COMBERMERE'S TRIUMPH in the Sagicor General Shield against Alexandra last Sunday was a source of joy to anyone with an affiliation to the school, but it would have been extra special to one man.

Vernon Williams was chairman of Combermere's board of management in 1999 and was instrumental in having a full-time cricket master appointed to the staff.

"I am elated that Combermere won, but equally important is that two schools were the finalists," Williams told WEEKENDSPORT.

"These two schools have dedicated teachers who dig into cricket and it is paying dividends."

Since Roddy Estwick, a former Barbados and West Indies 'B' fast bowler, who has coached extensively outside of the Caribbean, was added to Combermere's staff, the school has had amazing success.

"When we recruited Roddy, what he was doing at Combermere, he had done

in England and South Africa. It was not difficult for him to buy into the programme that

we gave him," Williams said.

"We gave him a mandate. We wanted it to be a mini academy. We didn't want only batting, bowling and fielding, we wanted them to study the philosophy of the game, to be good commentators, scorers, umpires and learn the history of cricket.

"Because of the system, Combermere has emerged with talented players."

Williams, the current secretary of the Barbados Cricket Association, is surprised that other schools have not followed Combermere's lead by employing a cricket teacher.

He insists, however, that facilities and equipment are just as important and he sought out sponsorship to secure a bowling machine, an enclosed concrete pitch and a matting strip. Another benefactor is coming on board to help with the addition of an additional concrete pitch.

"Just before Roddy joined the staff, you would recall Combermere found it difficult

to field a team and had to amalgamate with St Leonard's Boys [in Division 2]," Williams said.

"The depth from which Roddy brought the school cannot be overemphasised. We are the leading school at the moment with cricketers.

"There is also a scheme for girls at the school. I was told that the girls were a distraction to the boys. The mandate to Roddy was don't treat the girls any different to the boys, make it a subject with them and bring them into to it."