Banks and Hodge: Stars in the making

Young Anguillian star cricketers Omari Banks and Chaka Hodge returned from Guyana last week where they participated in the annual West Indies Under-19 Cricket Tournament for the Leeward Islands. The Leeward Islands may not have performed, collectively as a team, as well as they would have liked too, but young Anguillians, Banks and Hodge performed by far the most consistently for the Leewards.

Banks went on to become the third highest run-scorer in a tournament where the bat struggled for all teams and, furthermore, was picked for the West Indies Under-19 Team. He concluded the tournament with 260 electrifying runs at a sparkling average of 42.85 with a highest score of 103 not out against Canada and six wickets at 21 runs apiece. It was a formidable all-round performance for the young Anguillian who returned from a stint with Leicestershire County Cricket Club just weeks before his departure for Guyana. It has been a packed schedule for this young man but he never wavered and continued to impress all with his attacking strokeplay, his guile and spin, and his vivacious, bubbly and charismatic spirit for the game that he loves so much.

Hodge was just as equally impressive but unfortunately he seemingly just missed out on also being selected for the West Indies squad. His exclusion from the squad is a sorry example of that element of insularity that continues to force its way through the seams of West Indian Cricket. Hodge concluded the tournament in fine style claiming 14 wickets in the final match against the mighty Barbados, which was recognised as the individual performance of the tournament, for which Hodge was awarded a trophy. In total, Hodge spun his way to 27 quality wickets (second highest in the tournament) at a meagre 10.95 runs apiece: remarkable figures for an off-spinner.

Both Banks and Hodge are feathers in all Anguillian's caps and should be praised for their continued dedication to the game, and the tremendous effort that they exert week-in, week-out in an attempt to improve their already resounding wealth of talent. Hopefully the Leeward Islands' senior selectors can see that there is definitely a need for a changing of the guard, and with the Red Stripe Bowl just 5 weeks away lets hope that the change comes soon.