High Performance Officer – Andy Pick
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 02, 2011 (SKNIS)
St. Kitts and Nevis continues to stand out as an excellent location for sports tourism, as Day 1 of intensive cricket training for the inaugural ICC Americas High Performance Camp got underway at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium on March 02.
Two players each from Argentina, Suriname, Canada, the United States, Bahamas and Bermuda are participating in the camp, designed to hone the skills of players and expose them to the rigors of international cricket, its related standards, and expectations. They will be joined at the 8-day sessions by Akheam Fox of St. Kitts and, Adelvin Phillip of Nevis, are enjoying full participation in the training.
Tour Manager Wendell Coppin stressed that St. Kitts was ideally poised to host this extensive development course.
“When the ICC Americas Regional Office decided that we were going to house a camp, St. Kitts was the first name that came up and the last one,” he disclosed at a brief welcome ceremony held at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. Mr. Coppin referencing the local infrastructure said, “We are extremely excited about the venue. We are excited about St. Kitts and the hospitality we have received.”
ICC Americas High Performance Officer Andy Pick revealed that he was in St. Kitts with a junior squad from Canada one year ago, and was impressed with Warner Park.
“It’s a Test Match facility. We don’t have facilities in any of the countries in the Americas Region remotely close to the quality of the facility here … and the quality of work you can do is influenced by a huge degree, by the quality of the facility,” he stressed.
Coach Pick added that the layout of the ground, the quality of the pitch, the separate batting and fielding practice areas and other amenities such as locker rooms, simplified his decisions while designing the course for the 14 participants and what would be done at various stages throughout the day.
Minister of Sports, Honourable Glenn Phillip welcomed the visiting coaches, players and support members that include a physiotherapist and sports psychologist, and expressed his Government’s pleasure at hosting this developmental activity.
“A camp like this can help rejuvenate the game of cricket here and it will help us to see firsthand the new methods [and techniques] in cricket,” he stated. Minister Phillip made mention of the opportunity for local players Fox and Phillip and thanked the ICC Americas officials.
“Part of our negotiations … months ago requested that two players from [the Federation] be a part of this camp.” Fox and Phillip “will be fully integrated within the camp structure i.e. they will stay at the same hotel as the guys and they will get all the training that is afforded by the ICC.”
The Minister noted that local coaching will also benefit by this course as they shadow the various activities. As the Camp works to prepare the young players for the future, ICC Americas is already looking to expand the relationship with the twin-island Federation.
“We do hope … that in years to come we can look back at this afternoon and say yes it was the beginning of what will become for us at the ICC, and for you here in St. Kitts an annual event,” Tour Manager Coppin stated. “… I can say at this stage, that when the ICC Americas is looking for a home for its camp in the future that St. Kitts and Nevis will be on the shortlist of countries.”
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