at all levels over the next two to three years and urged the attentive youths to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the BCB and to continue training at home.
Foster disclosed that more clinics would be held in the near future and the programme would be expanded as the objective is to identify every promising talent in the county and to develop them.
At the conclusion of the clinic, the BCB handed over special gifts to King and Devers. Foster also issued another request for them to visit again, which was readily accepted.
The clinic was held under the BCB/Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Countywide Coaching programme, which has coached hundreds of youths over the last four years.
Dr. Singh is an overseas-based Berbician who has invested his own funds towards the development of the game in the county. Under the programme, the BCB has been able to get coaches to visit clubs to conduct sessions, hosts mini academies, host the Berbice Cricket Academy, host clinics and properly prepare all of its Inter-County teams.
