Jamaica Cricket Association technical director, Jimmy Adams (right), explains proper fielding techniques to a group of youngsters during a Milo-sponsored Portmore Under-15 cricket clinic at the Ken's Wildflower cricket ground on Saturday. Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Jimmy Adams, technical director of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and former West Indies captain, said that a major emphasis of his tenure will be youth cricket.

Adams was one of the main contributors at a $125,000 Milo-sponsored Portmore Under-15 cricket clinic at the Ken's Wildflower sports ground over the weekend.

Adams spoke to the youngsters and gave his blessing to the clinic. He assisted in crafting the schedule of activities for the clinic which will be spearheaded by head coach Hugh Hinds, along with Renford Pinnock Sr, Robert Samuels and others.

Samuels

The over 80 cricketers, age 10-15, were engaged in on-field activities such as batting, bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping. Additionally, they received theory sessions which focused on areas such as ways of getting out, deportment on and off the field and discipline on and off the field.

Dear to his heart

Adams said: "Basically it (youth cricket) is something dear to my heart when we talk about young people."

He explained that the clinic co-ordinated by Hugh Hinds, brother of former West Indies batsman, Wavel Hinds, was targeting youngsters in the community.

"If we are able to make the youngsters have more of a passion, more of a love for the game, as well as walk away from the clinic having learnt something over the two days, then it will be a worthwhile weekend," he said.

Adams, who scored 3,012 runs in 54 Tests, at an average of 41.26, for the West Indies, said that there is a lot of "raw material" (talent), in youth cricket in the island, but there are things that they needed to address urgently to push the cricket forward.

"We are not short of talent, but the system needs tweaking. I believe we can produce better quality players coming out of our youth programmes and we need to address these issues," he said.

Equipment needed

He added: "We can do with some new equipment obviously, right across the island, all the schools, all the clubs. And we have issues with the procurement of equipment - which is very expensive."

He said he knew that Jamaica is a Third-World country but believed that more can be done to upgrade the facilities.

"Having proper facilities in cricket is one of a couple of the goals for us. Another goal is that all the kids that want to play the game of cricket can get to play," he said.