Strengthening the structure and coaching in schools will be a top priority for former West Indies and Barbados batsman Philo Wallace if he is elected to lead the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) next week.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY on Thursday, on the second day of the Student Revolving Loan Fund/BCA Under-15 Two-Day semi-final between Harrison College and Alexandra at Lears, the former West Indies opener praised the competitive nature of the contest but stressed that there is room for improvement in the standard of play.
“The proceedings are pretty okay. I’m still looking at the quality of the cricketers and the cricket that is being played here. The guys still have a lot to do in relation to their skill sets, so it’s one of my aims to try to get the school structure a lot better, bringing in some coaches to help the teachers who are there coaching,” he said.
Wallace, who played seven Tests and 33 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies between 1991 and 1999, was part of the 1996 World Cup squad and scored a century against England in the 1998 Champions Trophy final. A former Barbados captain, he has remained active in cricket as a coach and administrator.
“When I was at Harrison College, I wasn’t fully employed there; I was working at Corporate Affairs, but I still went three days a week and also played on weekends. Coaches employed to go into the schools have to be there with the boys on weekends. If they can play, fine, but they must be there to help guide the boys, lend advice, and develop them as players and captains,” he noted.
The 55-year-old stressed that this hands-on guidance is vital if Barbados is to raise the standard of school cricket.
“That’s what is needed to help our school cricket get to a better level.”
With the BCA election scheduled for August 12 at Kensington Oval, Wallace closed with a message to members.
“The members, the financial members, will come and place their vote. I’m hoping I can be the one to lead the BCA for 2025 to 2027. My vision is clear, I’m about bringing Barbados cricket back to respectability, reliability, and being an all-inclusive association where members, former players and all those involved with cricket have a say in its development,” he told Barbados TODAY.
