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I would have previously written an article last year stating that the Trinbago Young Starz Touring Cricket Academy is a registered non-profit sporting organization ( N.G.O.) founded within Trinidad and Tobago. In March 2024, this talented academy cricket team decided to manifest a boys’ Under 16 team. The main objective of forming a boys’ Under 16 cricket team is to nurture and develop young cricket talent by providing a structured environment where they can learn, grow, and excel in the sport. Cricket can play a significant role in building confidence in young boys. As boys learn and master new cricket techniques (batting, bowling, fielding), they gain a sense of accomplishment that boosts their confidence. Tracking their progress over a period of time helps them see corporeal improvements, which amplifies self-belief. Let’s take a look at some of the future stars this team possesses and its brief history.
In April 2024 the Trinbago Young Starz Cricket Academy Under 16 boys team played a friendly match against the touring Ontario Under 16 boys Touring Cricket Academy on Easter Monday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva. It was the TYS Under 16 boys’ first match together as a unit. Unfortunately, the boys lost the match to the tourists by over 120 runs. Despite the loss, the boys were still upbeat and ready for battle in future games. In May/June 2024, the inaugural Under 16 boys tournament was launched among eight teams (30 overs per team). The participating teams were the Trinbago Young Starz, R&R Academy, Kricket Lab Academy, Esmeralda Sports, Dinsley Sports, Munroe Cricket Club, Central Sports and AK Cricket Academy.
Exposure to different playing styles and strategies enhances game intelligence and situational awareness. Matches require constant communication and coordination among teammates, fostering strong interpersonal skills.
On May 31st 2024, Trinbago Young Starz played their first match of the tournament against Kricket Lab Academy. Trinbago Young Starz ended up victorious winning by 4 wickets. On June 2nd 2024 the Trinbago Young Starz took on R&R Academy. This resulted in a win for R&R Academy by 5 wickets. Sunday 9th June 2024 saw Trinbago Young Starz take on AK Cricket Academy in a 25-over per side reduced game. Had Trinbago Young Starz beat AK Cricket Academy, they would have progressed to the semi-final of the tournament. Unluckily, Trinbago Young Starz lost by 9 wickets and as a result were eliminated from the competition. Encouragement and support from parents and teammates can reinforce a boy’s belief in his abilities. Constructive feedback and praise from coaches can significantly boost a young player’s confidence additionally. Winning and losing is all part of the game. Bouncing back from defeat is the key to someone’s mental strength.
For any sporting team, there must be the core members that make up the back-bone. Nicholai Castillo is a fourteen year old right-handed batter and right-arm medium pace bowler. He is also the captain of the team and is a fine all-rounder in the making. Rayhan Gooding is a left-handed batter and and right-arm slow medium paced bowler at the tender age of thirteen years old. Rayhaan top scored with 61 in the victory against Kricket Lab Academy with some fine strokes through the off-side and straight down the ground. Zameer Ali is a sixteen year old right-arm pace bowler and also wicket-keeps. Josh Cumberbatch is a twelve year old left-handed batter and right-arm medium fast bowler that swings the ball. Evan Isaac is a promising fourteen year old right-handed batter and a wicket taking right-arm leg-spin bowler that flights the ball and varies his pace to deceive batters.
Ayden Ali is a thirteen year old right-handed batter and a mesmerizing left-arm spin bowler. His three wickets for 12 runs in an enthralling four overs against Kricket Lab Academy certainly was one of the highlights in that particular match. Sameer Maraj is a fourteen year old right-handed batter and left-am leg-spin bowler. His variations and angles from around and over the wicket can ask the batters facing him lots of questions. Ismail Ali is a fifteen year old right-handed batter but better known for his right-arm leg-spin where his strength lies in spinning the ball away from the right-handed batters and then setting up for the one that skids straight through. Other players to look out for are Fareed Bann, Devesh Thomas, Cameron Ramcharitar, Rayhan Mohammed, Dante Antoine and Kailash Jattan.
Having an Under 16 boys cricket team play against other teams offers numerous advantages, contributing to the players’ development both on and off the field. Players can apply the skills learned in practice to real game situations, helping them understand what works and what needs improvement. Regular matches provide opportunities for players to continually refine their techniques and strategies. Playing in competitive matches helps players learn to cope with pressure and perform under challenging conditions. Exposure to different playing styles and strategies enhances game intelligence and situational awareness. Matches require constant communication and coordination among teammates, fostering strong interpersonal skills. Playing together regularly builds team spirit and camaraderie, essential for a cohesive team unit. The Caribbean still produces talented cricketers. Despite facing various challenges over the years, the region continues to be a source of exceptional cricketing talent. We look forward to the future success of this group.
