Sports

NATHAN SEALING HIS FUTURE

At just 17 years of age, Nathan Sealy appears to be well on his way to a bright future in the sport of cricket. His start in cricket was no different from most Barbadian boys. He recalls playing cricket when he was age 6. Whenever there was time, a bat and a ball Nathan would do what felt natural to him; he would play cricket. He liked cricket as much as any other boy his age and never thought of himself as gifted with any abilities above the norm.

While at Luther Thorne Primary School one of his teachers took note of Nathan’s cricket abilities and encouraged him to join the Empire Youth Cricket Program at the famous Empire Club in Bank Hall. The teacher who spotted Nathan was well qualified to recognize cricket talent having played the game at all levels for most of his life, that teacher was Jason Haynes. At Empire, the young and excited cricketer came under the tutelage of Mr. Haynes and another experienced cricketer, Ian Perryman Jr. After long periods of training sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays Nathan started to develop his skills and most of all his love for the game of cricket.

Sealy is a natural right-hander, but he bowls with his left hand. This ambidextrous feature is limited to cricket and came about almost by accident. When he was asked to bowl, he just picked up the ball with his left hand and bowled. Both Haynes and Perryman knew this type of dexterity was common in cricket and left Nathan where he was comfortable, batting right-handed and bowling left-handed.

Nathan represented Luther Thorne Primary School at cricket and got the feel of competitiveness, he loved it. Doing his best and winning was addictive. He also recognized the importance of teamwork and leadership. His first five-wicket haul was for his primary school, but little did he know then that five-wicket hauls would become a regular feature of his game.

In the Barbados Cricket Supplies Under 13 Tournament in 2017, Nathan Sealy made an outstanding knock of 140 from 89 balls playing from Empire Juniors against the Franklyn Stephenson Academy. In 2018 Nathan as the captain of the Empire Juniors- a group of talented young players- would lead them to an epic final against Passage Road Juniors. Passage Road won that final, but it was a graduation of sorts for an Empire team that had never reached a final.

Nathan playing for Barbados Youth against Police

At 17 Nathan’s cricket career has only just started but a look at his performances easily indicates the direction this Christ Church Foundation Schoolboy is headed.

In an Under -15 game vs St. George Secondary School, he got to his highest score of 154 not out, he has taken 10 wickets for 30 runs against Alleyne School and outstanding match figures of 15 for 48 runs against Lester Vaughn, where he took 7 wickets in the first innings and returned to take 8 in the second innings.

Nathan is currently playing in various BCA cricket tournaments both for his Foundation School as well as his Empire Club.

In the recently concluded T20 tournament Nathan bagged 10 wickets. In the BCA Super 50 Cup, the left-handed spinner had the most wickets (26) which includes a 7-wicket haul vs Carlton (a hat-trick) and a 6-wicket haul vs Police. When you add 125 runs to Nathan’s credit it is easy to accept that he had outstanding performances in the Super 50 Cup series.

The left hand spinner bowling for Empire against Wildey in the 50 Cup semis

Nathan Sealy has represented Barbados at under -15, under-17, and under-19 levels and was the co-captain of the West Indies Under-15 team which toured England in 2019. This was affected by rain and very little cricket was played much to the disappointment of Nathan and his teammates.

Nathan is honing his bowling skills under the mentorship of West Indies left-hand spinner Jomel Warrican. He also looks towards another West Indies player Justin Greaves as someone to emulate as a well-rounded cricketer. It is interesting to note that he has been sufficiently influenced by the professional players from his Empire Club. Apart from these players, he has high regard for Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hassan as an ideal cricket role model and he is his favorite cricketer. His favorite bowler is Trinidadian Akeal Hosein.

The performances and achievements of Nathan Sealy at such a young age are clear evidence that he can develop into an international cricketer. From a typical little Bajan boy who liked to play bat and ball Nathan is now a good student of the game, he is learning and maturing into his potential. He acknowledges that getting to the top of cricket is no easy task, but he is committed to giving cricket his best shot. (article & pics by Chris Williams)

Sports

Over 200 Participants To Compete At Senior Games

To date, more than 200 participants have registered for the National Senior Games – 55 per cent are male and 45 per cent are female. They represent a wide cross-section of athletes from across the island, who will be competing in various disciplines during the 21st Anniversary of the Games.

According to the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA), the top five parishes by registration are St. Michael (26 per cent); Christ Church (21 per cent); St. James (13 per cent); St. Philip (13 per cent) and St. George (12 per cent).

With respect to age categories, at the Masters’ level (40 – 49 years), 20 per cent have registered so far; at the Seniors’ level (50 – 69 years), 70 per cent have signed up, while for the Super Seniors (70+ years), 10 per cent have registered.

Registration will close on Tuesday, May 27.

Coordinator of the National Senior Games, Ytannia Wiggins, who said she was pleased with the response by athletes, noted that this year marks a milestone in digital engagement with the introduction of an accessible online registration system.

Of the initiative, she said: “The updated online process has made registration more efficient and has been warmly embraced by our seniors, many of whom leaned on their children and grandchildren for support, when it was needed. But overall, we’ve had little pushback to the use of digital forms.

“The form was also optimised for users with disabilities. Though physical forms were still available, fewer than five have been submitted via that method – which speaks volumes about how the community has adapted.”

The National Senior Games aligns with the Ministry’s Active Aging Policy, promoting wellness, inclusion, and community pride through sport.

Persons attending the Games are reminded that in addition to the official launch and motorcade to Golden Square Freedom Park on May 24, other upcoming events include field events at Queen’s College on May 31; the Road Race /Walk /Cycling on the Mighty Grynner Highway on June 1, and the Track & Field Meet at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on June 9. (PR/GIS)

Sports

HAYLEY PREPARES ENGLAND TOUR

Preparation for international matches that will take place in England later this month

By David Harris

Captain of the West Indies’ Women’s team Hayley Matthews began preparing for the regional side tour to England by making an unexpected appearance for her local club ESAF Pickwick against the SigniaGlobe Financial BCA Youth team in the third series of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Elite Division over the weekend.

The West Indies are schedule to three T20 International matches (T20Is) and three One Day International matches (ODIs) when they tour England from May 18 to June 7.

It is rare for female cricketers to play with their male counterparts in the top-tier of the BCA’ s competitions. Matthews is the first woman to play in the Elite Division; the first occasion a female took part in the top-tier of a BCA’s competition was in 2013 when Shaquana Quintyne represented YMPC against Banks and the Barbados Defense Force Program.

On the first day of the match (Saturday) Matthews was bowled by left-arm pacer Jakeem Pollard for two runs as Pickwick were dismissed for a meager 62 runs in their first innings. When the BCA Youth batted Matthews bowled four overs for 10 runs and picked up the wicket of Damani Roach, the number 10 batsman with her off-spin.

Yesterday, Pickwick were in dire straits at 12 runs for two wickets in their second innings in reply to BCA Youth’s total of 177 when Matthews came to crease and scored 60 magnificent runs. Her 50 came from 59 balls in 89 minutes and contained nine delightful fours.

She shared a third wicket partnership of 122 with Pickwick’s captain Rohan Ryan (67), at the tea break Matthews was 60, and the sprinkling of spectators at the Lester Vaughan School Ground, Cane Garden, St Thomas were hoping that her gem on an innings would continue after the interval.

But that was not to be Matthews was trapped lbw by Pollard with the first ball after tea, she faced 71 balls and struck 11 fours to help Pickwick score 256 in their second innings.

Chasing 141 runs to win the match, BCA Youth were 25 runs for two wickets. The match continues next Saturday.

Several persons were questioning on social media over the weekend why Matthews was playing for Pickwick instead of representing Barbados in the regional T20 Blaze which is taking place in St Vincent.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday evening, Matthews explained that she is taking a break from regional cricket and took the opportunity to use the match to prepare for the West Indies’ trip to England.

“I am taking a break from regional cricket ahead of the West Indies tour to England to give any niggling injuries I have a chance to heal, but at the same time I still preparing for the West Indies tour to England which start in a couple of weeks by participating in this match against Barbados Youth”, Matthews explained.

Sports

REGIONAL TABLE TENNIS YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS

by David Harris

The curtain came down on the 28^th the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Youth Championships at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex last weekend; the tournament was a pathway for players to qualify for the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games which will be held in Argentina from August 9 to 23.

With powerhouse teams from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba taking part in the Championships, the competition was dominated by the Spanish speaking countries. Out of 14 finals, only two featured competitors from the English-speaking Caribbean.

Barbados’ sole medal in the Championships, a bronze was won when the Boys’ Under-15 team of Maleeq Aimey, Mdjai Collymore, Ajani Gittens, and Scott Galbraith defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines 3-2 in a tense and exciting group-stage match; the podium finish earned the team a place at the Junior Pan American Games.

“The highlight of the Championship for Barbados was the bronze medal won by the Under-15 Boys team. In the singles and doubles events, several players advanced from their groups. That was very satisfying but it was disappointing that they did not come closer to winning at least a bronze medal in those events”, Philip Hackett manager of the team told Advo Magazine.

“We are in the process of launching a high- level program for our juniors as we committed to putting in the necessary work to lift the standard of the sport. Therefore, the inclusion of 10-year-old Scott Galbraith in the boy’s Under-15 team was an investment for the future. The selection of seven-year-old Jakaila Hoyte who competed in the Under-15 singles was also an investment in the future; she won the admiration of the fans for her fearless effort”, Hackett added.