It might be a coincidence but it seems after Darren Sammy became the first St Lucian to make the Senior West Indies Team cricket here is on a higher pitch, resulting St Lucia winning their third Windward Islands Championship in the last four years.
The latest triumph came courtesy of the St Lucia National Under-19 Cricket Team which captured the
2013 Windward Islands Under-19 Cricket title.
The team arrived home Sunday at Hewanorra International Airport on board a British Airways flight out of Grenada.
A welcoming party that included Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Shawn Edward and officials with the St Lucia National Cricket Association greeted and celebrated with players and coaches in the VIP Lounge.
While congratulating the players, Edward couldn’t help but mentioned how St Lucia’s cricket fortune had changed since Sammy was named to the West Indies team.
“I think from the moment Darren Sammy got selected on the West Indies Cricket Team it gave greater impetus to the cricket efforts in St Lucia,” said Edward. “Our Under-19 players have always done well individually and in spite of them not winning the championship at the Windwards level, there was a consistent perforation of St Lucian players on the Windward’s team.”
Case in point: Four St Lucians were named to the Windward Islands Cricket Team which will play in the WICB Under-19 Tournament set to take place in St Kitts and Nevis. The following St Lucians were selected to the team are: Larry Edward (Captain), Tonius Simon (Vice Captain), Tarrick Gabriel and Dorman Edward.
In closing, the minister not only commended the players for their performance on the field but based on reports he received from officials and coaches they
also well behaved and conducted themselves in a professional manner off the field.
Coach John Eugene who is a former national cricket player and well known for his exploits in regional cricket received special mention from Manager Shawn Alcindor for the key role he played in the team winning the championship.
