Wendell “MICEY” Wallace, founder and head of the Wendell A. Wallace (WAW) Academy, has provided an update on the Academy’s recent tour to St. Maarten, describing the experience as an important learning opportunity for the young players.

Inclement weather conditions over the weekend disrupted the tour schedule, resulting in several of the planned matches being cancelled. However, the Academy was able to complete two matches during the visit.

In the first game, the WAW Academy faced the St. Maarten Under-16 team in a closely contested encounter that went down to the final over.

The Academy needed just four runs from the final over, with eight wickets in hand, but ultimately fell short by two runs.

Wallace described the result as an “embarrassing moment” for his young players, but emphasised that it also provided a valuable lesson in handling pressure and closing out matches.

In the second game, the Academy’s Under-19 team took on the St. Maarten Under-19 side. Although the St. Maarten team secured a more comfortable victory, several WAW Academy players produced encouraging individual performances.

Deshawn James led the way with a half-century, while several other batsmen made solid contributions. Young France was the standout performer among the pacers, while a number of the Academy’s spin bowlers also impressed with their performances.

Wallace said he was pleased with the exposure the tour provided and is already looking ahead to another international trip for the Academy’s players in approximately two years.

He also expressed his sincere appreciation to the Academy’s sponsors and the parents of the young players, whose collective support made the tour possible.

More than $45,000.00 was raised to cover the costs associated with the trip, and Wallace acknowledged that the financial and personal commitment of the Academy’s supporters was instrumental in making the experience a reality.

“This tour was about more than just the results,” Wallace said. “It was an opportunity for our young players to gain international exposure, learn from their experiences and continue developing both on and off the field.”

The WAW Academy remains committed to providing young cricketers with opportunities to develop their skills, gain valuable competitive experience and represent Jamaica in regional and international cricket.

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