Cayman Cricket officially launched its newest grassroots initiative, the Little Legends League, with a sign-up day held at the Smith Road Oval.
The event, hosted on 14 Feb., aimed to bolster youth participation in the sport through a morning of games and interactive cricket activities.
Also featured at the event was a guest appearance by Jamaican cricketing icon and former West Indies player Michael Holding.
The legendary fast bowler spent the morning engaging with the attendees, signing autographs and posing for photos with aspiring players and their parents.
In a Compass TV interview prior to the event, Holding emphasised the importance of early sports involvement.
“The younger you can get kids to play sports, whatever sport it is, the better it is. And for cricket, you want to introduce it as early as you possibly can and to get them enjoying the game,” he said.
‘Encouraging’ turnout
Andrew Ledger, chair of the youth committee for the Cayman Cricket Association, described the event’s turnout as “encouraging”.
“We had a good cross section of the community in attendance with plenty of children expressing their desire to play cricket,” he said.
Sharing his gratitude for Holding’s support, Ledger said, “We were so fortunate to have the support of West Indian cricketing legend Michael Holding at the fun day. The children, and their parents, were very excited to meet the superstar and enjoyed the chance to talk all things cricket with him.
“He posed for photos, signed autographs and inspired the youth of Cayman to fall in love with the game.”
Ledger also shared that the sign-up day successfully registered 60 children for the upcoming league with a current gender ratio of 85% boys and 15% girls.
“Cayman Cricket has a target participation of 264 players with the goal of fielding four teams in three different age groups (U11, U13 and U15) in separate boys’ and girls’ competitions,” he said.
The Little Legends League
The Little Legends League is designed to introduce, develop, and grow the game of cricket among children aged 10 to 15 years, both boys and girls.
“This will be the first structured junior cricket league of its kind in the Cayman Islands, with a strong focus on fun and participation, fair competition, skill development and inclusivity and community engagement. Matches will be played with a soft ball in a short 12 over format and are designed for maximum enjoyment and participation,” Ledger said.
To ensure the league remains accessible, Cayman Cricket is offering participation at no cost to parents, with all team uniforms and playing gear provided due to the securing of local sponsorship.
“We believe all children in Cayman, no matter their background, should have the opportunity to play cricket. Our sponsors will play a vital role in shaping the future of youth cricket in Cayman – providing children with opportunity, inspiration and a love for the game in a fun and inclusive environment, “Ledger said.
While no further sign-up events are scheduled, the registration period remains open with Cayman Cricket aiming to finalise numbers by 23 Feb. and plans to launch the league on 14 March.
Interested families are encouraged to register through the Cayman Cricket online portal or contact the association via email at [email protected] or WhatsApp at 325-7847.
President remarks
Alessandro Morris, president of Cayman Cricket, echoed the sentiments of Ledger, saying, “The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. You could feel the excitement and inspiration in the air.
“For many of our youth players and cricket enthusiasts, the opportunity to engage with someone of Michael’s stature – both as a former international great and as a respected voice in the game – was invaluable,” he added.
Morris went on to say, “These are the types of moments that help ignite dreams and reinforce what is possible through dedication and hard work.”
He added that the event aligns with Cayman Cricket’s vision to elevate the profile of the sport locally.
“Under my leadership, we absolutely intend to continue bringing high-quality international talent and cricket personalities to our shores. Our goal is to inspire the next generation, elevate the profile of the sport locally, and create meaningful experiences for our cricket family and the wider Cayman community,” Morris said.
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