WI domestic: Under-13s clash on field today

OVER 200 aspiring pre-teen cricketers will don their whites today for the start of the fifth Banks Sir Everton Weekes Under-13 Schools Limited Overs Cricket Competition.

The 30-overs-a-side tournament, which has attracted 21 schools, has been divided into four zones, and will bowl off at 12:30 p.m. at various venues across the island.

The annual competition, delayed by a few weeks, was officially launched at the headquarters of the sponsors yesterday, where new president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Sir Conrad Hunte and brand manager for Tiger Malt at Banks, Rosalind Harewood, unveiled plans for the competition.

"It is good for youngsters to start early on, competing against their peers for pre-eminence in the sport we all love," said Sir Conrad.

"At Under-13, you have the possibility of showcasing your talents in such a way that the selectors and the scouts can notice something special about you," he said.

"Anyone who shows extraordinary ability, we are going to notice him and we are going to take that youngsters and we are going to fast-track him so he becomes quickly available at national and international level."

Harewood said that this year Banks would offer incentives to batsmen who scored a century or bowlers with outstanding performances.

Sir Conrad also revealed that the BCA was hoping to change the format of the annual clinic conducted by Sir Everton and they would also be looking at selecting a Banks All Stars XI at the end of the competition.

"This year, instead of getting about 60 youngsters to come up to a clinic here at Banks, we are hoping to diversify a bit and take Sir Everton to other places so that instead of 60 [children] we might be able to do 50 in [each of] the zones," he said.