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02nd September 2010
ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY
Anthony De Beauville

The 10th Annual Sandals Cricket Academy came to a fitting climax at the weekend at the picturesque Beausejour Cricket Ground situated in the North of the island in the presence of West Indies middle order batsman Augustin Logie, President of the St.Lucia National Cricket Association Julian Charles and with the likes of former national cricketers Keith Charlery, Hollis Bristol, Alton Crafton and Rupert Polius, there was no better place for this year’s participants to be.
Now into its 10th year one believes that the Academy is certainly serving its purpose in St.Lucia as the island in December of 2009 and earlier this year won the Windward Island Under – 15 and Under – 19 Cricket Tournaments and that clearly states the latest hope for the revitalization of the game in St.Lucia on a wider scale.
Addressing the participants at this year’s academy was Augustin Logie who has played some 52 Test matches and 158 ODI’s for the West Indies team. He believes that this is one of the best things that has happened to St.Lucia cricket this past 10 years as over 300 boys and girls have graduated.
Logie went on to say, “I have had the privilege and honour of working with so many young men over the last few years and seen positive shifts in their attitudes, - from grappling with the problems of the youth to being Club, National and International cricketers and role models and having to satisfy the desires hope and aspirations of their people”
“As you embark on your quest to emulate those who have gone before you, the challenge for you will be learning how to cope with the massive pressures of both living up to those expectations and handling the pressure of success/ failure, while taking the game to another level” he said.

 
 

With his usual smile on his face, like he was fielding in the covers, the former middle order batsmen in his own words said, “You will have to love the game, love the battles, love the challenges, evolve and expand your horizons, be prepared to defy the norm, in other words be different, players who do make the game very exciting to watch.” He told the young participants.
“Games are won by runs and wickets not theories and illustrations. There is an interesting story of a coach saying to his pupils after he banged this particular ball to the boundary, “Look where your feet are” only to be greeted with “look where the ball is” Now I am not saying don’t try and get all the mechanics right but I personally feel that we are somehow over obsessed with techniques when there are a lot of other qualities that needs to be stressed upon to get the best out of ourselves.” Logie stressed on.
Logie also touched on the personal development aspect of the young players when he said, Your strengths and weaknesses, lie in being aware of the opportunities and threats that exist in your social life, knowing and doing what is necessary to achieve your immediate goals in life, knowing and doing what is necessary to realize your potential as a rounded human being , becoming aware of the importance of a group or team in the achievements of goals especially as it relates to cricket and knowing where to go for help at critical points in the process.”
Meanwhile the following players based on their performance throughout walked away with the top awards: - MVP: Valange St. Ange, Batsman of the Year: Tonius Simon, Bowler of the year: Shanii Mesmin, Fieldsman of the Year: Donovan Edward, Wicketkeeper of the Year: Kevin Evariste, Best Research Project: David Keller, Most Disciplined: Selwyn Boyce and Team Player of the Year: Levon Sealy


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