Fifteen cricketers from the Antigua and Barbuda Under-19 cricket team recently returned from an enriching and transformative tour of England and Scotland.
The tour provided the young cricketers with valuable playing and educational opportunities that left an indelible mark on their lives.
Although the weather throughout their time in the UK was not ideal, with several matches rained out or affected by rain, the team was able to complete matches in London, Nottingham, Leicester and Scotland.
The cold and often wet conditions helped them to build stamina and get a taste of the challenges of playing in different and difficult conditions.
This enabled the young cricketers to measure their skills against international counterparts and gain first-hand exposure to the high standard of cricket played in the UK.
One of the tour’s highlight was the team’s visit to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, also known as the Home of Cricket, as part of a special education day.
The young players participated in interactive educational sessions led by consultant neurologist Dr Naheed Khan on the real effects of recreational substances on the brain and Nick Gandon about using the coaching and playing of cricket to develop personal character and essential life skills.
The team also had the privilege of a guided tour of Lord’s where they were able to see portraits, photos and match statistics of revered West Indian cricket icons such as Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts and Brian Lara, all prominently displayed.
This encounter with the images of these cricketing legends directly connected the young players to the rich heritage of West Indian cricket and served as a source of inspiration for their own early journey in competitive cricket.
The players also attended a double header of The Hundred Cricket Tournament at Lord’s as guests of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Speaking of the Tour, the Honourable Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Sports and the Creative Industries stated, “This tour is part of an annual strategic initiative by the Government to propel the growth of our Under-19 cricket programme.
By immersing the players in diverse cricketing environments and exposing them to a high level of global competition, we are building local capacity in both the playing and administration of youth cricket.
I would like to extend thanks to High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill for designing the full programme of activities for the team and to her staff, especially Brent Scotland, for supporting the daily needs of the team while in the UK”.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and the Creative Industries and the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission in London expressed their gratitude to all partners, supporters, and well-wishers.
They reiterated their commitment to nurturing young cricketing talent and providing them with transformative experiences that go beyond the cricket field.
The team was led by Ridley Jacobs, Sylvester ‘Bouncing’ Joseph, Evans ‘Jawakie’ Jones and Pernell Watley.
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