WI local: School of thought

It was formed principally as a voice for schoolboy cricketers.

And no one can say that voice has not been heard.

The Barbados Schools Cricket Council, now into its second year, has been at the heart of bringing about positive developments for junior cricketers.

'We are gradually building up as we go along,' council president Bruce Cosens told Midweeksport.

'There are various things we are trying get help with for the schools.'

The two most significant developments are the experiment to cover pitches in the forthcoming Cable & Wireless BET Under-15 competition and the division of the Goddard Enterprises Schools' competition.

Two other proposals are in the pipeline.

The council is seeking to bring about an Under-17 Parish League by next year and it is also repeating its call for a greater schoolboy presence in the Intermediate division of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

All the while, the council has been playing a big role in the organisation of tournaments such as the Sir Everton Weekes Under-13 competition, the BET Under-15 championship and the CIBC Schools' League for Under-19s.

The age-group which is now causing concern is the Under-17s.

'We feel this is a group that is not being properly looked after at the moment,' Cosens said.

'We're looking for community involvement as well. We're going to be looking for people in the various parishes who will be prepared to get involved in these Under-17 groups.'

At the conclusion of the Parish League, it is hoped that an Under-17 team could undertake an overseas tour.

When the council was formed last year, one of its first proposals was to recommend to the BCA that a Combined Schools team be introduced to the Intermediate division.

It was suggested because only seven of the 20-odd Secondary Schools competed there.

'We are looking at a sensible progression, where it would mean every youngster in the schools would have the opportunity of playing schools' cricket, Intermediate, possibly premier and first division,' Cosens said.

The council also wants to see at least another individual school in the Intermediate.

'There are a number of schools that have done consistently well in the schools' competition that would like to have the opportunity to play Intermediate cricket,' the long-standing Foundation cricket master said.

'Our feeling is that we want as many children as possible to have the opportunity to play a higher level of cricket.'

Cosens is a little disappointed about recent comments that the Goddard Enterprises Schools' Competition should be discontinued.

'I'm always sort of amused that people are making comments about schools' cricket,' he said.

'Instead of making blanket comments that don't help anybody, they should come forward with ideas as to why it is not functioning as they would hope and make suggestions for its improvement.

'It's no good saying it should be scrapped. You've got youngsters who need to play cricket at various levels.'

Cosens' final words were: 'We're looking at ways that things can be improved all the time.'

The proof is there for all to see.