Three of Saint Lucia’s brightest cricketing talents have been drafted into a Cricket West Indies (CWI) training camp for Under-19 players.
Theo Edward, Khan Elcock, and Cody Fontinelle will be groomed and nurtured under the tutelage of CWI Pathway and High-Performance coaches.
A classy left-handed batsman, Elcock led Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School to victory in the 2023 Schools 50-Over Tournament, scoring a century in the decisive match. A former Windward Islands Under-15 MVP, he played alongside Edward and Fontinelle for the Windward Islands Under-17’s in this year’s regional competition.
Fontinelle, a right-arm leg spinner, had an outstanding CWI Under-17 Tournament this year. His 16 wickets in three matches were the second-most in the two-day competition. His eight wickets in the rain-hit 50-over leg included 6-26 against the Leeward Islands. He finished with the fifth-most scalps in that part of the series.
Edward, also a former Windwards Under-15 MVP, has played Under-19 cricket for the sub-regional team, scoring a half-century against champions Barbados in July. In the Windwards U19 tournament, he was the leading batsman with 188 runs, an average of 37.6, and a top score of 81 not out.
The three Saint Lucians will receive the appropriate training programmes to ensure alignment with CWI’s objectives for the players’ growth and readiness, as the regional body engages coaches at territorial level to implement tailored development plans for all selected players.
The programme will be carried out in coordination with CWI Pathway coach Rohan Nurse, along with other members of the region’s High-Performance Coaching Unit.
In the last five years, Tarrique Edward, McKenny Clarke, Ackeem Auguste, and Kimani Melius have played international age-group cricket for the West Indies. The latter two both served as captains of the Under-19 regional team.
Photo Credit: SLNCA