Sports

Teen Cricketers Complete Captaincy Training

Twenty-four teens have been exposed to all the elements needed to be successful cricket captains in the future.

They have successfully completed the three-month Under-19 National Youth Captains Programme organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.

The programme recently ended with a closing ceremony at the National Sports Council, Wildey Gymnasium. At that event, organiser of the programme and Cricket Analyst and Sports Consultant, Jamal Smith, told the young men “the sky is the limit” and that they and only they will ultimately determine their destiny.

The teenagers were exposed to theory, practical scenarios about cricket, the laws and regulations governing cricket, tactics, mental strength and umpiring, among other things.

Consultant Smith stated that the course went well, and he was confident that programmes like this will set the tone for the development of future leaders on and off the field.

He also noted that cricket in Barbados needs to be strengthened with young men who are critical thinkers, to provide leadership that maintains essential tactics and critical values, not only in schools but throughout the club system.

One of the presenters in the training programme, Talent Pathway Manager for Cricket West Indies and Head Coach of the West Indies Under-19 team to the last World Cup in South Africa, Rohan Nurse, stressed the importance of time management, setting good examples, being ahead of the game, leaving room to allow for a change in their decisions, and game awareness at all times.

The teenagers also gained valuable technical skills from Gregory Brathwaite, member of the International Umpires Panel, who offered key insights on the rules and regulations governing the different formats of cricket, along with fellow umpire, Ayana Holder.

Mr. Brathwaite told the teenagers that if they fail at playing the game, “they could consider umpiring, which would enable them to make a decent living”.

Ms. Holder urged “the young men to play cricket within the spirit of the game, which starts with respect and fair play”. She told them not to fall afoul of the anti-corruption code and to set the trend and examples for their players.

All of the players lauded the initiative, with Preston Clarke of Queen’s College, Mekaili Worrell of Alexandra, and Myles Alleyne of Harrison College praising the organisers, saying they benefitted tremendously from the exercise and are eager to put their newfound knowledge to use.

They also urged the Ministry of Sports to put on another Cricket Captains Programme for other young men and women. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Youth captains listen attentively to facilitator Jamal Smith as he guides them through the course

Sports

BARBADOS WINS CWI RISING STARS UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP

by David Harris

Defending champions Barbados defeated Guyana by 44 runs to retain their title in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-19 Championship at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua on Wednesday.

Needing to avoid defeat in their fifth and final match of the tournament to clinch the title, the Barbadian lads scored 209 for eight wickets, before bowling out Guyana for 160 in 45.3 overs.

Barbados were wobbling at 71 for four wickets, after winning the toss and opting to bat. Captain Justin Parris made an attractive 38 runs from 40 balls, the left-handed batsman struck five fours, but his dismissal in the sixteenth over left Barbados in a precarious position. Seth Smith (47) and Rajeev Parsooram (21) repaired the early damage with a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 61 runs, before Parsooram was dismissed by left-arm pacer Brandon Henry.

After Parsooram’s wicket fell; Smith added 40 vital runs for the sixth wicket with Yuvraj Persaud who made 19, Smith’s rearguard inning ended innings ended when he was dismissed by Henry in the 43rd over, the wicketkeeper/ batsman faced 75 balls and counted four boundaries. Asher Brandford 18 and Zarell Harding 15 not out ensured that Barbados posted a total over 200 runs.

Medium pacer Reyaz Laif took three wickets for 34 runs, he was supported by fast bowler Usain Fredericks two wickets for 53 runs,, and Henry who picked up two wickets for 24 runs.

Chasing 210 for victory, Guyana slumped to 55 for five wickets in the 17^th over as the Bajan bowlers took early wickets; but a defiant knock of 50 runs from Henry briefly give the Guyanese hope. Henry faced 88 balls and lead a lower resistance that saw Guyana to 156 for eight wickets before he was bowled by Parsooram. After Henry was dismissed Guyana’s innings ended quickly.

Brandford captured three wickets for 19 runs with his medium pace; he was supported by fellow medium pacers Joshua Thomas and Parsooram with two wickets for 35 runs and 19 runs respectively, while Parris picked up two wickets with his leg-spin.

Sports

JAYDEN WINS GOLD AT CARIFTA GAMES

by David Harris

Jayden Green captured Barbados’ lone gold medal at the 52nd CARIFTA Games which ended at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Mucrapo, Trinidad on Monday night. The 17-year-old student of the Christ Church Foundation School won the Under-20 Boys’ 200 metres at the three -day track and field meeting in 20,93 seconds ahead of Jamaicans Tyreece Foreman (20.95) and Junior Galimore (21.01); Green is the first Barbadian to win the event since Mario Burke in 2015.

The rest of team collected five silver and eight bronze medals with several athletes recording personal best. Barbados won 14 medals at the games, their best performance since the 2016 Games in Grenada where they won 20 medals.

Sports

GET READY FOR THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Calendar lists all the events from May to September 2025

NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES field events will begin on Saturday, May 31, at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, while the road races, involving running, cycling, walking, and skating, will take place on Sunday, June 1, on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track events at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.