A tour for the future

To say that the young cricketers on the Barbados Under-13 cricket team are delighted to be heading of to England today would be a huge understatement.

The 25 youngsters are "on top of the world" in anticipation of the tour, which features 18 matches in a packed itinerary from August 12 to September 1.

The party has swelled to 40 - with family members, well-wishers and administrators joining the players and team officials on the trip.

Herein lies the future of Barbados' cricket, said tour manager and veteran sports administrator Adrian Donovan.

"Cricket in Barbados was on the way down and we realised something had to be done about it," said the senior administrator of the National Sports Council.

He said the format and idea for such a team came two years ago at a presentation ceremony of the Herman Griffith Primary Schools' Competition.

The tour in many ways is a tribute to former Barbados and West Indies fast bowling great Malcolm Marshall.

Former West Indies batting greats Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, former teammates and close friends of "Maco", were roped into the programme when they returned from overseas to work with the Gems of Barbados Project.

Joel Garner, the former pace partner of Marshall, is also working closely with the juniors and will accompany them.

"We felt when Gordon and Desmond came back they were the ideal persons. They readily came aboard and have been of great help," Donovan said.

He also hailed the efforts of coaches Thelston Payne, Milton Small, George Linton and Richard Straker, who all played with Marshall for Barbados.

"Exposure is the main goal, also the opportunity to play under different conditions," said Donovan.

"These lads are seen as the most talented crop of cricketers for a while.

"They were harnessed from very early and they are showing attributes of dynamism - eating, sleeping and drinking cricket.

"They are students of the game, a lot like Marshall was. They are really studying their art," he added.

"It's not only about cricket either. It is also about maintaining grades in school, and this group has been doing well. Here we have a wonderful mix between academics and sports."

The manager added that the trip is costing over $120 000 and he praised the efforts of parents, and thanked corporate Barbados for their support.

It was 13 years ago when Marshall took a record 35 wickets in five Tests in England at the amazing average of 12.65 per wicket.

If we look ahead another 13 years it would be unrealistic to expect all the young players embarking on this tour to emerge as West Indies Test cricketers of the future.

But somewhere in there, a young Marshall is waiting for his chance to blossom in what is turning out to be a sunny, Caribbean-style summer in England.

That would surely make "Maco" smile from beyond the grave.