King and Devers to conduct bowling clinics in Berbice on Sunday

The efforts of the Hilbert Foster-led Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to develop the game and ensure all players have equal opportunities to fulfill their talent would be taken a step further on Sunday (December 5, 2021) when the board hosts two separate clinics, one for fast bowlers and another for off-spinners.

The two clinics would be conducted by former West Indies fast bowler Reon King and former national Under-19 player Sean Devers at the Albion Community Centre Ground from 11:00h to 15:00h.

The clinics would be held under the BCB’s highly successful countywide Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme. Hundreds of Under-19 players have benefitted from the programme, which is sponsored by overseas-based Guyanese, Dr. Singh.

The board has since expanded the programme to include former national and international players, who are highly respected in the county and are viewed as positive role models.

“Foster, who has spearheaded a transformation of Berbice cricket over the last four years, last Sunday announced a plan to produce at least 10 players for the West Indies at the different levels over the next two to three years,” the BCB said in a release.

“This includes the Under-15, Under-19, Female Under-19, senior females and senior team- 20/20, ODI and Tests. The county’s coaching staff, led by Winston Smith, has been visiting clubs and hosting mini academies across the county.”

Foster disclosed that as a follow-up to these programmes, the board would be hosting a series of special clinics for fast bowlers, off-spinners, leg-spinners, left-arm orthodox spinners, wicketkeepers and batsmen.

“The BCB is in discussion with several former and current players to assist with their knowledge and Foster stated that all the response has been positive. As part of the programme, the board would also be publishing more copies of its historic coaching manual and youth information booklet and in 2022, would be producing its own coaching video for youths,” the BCB added.

King played 19 Test matches and 50 ODIs for the West Indies between 1990 to 2005. He took 53 Test wickets at an average of 32.7, while his 76 ODI wickets came at an average of 23.80.

He currently works as an International Cricket Council’s Match Referee and is highly respected for his knowledge of the game.

Devers is widely known across the country for his work as a sport journalist and is also an international cricket commentator. He represented Guyana at the youth level and also played for Berbice at the senior Inter-county level.