Thorne’s talent prompted historic BCB Fast Bowlers Clinic – Dr. Frank Denbow

Feb 13, 2022 Sports

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Kaieteur News – Having witnessed the immense potential of Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club’s young fast bowler, Isiah Thorne, on duty with the West Indies Under-19 Team that toured England in 2020, Dr. Frank Denbow, cognizant of the fact that Berbice has not produced many fast bowlers, felt it was time to change those fortunes.

So, the former Queen’s College Alumni whose desire is always to help empower, bring talent to the fore and give back, decided to contact the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) which is led by President, Hilbert Foster.

Dr. Denbow made the necessary contact with the indefatigable Foster and put the proposal to him based on what he would have seen in young Thorne. Little did he [Dr. Denbow] know that there is never a challenge that Foster does not take on, especially when it comes to youths and their development.

“It all started last year (2020) August-September, I saw a young man bowling very well with lots of potential, I got in contact with Mr. Hilbert Foster and told him what I thought about having a fast-bowling camp and if he gets Sir Curtly I would bank roll the whole deal; so said, so done.”

Targeting the inspirational personality of Sir Curtly Ambrose to be the facilitator of such a camp was a huge vision but not impossible, so Foster took on the challenge and succeeded in making the historic undertaking, reality.

Being modest in sponsoring the entire event, Dr. Denbow stated that it is his, “Little contribution to cricket in Berbice.”

The Demerara born and bred Doctor continued, “I’ve contributed to Demerara cricket, in terms of Essequibo, I contribute to them in other ways and I have not contributed anything to Berbice, so I am making a clean sweep now, all three counties now benefitting.”

The work of the BCB over the years, especially under the astute leadership of Foster, a household name in Berbice and Guyana, now a Director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has been nothing short of extraordinary, Dr. Denbow posited.

“I am very impressed with the work of the BCB, particularly Mr. Foster, here is a man who is clearly innovative thinker, somebody who gets things done and I saw a kindred spirit. I live in the USA and I do work in the Caribbean both Jamaica and Guyana and one of the things I always say is that, if you are in the so-called developed world and you are trying to do something in the developing world, you have to have a partner who shares your ideals, your attitudes, your drive, your enthusiasm and I saw that in Mr. Foster.”

The subsequent relationship and partnership with the BCB and Foster, was made easy given the qualities that the leading BCB Administrator possessed, Dr. Denbow noted.

The humble Doctor noted that recognition of being deliberate in giving back should be part and parcel of those who have made it to the highest level.

“People do not need a hand out, they need a hand up and that is what life is all about. It’s about helping people accomplish their goals and fulfill their potential. As you have seen here at this camp, there are lots of young fast bowlers with tremendous natural talent but this talent needs to be nurtured; it needs to be fine-tuned.”

Dr. Denbow made reference to the fact that the sport is now very analytical, since teams record matches of the opposition to study their strengths and weaknesses as a means of planning to overcome them.

“We have to do the same, we cannot just go on natural talent; natural talent is not enough. That natural has to be taken and mad better for us to be able to compete internationally.”

Zooming in on the fact that he was humbled by Sir Curtly Ambrose accepting the invitation to do the clinic/camp, Dr. Denbow said that it is obvious that ‘Ambi’ is not just a legend; he is somebody who is deeply passionate about West Indies cricket.

“Anything he could do to help West Indies cricket get better; I know he would. I saw him with a young fast bowler on the opening day of this camp, and in five minutes that young fast-bowler was able to accomplish something that he hadn’t accomplished before in just five minutes, so I am elated.”

“We would not see a whole lot of Berbice fast bowlers playing for the West Indies in the next year but, what I would say is, we have laid the ground work with this camp for the future of fast bowling in Berbice that’s going to permeate Guyana’s cricket and hopefully, West Indies cricket.”

‘Following up’, Dr. Denbow re-iterated, is vital. He has taken contact info for some of the players he would have chatted with during the camp and has promised to keep in contact with them.

“The thing is to keep them motivated, to keep them working hard and working smart. At the end of the day, all I ask people to do is to do their best and let’s see what happens. I cannot ask anybody to do more than their best, once you can honestly put your hand on your heart and say I tried my best, that’s all I am asking and that’s the goal.”

Dr. Denbow has already spoken to some other folks about physical therapy for players who are injury prone. He will also be looking at injury prevention methodologies as well as nutrition which are quite important.

“I am a scientist and it is clear to me that the way cricket is played in 2022 is different cricket was played in the 1970s. In today’s world, when you go out to play for the West Indies the opposing teams study every area of your game as they want to get you out and that’s what we need to be doing as well, being more analytical.”

 

 

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