The Clinics were held in six countries across the region - Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.

Over 200 aspiring young cricketers received expert coaching and advice on improving their skills.

Former West Indies players Keith Arthurton and Kenny Benjamin led the Digicel Cricket Clinics with assistance from top players Christopher Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Denesh Ramdin and Jerome Taylor, as well as other local coaches in the various territories.

West Indies legends

Among those complimenting the endeavour were West Indies legend Sir Garry Sobers; coaches Arthurton, Benjamin and Vasbert Drakes; cricketers Gayle, Sarwan, Ramdin and Taylor; ICC elite umpire Billy Doctrove; and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, Emmanuel Nanthan.

"It has been a huge pleasure to coach the young cricketers in these territories and it has left me in no doubt that there is talent across the Caribbean. It is important that we use the Digicel Cricket Clinics to nurture talent and bring the boys on in the right way so that they can make it all the way to the top," said Arthurton, the former West Indies and Leeward Islands middle-order batsman.

Gayle, the powerful Windies and Jamaica left-handed opener, said, "We have to thank Digicel for developing the Digicel Cricket Clinics because without its support none of this would be possible. Having top-class coaches such as Keith Arthurton and Kenny Benjamin on board meant that the boys were able to learn from the best."

passing on experience

"It was also a fantastic opportunity for us to pass on our experience and knowledge as profes-sional cricketers and to help motivate the boys and encourage them to follow their dreams."

Arthurton agreed with Gayle but urged the local authorities and the cricketers themselves to continue working on a consistent basis.

"It was great to spend time with the boys, but it is now up to the local officials to ensure that they build on what they learned during the Digicel Cricket Clinics," he said.

Participants in the Digicel Cricket Clinics received certificates of participation, along with autographed photographs. In each territory, the best batsman, bowler, fielder and wicketkeeper were selected and rewarded with miniature bats autographed by the West Indies cricket team.