The successful Barbados cricket team was feted and hailed as “true champions” on their return home on Thursday night after winning the Cricket West Indies Under 15 Boys' tournament. The Bajans played unbeaten – winning all five matches – as they dominated the six-team event which was staged in Antigua. A large contingent met the players and officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport with scenes of merriment and celebration hosted by the Barbados Cricket Association.

 
Roddy Estwick, the long-standing Head Coach, said he was pleased with the performance of the team. He also highlighted ted the investment of the Barbados Cricket Association in preparing the players for their participation in the regional tournament. All the players are members of the Sir Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence, which is a year-round developmental programme.

“The preparation leading up to this tournament aided in the success team. It gave them a greater understanding of field placing, situation awareness, momentum shift, of handling uncomfortable moments that arise during a cricket game. We were able to do that by having game sense scenarios at the Rubis Ground (outside Bridgetown) for two weeks. It also improved our tactics and running between the wickets.

 
“We looked at the overall development of all the players in the squad. We were able to get each member of the team to play at least two matches in the tournament. to be able to do that and still win means that we have achieved several of the goals we set out before we travelled to Antigua. I want to congratulate the players and everyone who worked with them to get them to this level so they could represent Barbados with pride and with honour.”
 
Estwick is among the most experienced coaches in the West Indies. He is a former assistant coach of the West Indies senior men’s and women’s team and also coached when Barbados Tridents won the Caribbean Premier League. He called for more opportunities in foreign conditions. He said: “For these young players I would love to see them challenged to go and play some cricket in England or Scotland so that they can play in different conditions. They are very talented and have proven that they can handle West Indian conditions … this exposure would allow us to see how they adapt.”