Young Barbadian cricketers were recently given a first-hand look at the demands of professional cricket when they joined the Barbados Tridents during their pre-season preparations at Kensington Oval as part of the Live Like a Pro initiative.
The initiative, which forms part of the Barbados Tridents’ pre-season camp, allowed the aspiring cricketers to train alongside the professional players and coaches while gaining an understanding of the discipline, preparation and commitment required to compete at the highest level.
Minister of Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, encouraged the young players to make the most of the opportunity, telling them that being selected for the programme was an indication that they had been identified as having the potential to progress.
“The young men standing in front of me are involved in the process of professional sport. It is a good thing because they get to see the ins and outs in terms of what is happening at this particular level. I think all of you would have seen in recent times the accolades that came as a tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers, and the fact that you are involved in this process, I want you to grasp the opportunity and become a sponge because it isn’t everybody who was selected to be a part of this setup.”
Griffith said the experience should give the youngsters a clearer understanding of what would be expected of them if they were serious about pursuing professional careers.
“The fact that you will see what is happening at this level will give you an indication as to what is expected if you intend to reach the highest level. As minister of sports, we are doing what we think is necessary in relation to our work.”
He also urged the participants to understand that reaching the professional level requires sustained hard work and focus.
“It is important that you see what professionals are doing and the hard work that they have to put in in order to reach the very top. It is not an easy thing, but at the end of the day, as long as you are willing, as long as you have the focus, I think that being involved in this process and interacting with professional coaches, you can only do well going forward.”
Griffith, who noted Barbados’ strong performances across several sporting disciplines this year, also expressed confidence in the Tridents ahead of the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season.
“This year Barbados has been having a fantastic time as far as sports are concerned. We have been hitting podium and doing all the right things, and I expect that the Barbados Tridents will be finishing at the top.”
Meantime, Barbados Tridents Operations Manager, Roxanne Forte explained that the Live Like a Pro initiative grew out of last year’s fast-bowling camp.
Forte said the youngsters were being exposed to all areas of the game while training alongside the Tridents.
“They are joining Barbados Tridents, doing things like fielding, batting and bowling, just to see what it’s like to be training as a professional cricketer and trying to get their game to that next level. They see that you need to work hard in order to get what you want.”
With the CPL season fast approaching, Forte said the Tridents’ preparations were well underway and the organisation was focused on ensuring everything was ready for the tournament.
“We will be ready. We are in full prep mode for the games starting on September 5th. The team comes back to Barbados on September 2nd, so by the time they get back here everything will be in place.”
Forte also revealed plans for a special Tridents Trust Game on September 10, with the team expected to wear pink and proceeds going towards the Barbados Royals Girls Club and the breast screening programme of the Barbados Cancer Society.
“We are doing one Tridents Trust Game, which comes from the Pink Promise, which the Royals would do every year. So the team will wear pink that day, so the proceeds will go to the Barbados Royals Girls Club as well as the breast screening programme for the Barbados Cancer Society. You can look out for big news to come on that. We are still in the planning stages, but we will get that information out as soon as we can so that everybody knows what’s happening on that day, which is September 10.”
Barbados Tridents head coach Trevor Penney welcomed the opportunity to return to Barbados for the pre-season camp and said the team would be aiming to make the most of its home advantage during the CPL.
“It’s always an honour and we love coming back here, and I hope we can bring that trophy back with the finals being here and five home games before that. So it’s written in the stars for us. It’s up to us to go and do it.”
Penney was particularly impressed with the young players involved in the Live Like a Pro programme, describing them as eager to learn and praising the depth of cricketing talent emerging from Barbados.
“The youngsters have fitted in so well, they’ve been like sponges. It always amazes me coming to Barbados, the youngsters coming through. It’s amazing the all-rounders, the batters and the bowlers. It just keeps coming through. So you guys are doing something right at the school level and club level.”
He urged the young cricketers to remain committed to their development, stressing that regular practice was essential to making the transition to professional cricket.
Penney also outlined the Tridents’ preparations, which include intensive practice sessions and day-night matches as the squad builds towards the CPL.
The coach said the quality of facilities available in Barbados has been an important part of the Tridents’ preparation.
For Barbados Under-19 captain Gadson Bowen, the opportunity to train alongside the Tridents provided an invaluable learning experience.
Bowen said interacting with the professional players gave him a better appreciation for the level of preparation required to succeed.
“It’s been a good initiative so far. So far, we’ve warmed up with the fellas, talked with some of the fellas, had some conversations with the captain as well. Being just involved in everything they do is a privilege, and catching some of the bowlers, the powerplay bowlers, seeing what their plans are early on, seeing how their life is at the moment, basically.”
He said the biggest lesson for him was the work ethic displayed by the professional players.
“Probably just how hard-working they are. Most of the stuff we basically know already, but just asking a lot of questions, seeing how hard-working the fellas are and just being around them is just a privilege as well. Inspiring and motivating.”
He said the experience has strengthened his belief that he can one day make the transition into professional cricket. (PR)
