Sandals has caught onto the cricket fever and decided to assist in discovering and nurturing the West Indian cricket stars of the future with the 2005 Sandals Cricket Academy currently being held in St Lucia until the end of August 2005.More than 30 aspiring youngsters are being trained by some of the greatest West Indian cricketers of all time as part of the top local development programme in St Lucia.

Several graduates of the programme have proceeded to represent the country at international level. Now in its fifth year, the Sandals Cricket Academy runs in conjunction with the St Lucian Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is supported by the likes of Curtly Ambrose, Roger Harper and Gordon Greenidge.

The renowned academy offers weekend coaching sessions at St Lucia’s top cricket venue, the world-class Beausejour Cricket Ground in Gros Islet.

The sessions hone the skills and overall development of the aspiring St Lucian cricketers, who are all under 15 years old. Areas covered include batting, bowling, game sense and healthy lifestyles and attitudes.

Lennox Dupal, General Manager of the Sandals Halcyon in St Lucia, is one of the Academy’s greatest supporters.

“We are highly committed to the Sandals Cricket Academy, and look forward to enhancing the skills of St Lucia’s stars of the future. Without the academy, these youngsters may never have had the chance to develop and possibly play for their country,” Mr Dupal said.

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