UDCA president wants more cricket in 2023

By Sean Devers

THE year 2022 for cricket in the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) was marred by lack of adequate cricket in Region 10, due to the unavailability of playable cricket grounds.

However, president of UDCA, Bradley Fredericks, is not fazed by the hard work needed in the new year for the development of the game.

He is hopeful that the dirt for three pitches in the DCB sub-association, promised by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), will aid in lifting the interest of youngsters for cricket in an area in Guyana that is known more for football and track events.

“After the Cricket Act was finally passed, after almost eleven years of court battles, the UDCA was able to hold a successful AGM in April, 2022. Nine of the twelve clubs participated,” disclosed the 70-year-old Fredericks, who has been the president for the last six years.

“Due to the unavailability of grounds, cricket was stymied although clubs competed against each other in Ituni and Maria Elizabeth.

The UDCA received over $800 000 in cricket gear from GCB which we are thankful for and there are valiant efforts to get at least two grounds ready for competition,” continued the UDCA boss.

With all the hiccups, the UDCA, which was founded in 2001 by Marvin and Tina Burns along with Richard Thomas, was able to enter the U15 and U17 competitions and an UDCA’s player; Keron Phillips, was selected to play in the U-15 Inter-County tournament for the President’s XI.

Among the plans for 2023 is to ensure that grounds are available once the GCB keeps its promise to help build pitches in Linden and its surrounds in the Mining Town.

According to Fredericks, the UDCA has planned competitions with clubs while schools will be visited by the new Cricket Development Officer. Female cricket is paramount on the agenda.

“Many females are showing interest. However, grounds are still a big issue,” lamented Fredericks.

In 2006, as a part of Linden Town Week activities, teams from Berbice and Demerara were invited by Fredericks to play each other at MSC ground.

That was the last time a game between two senior County teams was played in Linden where there are now no cricket pitches.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) played in Demerara’s First Division Case Cup Tournaments, along with the top teams in Georgetown and one each representing East Bank, West Demerara and East Coast.

Dr Vincent Adams was the first player from Linden to play for Guyana at any level. Adams was also the first Lindener to score a First-Class century with his ton being made for Demerara against Berbice in 1972 Inter-County Final at the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre ground in Berbice.

Vincent Mayers, Lambert Blackman, Mark GrenvilIe, Clayton Lambert, Kenneth Sarabo, Frank DeAbreu, Anthony Rigby, left-arm Pacer Godfrey Edwards, fast bowler Aubrey Quamina, Keith Farley, who played in the 1975 and 1976 winning youth teams under Timur Mohammed’s captaincy. and Michael Duncan, who played against Young England at Bourda 1980, were among those who played cricket in Linden.

The late great Basil Butcher also played club cricket in Linden after he retired from First-Class cricket and moved from Berbice to live in Mackenzie.

Guyana played Trinidad and Tobago, led by Doodnauth Ramkissoon, at MSC ground in the 1970 Benson & Hedges Regional Youth series, as the ground hosted its inaugural Regional Youth game.

Fredericks and his executives want to see cricket in Guyana’s Hilly, Sand & Clay Region, return to those days.