This week, residents of Grand Cayman are still talking about, and trying to recover from a weekend jam-packed with superstars, centuries and fantastic sports entertainment as the Quincentennial Cayman Cricket Celebration ended on Sunday, 27 July with an exhibition match which drew over 4000 spectators and featured West Indies cricketers Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner.
The Cayman Cricket Weekend is the only event of its kind in the region, and in the past has brought such legends as Sir Vivian Richards, Curtly Ambrose, Jimmy Adams, Michael Holding, Desmond Haynes and Clive Lloyd. This past weekend, however, it was all about the Spectacular Six who charmed children and adults alike.
The celebrations kicked off on Friday, 25 July with a gala fundraising dinner for the youth cricket programme which included entertainment by renowned Trinidadian storyteller and speaker Paul Keens-Douglas, and a silent auction which featured items such as a 1999 West Indies World Cup Team autographed bat and signed player cards of the recent Hall of Fame Inductees at the Stickey Wicket in Antigua. Approximately US$8000 was raised for youth cricket from this event.
On Saturday, over 200 kids had the opportunity to learn from the best as the stars conducted coaching clinics under the supervision of National Cricket Coach Theo Cuffy. The visiting cricketers took the youngsters through their paces, teaching them bowling, batting and fielding techniques while a curious crowd looked on, eagerly awaiting a chance to take pictures with the stars and get autographs.
“This has been a truly amazing and overwhelming day,” said Coach Cuffy of the kids’ clinics. “I wonder if these kids understand the significance of the experience they’ve just had! There is no other country in the region which can boast of this chance to personally interact with six West Indies cricketers and learn the tools of the trade. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity.”
One of the more exciting activities during the day was Bat and Bowl to the Stars!, a new element that was added to the weekend where for $5, anyone could pad up and face three balls from Garner or Walsh or bowl three balls to Sarwan, Lara, Gayle or Hinds. Each cricketer took a turn in the nets but it was Brian Lara who won over the crowd, spending almost two hours batting to those brave enough to face him. In the end it was 10-year old Trisha Meyerhoff who impressed the West Indies Captain most, Lara describing her as the most accurate bowler.
Just when fans thought it couldn’t get any better, Sunday arrived in all its glory bringing with it a cloudless day and the promise of an exhilarating match featuring the stars and local players. In a record for any sporting event on the island somewhere between four and five thousand people surrounded the cricket ground, creating an amazing buzz that took over the island for the day.
The buzz was enhanced by a day of fours and sixes as Sarwan scored 95 from 53 balls, Gayle 146, including 16 sixes and 3 fours and Hinds with 169 from 112 with 11 fours and 10 sixes. Brian Lara mesmerised the crowd, scoring 104 runs in 42 minutes with 9 sixes and 6 fours, all before leaving to catch his flight.
“We were pleasantly surprised when Brian took to the field right before lunch to bat, considering that he was never scheduled to play at all,” says event organiser Rhonda Kelly of Kelly Holding Ltd. “And as usual, he did not disappoint, driving the crowd wild and displaying the talent that has earned him the title of best batsman in the world.”
In addition to his unexpected performance at the crease on Sunday, Lara also donated his fee to the youth cricket programme. “On behalf of the youth cricketers, I would like to thank Brian for his generosity,” said Coach Cuffy. “This weekend is one that our youth cricketers will not soon forget and I am so grateful to him, Courtney, Joel, Sarwan, Chris and Wavell for joining us and investing their time and energies in Cayman youth cricket.”
“It was a fantastic experience. I really enjoyed Cayman and the event. This is something that should be done in all the islands around the region. The kids really enjoyed themselves and it was nice to teach them what I have learned and to play in a fun match in front of such a lively crowd,” stated West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds of his Grand Cayman experience.
The Cayman Cricket Celebration weekend was sponsored by Cable & Wireless, the Quincentennial Celebrations Office, Red Stripe and Guinness, Vibe FM, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Cayman Airways, Vision Marketing, Cayman Islands Cricket Association, Esso, Pepsi and Cayman Screen Print.
