Former Guyana and West Indies fast bowlers Reon King and Colin Stuart commenced the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ ‘Reds’ Perreira Sports Foundation-sponsored fast bowling clinic for the country’s present crop of fast bowlers at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
Nineteen of the country’s fast bowlers, including five females, were chosen by the GCB to go through their paces under the guidance of Ezra Moseley who was slated to commence the session at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, under the supervision of King and Stuart.
Only 15 of those selected made their appearance at yesterday’s first day while Jeremiah Harris (overseas), Rayon Thomas (injury), Marina Bridgemohan (studies) and Sabrina Munroe were the absentees.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport, vice president of the GCB Malcolm Peters stated that the programme was slated for August but was rescheduled following discussions between the GCB and the ‘Reds’ Perreira Foundation.
“The GCB was looking at organizing this tournament in August, but Mr. Perreira was looking at bringing former West Indies fast bowlers Joel Garner and Ezra Moseley to conduct same but for reasons unknown neither of the two could make it, thus the GCB decided to utilise the services of King and Stuart,” said Peters.
Stuart, who is also the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Technical Development Officer (TDO) attached to the GCB, told Stabroek Sport that the first session held yesterday morning was used to do an analysis where the bowlers identified their weaknesses.
“This morning session, we had the bowlers identifying their weaknesses which we had a close look at via visual aids such as cameras, the naked eye (the coaches) and the players’ perspective as to how they bowl and that is why getting information from them as to their strengths and weaknesses was important.
“We have noted what they told us and (we) will be using the video cameras to asses how they bowl and see what their strengths may be in terms of the technical aspects such as the run up, delivery action and follow-through and from that we can begin work on their weaknesses after conducting an examination on the video,” said Stuart.
“We are going to match what they are doing with the recommended ways of bowling, using the bio-mechanics. The coaches will be sitting and doing that analysis, whilst the players themselves will be engaged in some bowling.
“Coupled with what they will be doing, we are going to match the two, their strengths and weaknesses tomorrow (today), where the coaches and players will be going through that process whilst on Thursday (tomorrow), they will be going through their remedial drills,” added Stuart.
Both Stuart and King have a combined haul of 73 wickets from 25 test matches, and are being assisted in this exercise by Vibert Johnson, Orin Bailey and Michael Hyles (Franco) along with junior coach Oswald Waldron.
Meanwhile, national all rounder Christopher Barnwell in an invited comment told Stabroek Sport that he welcomed the gesture by the GCB, which he felt was taking place at the right time in his career, especially with him being called upon to bowl at intervals when playing for Guyana.
