Pacer catches coaches’ eyes

By Randy Bennett | Thu, May 17, 2012 - 12:02 AM

One thing is for certain: Randall Hoyte is quick. Very quick.

And it is for this reason that Hoyte has been given the opportunity to travel to England, where he will represent Wavetree Cricket Club for the next three months.

It is hoped that the stint, courtesy of the Lancashire Cricket Board, will help to develop the 22-year-old’s talent which has caught the eye of West Indies coach Ottis Gibson.

Former Barbados and West Indies opening batsman Alvin Greenidge, who now coaches the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP), the club which Hoyte represents, believes that the tall, robust fast bowler has what it takes to make it on the big stage.

In an interview with NATIONSPORT at the Grantley Adams International Airport, where he was present to see Hoyte off, Greenidge revealed that both director of coaching at the Barbados Cricket Association, Hendy Springer, and Gibson had shown interest in the young cricketer.

He said that after seeing Hoyte in action, Springer invited him to bowl in the nets with the Barbados team,

This paved the way for the young fast bowler to bowl in the nets with the West Indies whenever they were in Barbados. His fiery pace did not escape the attention of Gibson.

“After Springer invited him to bowl with the Barbados team, he told me that he was very impressed with the pace he was generating.

“Gibson was just as impressed too, watching him bowl with the West Indies team. He feels that with some work, Hoyte has the ability to be a world-class fast bowler,” he noted.

As for Hoyte’s most recent challenge, Greenidge feels that conditions in England will suit the pacer, and he is expecting him to do well.

“He should perform well. Conditions will get drier soon, and that will definitely assist him. Hopefully, he will get acclimatized quickly, and take a lot of wickets,” Greenidge said.