While celebrating the success of the Christ Church Foundation School and lauding the growth of cricket at Combermere School, Seibert Straughn is calling for more schools to accept the challenge of pursuing a more intense programme of cricket development.
Straughn, who heads the Physical Education Department at Foundation and is also chairman of the National Sports Council, was speaking following the final of the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) Under-19 Competition in which Foundation comprehensively beat Combermere to lift the title.
They are to meet again on Sunday in the semi-final of the Sagicor Shield competition.
“With Combermere doing well and Foundation doing well also, I hope it can also go over to some of the other schools where the management can put persons in place who have specialized skills in cricket,” Straughn told WEEKENDSPORT.
“All schools have talent, every one. If you look across the schools, a lot of them have produced national players and some Test players, so this provides an example for schools to put better systems in place,” said Straughn.
He praised the work of the coaching staff led by Nhamo Winn.
“I must give a lot of credit to Mr Winn. I believe this is his third year at Foundation School. We were looking for someone whose area is really in cricket.
“He is a young person. He is a very talented individual and he has done so much for our school cricket.
“The guys went to Florida. He was the person who really arranged that tour and he has a big vision for Foundation School cricket.
“I have a lot of confidence in his ability along with Mr [Dennis] Osbourne and the other support staff that we will create some kind of dynasty at the Christ Church Foundation School.
“It is a positive marketing tool for the school too, where we will be seen as one of the powerhouses in Barbados cricket,” he added.
Straughn also spoke very highly of Combermere’s coach Roddy Estwick, the former Barbados fast bowler.
“I must give a lot of credit to Mr Estwick for what he has done at Combermere School. He is someone that the other coaches can learn from in terms of what he is doing there and what he has been successful in,” said Straughn.
