BAJAN PRIDE! Three of the outstanding players in the recently concluded WICB Regional Super50 competition just happened to be key members of the title-winning Barbados Pride team, which returned from a win in Saturday's final against the Jamaican Scorpions in Antigua to a fitting welcome at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday. Kraigg Brathwaite (left) finished second in the batting aggregate with 484 runs, while Man-of-the-Match in the finals, Shai Hope (right), was close behind with 482 runs. Not to be left out was off-spinner, Ashley Nurse, who led all bowlers with 26 wickets at 12.50. The trio were all smiles as they posed with the trophy.
Champions welcomed home in grand style
The Grantley Adams International Airport was a hive of activity yesterday as the WICB Regional Super50 Champions, the Barbados Pride, returned home to a hero’s welcome.
With two players in the top three of the tournament’s highest run scores in Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, added to the tournament’s highest wicket-taker in Ashley Nurse, the Pride were led from the front as their Captain Jason Holder guided them to victory.
At the airport, there was no need for lines for the champions. As they departed their flight, they were ushered to the Grace Adams Suite where they were met by Minister of Sport, Stephen Lashley; Members of the Barbados Cricket Association; and the Barbados Cricket Franchise. Afterwards they were escorted to the Corporate VIP Suite where sponsors, family and friends all gathered for a surprise welcome and continued the celebrations of their 59-run victory over the Jamaica Scorpions in the final, the evening before.
The team entered the tournament as heavy favourites and their Captain Holder, who is also the West Indies captain, said that it may have added a bit of pressure for them to execute. However, that is just what they did, executed as an all-round effort with bat, ball and in the field, which saw them home safely.
One thing that was repeated time and time again was the hard work which the members of the team, individual and and as a team put in to ensure success. The extra work the players put in to enhance their game and the professional manner in which they carried out their duties on and off the field came in for glowing praise.
The Barbados Pride had a plan and that plan was discussed and executed as a team to great success. Such was the success that they only lost on match in the entire tournament and when they strayed off course someone was always there to remind them of the plan.
It was a team effort as the manager pointed out the behind the scenes work put in by the Physio, the Analysis, and the coach Emmerson Trotman who all played an integral part in the success of the team.
Acting BCA president Deighton Smith spoke briefly about the professional way in which he saw the team. He mentioned that the major difference is that a professional is able to execute the basics 99 per cent of the time.
“When you have great talent you can exhibit flashes of brilliance but that doesn’t win tournaments it is to execute the basics.”
From the onset there was a noted difference in the team as Franchise board chairman Conde Riley said he was impressed with how the team took to discipline. The pride shown by the players as well was evident as one asked why the Pride logo was so small.
The Minister, Lashley, was happy that despite going into the tournament as favourites complacency did not creep into the team and they went on the win.
Lashley said that cricket has the ability to unite the country and he hopes this victory can inspire younger cricketers to come.
With the mentioned about the behind the scenes work and the planning, Lashley was impressed with the scientific manner at which the game was approached and hopes that it can be embrace by sport on a whole. BCA CEO Noel Lynch was also in attendance.
After their disappointment in the final last year, The Barbados Pride can now boast of being the 2017 Super50 Champions.