West Indies’ team coach Ottis Gibson and Vasbert Drakes, who performs a similar job for Barbados, have been recognized for their contribution to Barbados and West Indies cricket.
Both Gibson and Drakes, who also represented Barbados in first-class cricket and the West Indies in Test and One-Day Internationals, were recently honoured by the St James North Constituency branch of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
First-time BLP?candidate in the coming general election, Edmund Hinkson, presented Drakes and Gibson, with plaques in recognition of their contribution to the development of national, regional and international cricket.
This presentations were made during an all-day Family Fun Day at the Sion Hill Community Centre, St James, hosted by Hinkson and the branch. Activities included cricket and football matches, line-dancing, zumba, karaoke, dominoes, jumping tent and face-painting.
Drakes and Gibson, who recently coached the West Indies to the World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka, are products of the Sion Hill area. They also played county cricket in England and grade cricket in South Africa.
Gibson’s award was presented to his mother, Betty Gibson, in his absence.
Gibson played two Tests and 15 ODIs and took 659 wickets in 177 first-class matches while scoring two centuries.
Gibson took all ten wickets in an innings (10-47) for Durham against Hampshire in 2007 when he was named Most Valuable Player and Player of the Year at the Professional Cricketers Association Awards.
Drakes played 12 Tests and 34 ODIs. He captured 614 wickets in 164 first class matches. His highest score is 180 not out. (EZS)
