Saint Lucia’s cricketing fraternity once again has cause to celebrate with the selection of off-spinning all-rounder; Tarrique Edward, into the West Indies Men’s Under-19 Cricket Squad to participate in the 2024 ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa from 19th January to 11th February, 2024.
President of the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association; Wayne Auguste expressed his gratitude to Tarrique Edward for his hard work which is an example for others to emulate.
He also singled out coaches Garey Mathurin and Alton Crafton who worked diligently with the young all-rounder over many months while Tarrique was a student of the Saint Lucia Sports Academy. “These two coaches have contributed immensely to Tarrique’s development, and Saint Lucia can only pray and hope that Tarrique will make himself, his coaches, his family and all sports-loving Saint Lucians very proud.”
According to Auguste; “Tarrique’s continued hard work to improve his craft is what earned him the call-up into the West Indies Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup squad. Since he made his National debut at all levels inclusive of the junior and senior levels respectively, Tarrique Edward has demonstrated time and time again, his value as an off-spinner who can break partnerships and score runs in the lower order.”
Auguste said that it is commitment to hard work, hence he is one of the initial cohorts of young cricketers called up into the High Performance Centre, pointing out that; “This was to ensure that all the support is given to him and other young cricketers as they develop so Saint Lucia can produce quality cricketers for the betterment of West Indies cricket.”
“Tarrique contributed with both bat and ball when he toured Sri Lanka with the West Indies Men’s Under-19 Cricket Team, emphasizing that he is a match winner in any condition and on any surface” added Auguste. “As president of the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, it is my fervent hope that young players like Tarrique will not fade away into the cricketing sunset after they have passed the age of 19 years. It would be a disservice by we administrators, not to push for the implementation of programmes and support mechanisms to ensure that young Tarrique Edwards will become a MUST when the Regional Selectors are choosing their squads…be it T2O, One Day International or Test Cricket.
“Let us continue to work in a unified partnership so Tarrique Edward and other young cricketers will be able to sharpen their skills at the High Performance Centre in a professional setting, so their skills; mentally and physically will contribute towards West Indies becoming a real cricketing force once again.”
