IT IS common knowledge in cricket circles that Combermere have won countless titles since Roddy Estwick joined the staff as a cricket master in 1999.
It is perhaps not so apparent that the school’s overall success is now being transformed into player recognition at the higher level.
It is reflected by the fact that five Combermerians are in action in the latest round of matches in the WICB Four-day Regional Competition.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Shane Dowrich and debutant Roston Chase are in Barbados colours, while Kevin McClean and Carlos Brathwaite are playing under the banner of Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC).
It must be a source of pride to anyone who has connections with Combermere, including Estwick, the man who played a big hand in developing, nurturing and guiding the quintet.
“I’m very happy for the five young men who are involved. They’ve worked hard to achieve that and I hope that they continue to work hard,” Estwick told SUNSPORT.
“It’s a great honour for the school to see five young men playing first-class cricket and doing well. It’s an inspiration to other Combermerians.
“Just last week, even though it is out-of-season, our guys were at practice and they are understanding that hard work pays off.”
It is a major achievement for the school but the coach sees it only as a small step in the overall goal. It is also about progressing from one level to the next.
“I will not rest. I’m happy that they have gone on to play first-class cricket but I want to see them go on and make an impact in West Indies cricket, not only Barbados cricket,” Estwick said.
“I noticed that Kraigg Brathwaite said that his ambition is not to play one Test match but to play 100 Test matches. I constantly remind him that he’s got to work hard.
“They are a very talented bunch. If they continue to work hard, stay disciplined and focused, they can go on and make West Indies cricket strong again.”
When Estwick first joined the staff at Combermere, cricket had been on the decline.
Set or house matches weren’t being played and the school had only one team in the Barbados Cricket Association’s Saturday domestic competitions.
Estwick’s first order of business was to turn things around.
“When I am coaching, I always think long term. I wanted to get cricket back up and running, consolidate that first, play set cricket and turn out two teams on Saturdays,” he said.
“Once we did that, the titles were very important. It helps you to get your message over.
“Now it’s to produce cricketers for Barbados and West Indies. We’ve done that at the junior level consistently over the past eight to ten years. Now we want to do it with the senior team. “
It is still early days in the 2011 first-class competition, but the Combermere boys have already made an impression.
In the first round, 18-year-old Kraigg Brathwaite became the first schoolboy since 1986 to score a hundred for Barbados. [The last was another Combermerian, Roland Holder.] And in the next series Carlos Brathwaite, 22, marked his first-class debut with a super all-round performance of 61 and a seven-wicket innings haul for CCC against Trinidad and Tobago.
“They [the two Brathwaites] are very different characters,” Estwick said.
“Kraigg is very quiet, very hardworking, very disciplined. Carlos is a very talented cricketer.
“I recently said to West Indies coach Ottis Gibson to watch out for the name Carlos Brathwaite. I think Carlos is one of the most talented cricketers in the Caribbean. There is no doubt about that.
“Once Carlos can stay focused, he can do very well. He is beginning to get a bit stronger. He is beginning to full out.
“The taller bowlers have got to come back to the fore. They served West Indies cricket well for a very long time.”
Before the season ends, Estwick also expects Chase, 18, Dowrich, 19, and McClean, 23, to stamp their authority.
Chase has scored heavily in local competitions and earned his debut in the ongoing match against Jamaica at Kensington Oval after Kirk Edwards was called up for World Cup duties.
“I’ve seen Roston develop in the last two years. He wasn’t one of the best trainers early on in his career but he got focused, disciplined and a lot stronger. He really reaped the rewards,” Estwick said.
“He is an outstanding batsman. If he can stay focused and disciplined, he can reach the top. His off-spin bowling is very handy as well.”
Dowrich had some challenges behind the stumps in the first two matches but Estwick believes he will improve if his other asset can be capitalised on.
“Shane is an outstanding batsman. I’m disappointed to see him batting at No. 8. He merits batting a little higher to give him greater confidence because his keeping stems from how well he’s batting,” Estwick said.
“His time will come. He’s got to be patient.”
McClean is into his fourth season of first-class cricket but it has been an up-and-down road.
“I’m happy for Kevin. He’s had a number of injuries over the years. He’s worked hard to get back fit,” Estwick said.
“Kevin is one that I speak to every morning before first-class games. He is beginning to make progress. He has the talent.
“He is not the quickest bowler in the world but bowls a good line, has good discipline and moves the ball around.”
