Prep school cricket crucial to development, says Heaven
‘);
} else {
$(“.fotorama-caption”).addClass(“remove_caption”);
}
})
.fotorama();
ScotiaBank has pumped a whopping $5 million into the 2018 Prep School Cricket competition while announcing three bursaries of $50,000 each for the County’s MVP this season, at the launch at Sabina Park Thursday.
Yanique Forbes-Patrick, Scotiabank’s vice-president of marketing, pointed out that the bank was on board for over 10 years and was pleased with the returns.
“We are always very happy to work with the JCA (Jamaica Cricket Association) and WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) on the cricket programmes. They have been doing a fantastic job growing and developing the sport and competition as well. This year we are looking forward to having a very good competition,” she said.
“To get involved in sports at this level, we think it teaches so much that cannot be taught in a classroom. The developmental aspects of cricket, the discipline, the camaraderie, the competition and learning to lose and win graciously — I think they are all excellent traits coming out of this competition.
“We have been doing this for a number of years and we’ve seen the vision that we had come to life in terms of students emerging from this programme and joining a national programme. So we are very excited about this year and we expect no less than excellence from the students, and we are looking forward to some great games,” said Forbes-Patrick.
JCA President Wilford “Billy” Heaven said Scotiabank’s sponsorship has been very significant, especially when one looks at the amount being granted from this competition.
“Scotia has left a legacy with us. That legacy will live on and I am sure they have got some value out of the sponsorship of cricket, and we really wanted to commend them and thank them for the development of cricket in the region and Jamaica specifically,” he noted.
“One of the things we have found recently from a study is that there is a serious gap in cricket development in that, after primary school or prep school cricket, then where do the players go? Some will go into the high school system, but you lose a lot along the way when they are attached to a high school that does not really have the emphasis on cricket or can find a strong team,” Heaven pointed out.
“So we have started a junior programme in our clubs so that the players can leave from primary school, go into that programme, and be developed further at the club level. By doing that, we will have the sufficient numbers coming through to make Jamaica’s cricket very strong and lead to players going to the West Indies and wider world,” Heaven added.
Oneil Cruickshank, JCA’s operations manager, outlined the format of the competition and noted that there are 42 teams across the three counties of Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey.
The teams will play in two zones in their counties and the top four will advance to the semi-finals. From there will be the county winners, who will come to the nationals with the three county winners and the best runners-up.
All matches will be 25 overs each. Each team must have one girl that will bat and bowl between positions one to four.
The competition bowled off immediately after the launch with Surrey champion St Hugh’s and Richmond Prep in action.
Be the first to comment