THE President and executive committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Brandon Bess on making his Test debut for the West Indies in the third and final Test against South Africa which started in Barbados on Saturday.

Bess became the 14th Berbician to play Test Cricket joining an elite band that consist of John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Clayton Lambert, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Narsingh Deonarine.

The BCB is proud of Bess’ elevation to the highest level of the game and views it as a just reward for his hard work, commitment and potential for the future.

Bess is only the second fast bowler from Berbice to play Test cricket, joining the legendary John Trim and this is also the first time since 1979 that two Berbicians have played together in a Test match.

Sew Shivnarine and Alvin Kallicharran was the last pair to play together in India in 1978/79 and 2010 Bess and Narsingh Deonarine is doing the Ancient County proud by playing together in the third and final test match against South Africa .

The executives of the BCB strongly believes this existing development is just rewards for the unbelievable strides Berbice cricket has undergone over the last three years, with over 100 programmes completed and cricket being played at all levels as never before.

The county has had four players representing the West Indies at the senior male level in the last eighteen months, namely Sewnarine Chattergoon, Deonarine and Bess in Tests and Royston Crandon in limited overs cricket and it must also be remembered that the only two Guyanese to play in the 2010 female 20/20 World Cup are Shemaine Campbell and Tremayne Smartt, who are both from Berbice.

The BCB is committed to continuing this trend as in the near future where many more historic programmes and projects would be unveiled and we are working to ensure that every promising talent in the ancient county is allowed to develop and blossom.

We are also confident that with the programmes in place, it would only be a matter of time before players like Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul join Deonarine and Bess on the Regional team.

The BCB would like to express congrats to the Blairmont Community Centre cricket club, coach Adrian Amsterdam and the family and friends of Brandon Bess, and would like to urge them to continue to guide him on the right path and to get him to continue on the same path that has brought him success so far.

This path includes discipline, hard work, commitment and faith in the God he serves and the BCB would also like to reassure him that it would always support him in his career once he remains committed and disciplined..