Ex-Guyana/West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts hailed the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) recent clinic as a great initiative for the future and one that will speed up the growth of the country’s young cricketers.
Facilitators and players pose for a photo following Saturday’s wicket-keeping and spin bowling clinic
The one-day Saturday’s Wicket-keeping and Spin bowling clinic held at the St Stanislaus School tarmac, was conducted by the ex-Guyana/West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper, his brother Mark Harper and former national off-spinner Garvin Nedd along with Butts.
Guyana Times Sport spoke with former West Indies head selector who said having such sessions on a regular basis will inevitably help to groom young cricketers for the future. “I think it’s great to have these sorts of camps, the GCA should be given credit for having the camp. I hope it doesn’t stop hear and it will grow”.
The 60 year-old who played seven Tests for the West Indies during the 1980’s said the move to host a camp which targets specific areas of cricket was a genius one, as it allows coaches to identify problems at an early stage. He further added that with how things are generally, it is essential for young cricketers to be exposed to these clinics.
“I think when you look at young cricketers today and how things are organized, they need things like this where they can learn from the experienced players around in Guyana because they have a lot of experienced players willing to come onboard”, said Butts.
One of Guyana’s marquee spinners during his time, Butts said the importance of working with spinners is to ensure they use their head and think smartly when bowling to batsmen in any situation.
“I think in terms of spin this is a very good camp. Mr. Harper, Mr. Nedd and I have been teaching the youngsters and I think they learnt because they’re willing to learn and that shows in their turnout this morning”. It’s something I always said that spinner have to use their brain because it’s not a case where they can come n blast batsmen out”, Butts explained.
With 348 1st Class wickets under his belt, the ex-West Indies administrator shied away from the fact that he had managed to perfect the spin bowling art, rather admitting that as a cricketer you always keep learning the craft regardless of one’s accomplishments. “I don’t think I’ve perfected it (spin) because you still learn as you go on and especially where spin bowling is concerned”. He ended.
