Charlie Griffith meets Toronto's youngsters

All-time West Indian great Charlie Griffith took time to visit the Toronto Cricket Academy's (TCA) game with Bermuda Schools on Thursday (July 13). Griffith, together with "my partner in crime, Wes Hall", formed one of the most formidable opening bowling combinations in Test Cricket during the 1960's.

After the game, TCA President Brian Hale assembled his team and introduced Griffith who was welcomed with a handshake, the sign of friendship in cricket - "touching the flesh", as Hale refers to it. The TCA meet and greet their opponents before each game, handing out a badge with a Canadian flag to all opposing players. A request to wear the badge in future and remember the experience shared on the cricket field accompanies these presentations.

Griffith handed out some leaflets produced by the Barbados Lumber Company, his current employers. He pointed out a picture of himself in his youth and asked if the players recognised Rohan Kanhai. For the youngsters who were not brought up in that era, Kanhai was a tremendous batsman ... and not that tall.

It was the first time I recall hearing Griffith speak. There is a remarkable contrast between the fear he put into many batsmen and his soft-spoken tones. He commented later that he spoke slowly to the teams so they could absorb his words. That was a great gesture.

His opening advice was simple but effective. "The first thing you have to do is listen....and listen attentively. Cricket is a thinking game. You bowl at those three stumps. You can't relax on the field. As a youngster I would run all day." He told the players that "energy, ...., guts and determination are keys to success." When his playing days were over he spent five years in coaching.

"In the 60's, when I played, in those days it was not easy. In Barbados there were two Associations. The elite Barbados Cricket Association and the Barbados Cricket League (BCL). The BCL was for the underprivileged." He rolled off a number of names - major figures in West Indies and Test Cricket - who had progressed through the BCL. They included Garry Sobers, Wes Hall, Seymour Nurse and Griffith himself. "Nearly half the West Indies team came through the BCL.

"You have to make sacrifices if you are to succeed. You don't get anything easy in life." He noted "practice and discipline" as key requirements. "A lot of youngsters don't know about discipline. You have got to make sacrifices.

"If there is a game tomorrow, get to bed early so you can rest, so you can play the next day."

He concluded "I do hope you'll understand what I'm saying. Each and everyone of us has talents. We must know and harness those talents." He modestly ended with the words "I was a hard trier" - and a very successful one.

The spirit of cricketing friendship showed through during this speech as the Bermudan players and management joined the TCA and listened to his words.

He then freely signed autographs for the young players, and for the support teams and spectators. Thank you, Charlie Griffith.