EN ROUTE TO GREATNESS – Kevin Oswald Sinclair: 2018 GCB Youth Player of the Year

By Brandon Corlette

Among the best youth prospects in Guyana, Kevin Oswald Sinclair is hungry for success, and is focused on taking his game to the next level. Recently named the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Youth Cricketer of the Year, Sinclair told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview how unconditionally he loves ‘the gentleman’s game’ of cricket: “In less than five years’ time, I can play for the West Indies,” he declared.
Born in the Ancient County of Berbice on November 23, 1999, this prominent cricketer told this reporter, “My dream journey of playing cricket started when I was seven. I started playing at Angoy’s Avenue, where my grandfather used to gather the neighbours, and it was ‘game on’,” Sinclair related.
A resident of the New Amsterdam area in East Berbice (Region 6), Sinclair has been greatly supported by his grandfather, who possesses a huge amount of knowledge about cricket. “Through rain and sunshine, my grandfather is always there, working on the development of my game,” the National Youth Player confided.
Himself an impressive off-spinner, Sinclair declared that he enjoys watching

Australia’s leading off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, and unsurprisingly disclosed that he emulates his fellow Berbician Shimron Hetmyer. He told this reporter, “Receiving such an award as the best youth cricketer in the country (gives) a great feeling. It will motivate me to move forward, work harder, and achieve more.”
A former winning captain of the Berbice Under-19 Team, Kevin Sinclair is a pugnacious opening batsman with all the strokes in the book. Possessing a solid technique, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club player has a high score of 211 against the Number 5 Cricket Team, and a best bowling figure of 7-3 against the Rose Hall, East Canje Team.
“These are my best performances, but the 130 against a strong Young Warriors Team will be rated as my best performance,” he explained. His breath-taking innings of 130 was scored at the historic Albion Sports Complex, where international cricket was played.
Kevin Sinclair has represented Guyana at the under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels; the last division twice. This cricketer also studies the game, involving himself in Level One coaching clinics, and is regarded as a natural leader by his teammates. Sinclair, who formerly attended the Canje Secondary School, shares his knowledge with young cricketers.
Sinclair was also selected to represent the West Indies Under-16 Team after his consistent performances in the Regional tournament. The Most Valuable Guyana Player in the 2018 Cricket West Indies Regional Under-19 tournament, Sinclair compiled 129 runs at an average of 32 in the one-day format. To polish off a brilliant performance at the Regional level, Sinclair produced 10 wickets — with a best bowling figure of 4 for 23 — at a bowling average of 9.8 and a strike rate of 20.3. In the three-day format of the Cricket West Indies Regional Under-19 tournament, Sinclair grabbed 12 wickets at an average of 12.92, with a best bowling figure of 5 for 42.
This young stalwart has praised the Guyana Cricket Board for presenting him with his academy contract, which has significantly helped in the development of his game. “The contract is a stepping stone for me, and my fitness has greatly improved,” he said. “I have developed concentration to score centuries.”
His advice to fellow sportsmen is as follows: “When life gets harder, challenge yourself to be stronger.” This is exactly what Sinclair did when he went through his bad patches and was not scoring runs. “Consistency is my challenge, I am eager to score runs at the franchise level,” he has declared.
Playing cricket for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Sinclair is in a great place to achieve continuous development. Additionally, the GCB has seen it fitting to present this young sensational cricketer with a contract which facilitates his training with the best players in Guyana.
Kevin Oswald Sinclair is certainly on his way to greatness in the gentleman’s game of cricket.