Palmer Jr - 'Cricket has been a family tradition for me.

St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) captain and most outstanding batsman this season, Paul Palmer Jr, says having emulated his father Paul Sr in representing Jamaica at the youth level, his goal is to follow his uncle Dixieth Palmer by playing for the country at the senior level.

"I would love to go on and, like my uncle, represent Jamaica at the senior level and hopefully one day go all the way by representing the West Indies. I am looking at cricket as a career and other things like becoming a doctor if it doesn't work out," said Palmer Jr.

He has scored four centuries this season, including an unbeaten 108 in the ISSA Headley Cup final against Port Antonio High last week.

A left-hander who bats at number three for STETHS, Palmer Jr, represented Jamaica at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels last year and, in doing so, imitated the feat of his father, who played youth cricket in the 1980s. Dixieth represented Jamaica at the regional first-class level in the early 1990s.

According to Palmer Jr, who along with his teammates will now turn their attention to the all-island Spalding Cup play-off against urban area kingpins Eltham High, his love for the game was developed at a tender age, having seen both his father and uncle play.

"Cricket has been a family tradition for me. From an early age I came to see my father and my uncle playing cricket and I just developed a love for the sport by watching them and cricket on TV. I love cricket next to my mother," he explained, with a broad smile.

"My father and my uncle both give me advice whenever I need it. Advice like be patient no matter what the circumstances or pressure and believe in myself.

"I am grateful to them and to my coaches at STETHS, Clive Ledgister and Junior Bennett, as at STETHS they teach us how to control ourselves both on and off the field.

"My teammates are also an inspiration as we have a lot of good national players in the team and each one forces the other to be better," he added.