Gros Islet, St Lucia – Not only are the West Indies and Pakistan cricketers vigorously preparing for the action in the Digicel Series but the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricketers are also getting into high gear for their debut.
At the lunch interval of the First Digicel One Day International at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricketers will provide an International Interval Display.
Over seventy boys and girls from Delcer Combined, Laborie Primary, Grande Riviere Combined, Babonneau primary, Micoud Primary, Perot Combined and the Bogius Combined will be displaying their batting, fielding and bowling skills.
In addition to the display, Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Ball Boys will be used during the First Digicel ODI to aid players with the recovery of balls hit to the boundary.
The kids took to the field at Beausejour on Tuesday afternoon to practice for their Interval Display and Ball Boys duties.
Commenting on this year’s Kiddy Cricket activities for the Digicel Series, WICB Project Officer for Kiddy Cricket, KJ Singh said, "The Kiddy Cricket Interval Displays over the years gave our children the opportunity to showcase the cricketing skills they have learned through the programme and more importantly, allow them to build confidence by performing on an international stage."
Simone Hull, Scotiabank’s Regional Sponsorship commented: "Scotiabank and the WICB will be partnering to offer the Kiddy Cricketers an opportunity to expand their role in the game with the new Kiddy Cricket Ball Boys Feature.
"This activity will happen for the first time in regional cricket and we are certain that the children will be looking forward to sharing the field at the same time with the professionals. The students will be fielded from the older students who have been trained in advance for this role to ensure that they will perform effectively and safely on the field."
In January 2011, the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Programme resumed in St. Lucia with over 35 schools benefiting from programme resources such as Cricketing Kits and coaching from certified WICB coaches. A Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Festival and Camp are scheduled to be held in St. Lucia later in the year.