Nat’l youth teams among cricket’s plans for 2018

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 20 December 2017

Cayman Cricket’s leadership looks ahead to the coming year with plans for national team participation at the youth and senior levels, while increasing the focus on developing the female game.

Among the plans for 2018 is a tour for a national Under-15 team and competing in an international under-19 tournament. The association’s executive has also promised a heightened focus on increasing the participation and skill levels of girls, with the aim of entering a girls’ team in an international tournament.

At the senior level, Cayman will be playing in an ICC Americas tournament in Argentina, with the possibility of qualifying into a higher level of competition.

In 2017, the national team advanced to the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 competition in South Africa in September. It got there with an impressive 3–nil series victory over Argentina in February.

“This qualification marked a welcomed return to international cricket for Cayman, and an important first step back on the road to rebuilding Cayman as an international cricketing nation,” the association stated in a release. However, it was rough going for the team at the South Africa tournament, as it suffered heavy defeats and failed to win a game.

Cayman failed to win a game at the ICC WCL Div 5 tournament.
(Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

However, president Abali Hoilett said he was delighted to note that the Cayman Islands advanced nine places in its international ranking this year.

“Rankings are based on a combination of factors such as the participation in the game, official and coaching involvement and independent fund-raising levels. This is quite a remarkable achievement which we hope to exceed in 2018 based on the proposed levels of participation and the plans which we already have in place,” added Hoilett, who was re-elected to lead the body after a stern challenge from former president, Courtney Myles.

The AGM also recorded the achievements and participation of several players from Jamaica in practice matches for the selection of the senior national team. Also noted was the participation of three Cayman umpires in the South American Championships held in Argentina.

Abali Hoilett

The junior development programme was marked as a source of great pride for Cayman Cricket and it was noted that over 4,700 children, boys and girls, participated in cricket activities over the course of the year. These activities included physical education sessions at the primary and high school levels; inter academy and inter school competitions, summer camps hosted by Cayman Cricket, The Department of Sports, Camana Bay and the YMCA.

Cayman Cricket vice president, Hector Robinson, said the highlight of the year at a local level was the Legends Reunited golf and gala fundraising event in March.

“We were thrilled to welcome legendary West Indies opening batsmen, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, over a weekend which saw the legends participating in the fundraising events, attending junior training sessions and making media appearances. It was great to see the buzz of excitement which accompanied the event, and this was also our most successful fundraising event this year,” he said.

L-R: Desmond Haynes, Christopher Gregory (NCB Cayman), Gordon Greenidge, Hector Robinson QC (Cayman Cricket VP)

Hoilett added: “We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to our private sector sponsors, including NCB Cayman Limited, Mourant Ozannes, Walkers, Cayman National Bank and Dart, as well as some notable individual sponsors and to the cricketing community for their support this year, we couldn’t have done this without them, and we look forward to their continued support in the coming year.”

Cayman Cricket’s board members and officers for 2018 were voted in as follows: President -Abali Hoilett, Vice President – Hector Robinson, Treasurer – Marlon Hoyte, Secretary – Ricardo Roach. Other board members are Bruce Jalim, Ricardo Sealy, Iranna Baligar and Walton Gooding.