T Becca comments on literacy tests for young WI cricketers (30 April 1998)

April 30, 1998

Think about this

Tony Becca

CRICKET: The recent announcement by the West Indies Cricket Board that it will put in place literacy tests for young cricketers continues to be a topic of discussion around the country and, although their numbers are dwindling, there are those who remain opposed to it on the grounds that it will lead to discrimination.

"Let me tell you something," said one man over the telephone yesterday. "It is wrong and if we allow it to happen, cricket will return to the old days when players from the ghetto are brushed aside and only those from uptown are selected to represent Jamaica or the West Indies." Is he right? Maybe - and indeed it would be a sad day if things return to what they were in the old days when the school one attended was more important than one's ability to play the game.

That however, is not the intention of the board and, on top of that, education today is not limited to the privileged few - to those who attend schools such as Wolmer's, Jamaica College, Munro College, Cornwall College, Kingston College or St. George's College.

Today, there is opportunity for all. Today, there are many, many more seats available for those who want them and today there are many schools around the country as good as if not better than the old ones - so much so that the school tie, to a large extent, is something of the past. The irony of the situation however, is that while there is greater opportunity to learn today, too many youngsters in sport fail to make use of it - either by not going to school or by going but not making an effort to learn.

To some of them, sport is their calling and they have no time for anything else.

What is worse however, is that too many parents turn a blind eye, too many people, including club members, coaches and managers, who have an influence on youngsters do nothing about it, and that too many schools fail to insist that those on the register attend classes and try to improve themselves - not only as insurance should they not make it as professional sportsmen, but also in order to be successful as professional sportsmen.

The West Indies Cricket Board has no plan to return to the old days and the school tie. The board however, has finally recognised that many of its talented players have failed because of their inability to cope with pressure.

The board has seen too many former players in need, the board has seen too many who did not make it and who ended up with nothing to fall back on, and the intention of the board, as emphasised by Alloy Lequai of Trinidad and Tobago, is to ensure the total development of its young cricketers - a development which will not only improve their performance on the field but which will also benefit them off the field. The board however, cannot do it alone. The board needs the support of all those in touch with young players - the mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, big brothers and big sisters, club executives and club members, coaches and managers.

Instead of harbouring fears of discrimination, those involved with young players should dedicate themselves to the development of players who cannot be ignored - or who cannot be discriminated against.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)