Simmons: Keep players at crease

A Leading cricket administrator, who at one time served as Minister of Education, is calling for a structure to be put in place to allow teenaged cricketers to continue to play the game and also work when they leave school.

Keith Simmons, the first vice-president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), who is currently acting as head of the association while Tony Marshall recovers from surgery, made the call at the awards presentation ceremony of the Cable & Wireless BET Under-15 Schools cricket competition on Thursday.

Something has to be done to ensure that our cricket reaches another level. I believe that some of our problems stem from the fact that we have not got good enough programmes for those who leave school at 17 or indeed between the ages of 17 and 21, Simmons said.

My view is that Government would have to intervene to provide the where-with-all, mainly finances, to ensure that our cricketers between 17 and 21 (years) can earn a living and still play cricket.

If we expect youngsters to leave school and sometimes, not working or if they are working, usually work shift and dont get time to train, then our cricket will never improve, added Simmons.

Strategy

We have to do a lot about our cricket and I sincerely hope that the West Indies Cricket Board and our own board can put our heads together and come up with some strategy or structure which will ensure that when youngsters leave school at 16 or 17, they can continue.

Simmons told the youth that unless they continue in your cricket or education, then you will not make it.

One of our shortcomings in cricket is that the educational level of our cricketers is not reaching that level which you will expect.

If you are to go to Test standard, you will play with the best and you must think at that level.

I am going to implore you youngsters who are playing cricket to pay particular attention to your education. It is not only good for cricket, but it is good for your life in the future, said Simmons.

Concerning the two finals which both ended in no-decisions, Simmons said he was happy with the application shown by the batsmen from the two schools, Coleridge and Parry and Alexandra, which shared the title.

I know that quite a few people have been critical of what took place over the last six days. But I think that those of us who follow cricket a lot should be most encouraged by the fact that the youngsters can follow the instructions of coaches and, most importantly, that they can occupy the wicket.

When I hear the various pundits discussing cricket, they always say that we dont occupy the wicket and then those who say that you occupy the wicket, then say you should go and get out, so I am not quite sure what they are saying, Simmons said.

There is a lot in cricket these days and if we were to play in the way that it should be played, then there is a lot to be gained, much more than before.