Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) boss, Jackie Hendriks (left), shakes hands with Ramon Senior following the arrival of the victorious Under-15 team at Sabina Park yesterday. Holding the championship trophy is captain Donovan Nelson, while team members look on. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
Jamaica'S Under-15 cricketers returned home yesterday a happy bunch after claiming their fourth hold on the CLICO West Indies Championship.
The team, led by captain Donovan Nelson, went down in the history books en route to another title as they finished the six-nation contest unbeaten - the first time in the four-year CLICO sponsorship that the champions ended with a 100 per cent win record.
Nelson, who bowls off-spin, picked up three awards at the closing function in Roseau, Dominica, on Sunday night. A student at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Nelson won awards for most wickets, best bowling average and best fielder of the tournament.
He bagged 16 wickets at an average of 6.00, while registering two five-wicket hauls, including best figures of 5-16 in leading his team to a seven-wicket win over Guyana.
Upon their arrival, debutant coach, Terrence Corke, had high praises for the team which emulated the feats achieved by the 1996, 2003 and 2006 Jamaica teams.
"They did the basic things required at this level correctly. They were the only team that demonstrated the basic tenets of the game that would convince anybody that they understand cricket," Corke told the Observer after they arrived at Sabina Park where they were met by Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) president Jackie Hendriks.
Corke, who is head coach at Kingston Cricket Club, singled out the performances of his spinners, while making special mention of fastbowler Omar Samuels, whom he says has a bright future.
Corke also lauded the performances of batsmen John Campbell from Tacky High School, Ramon Senior of Excelsior and Chrishna Graham of STETHS. Campbell, who was playing in his second tournament, got special acclaim.
"John Campbell was the most exciting and attractive batsman of the tournament. He gave away his wickets a couple of times, but after we sat him down and talked to him, he went back and got an unbeaten 59 in the Guyana match," said Corke.
Corke's boys are expected to have a strong presence in an All-Star team to be named later this week to represent the West Indies in the CLICO Under-15 International Championship next month