By Colin Bynoe (Jnr)

THE University of the West Indies (UWI), under the Faculty of Sport, with the initiative from the Sagicor UWI cricket High Performance Centre, held a fast-bowling speed test for future pacers, ages 16 to 22 at the Albion Sports Complex on August 15 last. This agenda is geared to identify the young talents in the region.

It started on the August 8 in Trinidad and Tobago and has reached its second-target country Guyana. Nine fresh-looking aspiring fast bowlers out of the Ancient County had the opportunity to run in hard and push the speed gun to its limit.

The young men had six deliveries to generate their highest speed, “pace like fire”, that they all did. Sylus Tyndall who represented Guyana at the Under-17 and U-19 levels rocked up the fastest speed (80.8 mph) while 13-year-old Guyana Under-15 fast bowler Isaiah Thorne also showed that he has a far way to go, clocking a regular 72-73 mph.

On hand to witness the speed test were Level 3-accredited and Guyana Under-15 coach Winston Smith and former West Indies Under-19 player who hails from Jamaica and Combined Campuses and Colleges cricketer-now-facilitator and Project Officer, Akeem Dewar.

It was noted that the fastest 10 males and females coming out of this programme throughout the region will be enrolled at the Cave Hill Academy High Performance Centre (HPC) which will commence January 8, 2019. This centre is based at the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus UWI in Barbados.

At the end of the speed test the youngsters were briefed by the 26-year-old Dewar. “The fastest speed in Guyana came from this group, the fastest speed was about 80, I will say you guys bowled at a disadvantage; you bowled on the grass and I believe everybody could have bowled two or three miles faster.

“Some of you could bowl faster if you straighten your run-up, stay stronger at the crease, and don’t lean away too much. Some of you swing the ball which is an asset.”

Dewar and team also thanked the young men for showing the interest and coming out.

The next test for the ‘Pace like Fire’ initiative bowls off in St Lucia.