Wehby wants Patterson Report implemented now

Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Don Wehby, the group chief operating officer at GraceKennedy, has come out in strong support of the report presented to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) by a team chaired by former Prime Minister, P. J. Patterson, and of the High-Performance Centre in Bridge-town, Barbados.

Speaking at the awards ceremony for the ISSA/GraceKennedy schoolboy cricket season recently, Wehby, an ardent cricket fan and a member of the Board's sub-committee dealing with financing, lamented the current performance of the West Indies team and suggested that the WICB implement the recommendations of the committee, which was commissioned by the WICB and which included Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald.

After reminding the gathering that GraceKennedy's involvement in schoolboy cricket was an investment in the country's schools and the nation, as well as reminding the young cricketers that many of the country's schoolboy cricketers have gone on to become great Jamaicans, Wehby said, emotionally, that he was very concerned about the state of cricket in the West Indies.

Quoting Albert Einstein, who once said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results", Wehby said that the West Indies "must come up with some new and innovative strategies and structures to transform the West Indies team so that we can return to the glory days".

According to Wehby, he understands that the WICB has accepted the report that recommended many changes in West Indies cricket, on and off the field, but apart from that, nothing has happened.

"The implementation seems to be lacking in urgency," said Wehby, "but I think it is an excellent report and should be implemented as quickly as possible".

Strive for excellence

Regarding the High-Performance Centre, Wehby said it was a step in the right direction.

"We need to strive for excellence in all aspects of cricket to produce a winning West Indies team," said Wehby, who went on to say that excellence is demonstrated through a winning attitude and to mention a few "musts" for young cricketers.

After urging the young cricketers to "continue to strive for the best in all that you do whether it is on or off the field," and that regardless of what they decide to do in the future to "make your life an amazing innings so that others will want to emulate you", Wehby told them several things.

Accept and follow team rules; demonstrate support for teammates in all situations; perform at the highest intensity at all training sessions; strive to become a better player on every occasion; possess a high work rate; always be well prepared and understand the physical and mental requirements of the game; and view cricket as a game to enjoy and to be played in the true spirit of sportsmanship.