The WINLOTT Windward Island Under-15 2022 Cricket tournament has ended with St Lucia dominating and winning the 50-over competition. For St Lucia, it was just rewarding for hard work, especially in the batting department which had been of some concern.
For Theo Edward the tournament’s leading scorer – it was historic. He scored 198 against Dominica, 101 against Grenada and 137 against St Vincent and in the final – he 104 against St. Vincent – a record-breaking total of 540 runs in 4 matches! Imagine, he’d set himself a modest total at the start of the tournament.
St Lucia’s national U15 cricket team coach Alton Crafton believes that with the right guidance and work ethic, Theo Edwards has the potential to be a West Indies player for years to come.
The 15-year-old student of the St Lucia Sports Academy has expressed his ambition to play one day for West Indies in 2019.,
“Even if you are playing in your backyard, you might score one 100, but four in a row?” said Crafton, who was impressed with Edward’s output during the tournament declaring that he is confident that the all-rounder can make it all the way to the top.
“Certainly. If he just follows the right pathway and have the correct influence around him, for sure.”
Speaking to Sportsmax.TV a few days after the tournament, the head coach said that young Edwards has always shown signs of having the tools to be a successful international cricketer.
“He knows his game and he keeps his game very simple.”
“You wouldn’t find him going over the top in the first five overs. He’ll get set and play each ball on its merit and he has high levels of concentration. He can focus for long periods of time and he did so exceptionally during the tournament.”
“At that age, he is a work in progress, He knows the game. He has a very good pull shot. He drives off the back foot and front foot. There is always room for improvement but what he has now is enough to carry him through.”
Speaking further, the coach says that while both Edward and his teammate Leon Alexander spend time working on their physical skills, they are also focusing on other critical areas of development.
“We put a lot of emphasis on them (skills) and they get a chance to practice, practice, practice (but) there is a lot of emphasis on the mental space, keeping them in the right direction, letting them know what exactly they are about and I have no doubt they will go all the way.”
Also, Crafton said, he needs to gather the right people around him to maintain his discipline and focus.
“I know for sure he has his dad in his corner. He just needs to keep it narrow and simple to people he can trust and just move on and keep with the hard work.”
He also said that he hopes to provide all the support the player needs.
“We will give him all the support that we can give him.”