Barbados under-15 captain Nico Reifer is something special in the making and those who attended the Barbados Cricket Association’s Under-15 three-day final at Desmond Haynes Oval would know exactly what I am speaking about.
The young talented player knows what he wants in his career and intends to go after it. In fact, after yesterdays final, Reifer proudly proclaimed: “I want to become a cricket legend,” and a four-year scholarship to Whitgift Cricket School based in England is a step in that direction.
“I hope to reach all the way to the top and to become as people would say a legend and that’s always been a vision of mine since I started playing cricket at age five,” said the 14-year-old who led Queen’s College to their second consecutive under-15 final against Combermere that ended in a draw.
It was at that final yesterday that the stylish opener showed those in the stands just what he’s capable of with a brilliant 121 after occupying the crease for a total of 250 minutes and smashing six fours and one six to capture the Player of the Match trophy.
In the first innings of that final Reifer top-scored with 65 and in the semi-final against Alleyne School he also blasted a superb 103 during the first innings and 81 in the second.
The younger cousin of former West Indies player Floyd Reifer said he intends to return to Barbados while on break to play local cricket and represent Barbados whenever the opportunity presents itself.
“I am going to a very good school I must say but even though I will be out there developing my skills I hope to come back and play some cricket during my vacation breaks and I just hope to keep improving on my cricket,” said the gifted right-handed batsman who was praised by his principal David Browne as a classy batsman.
Browne told Barbados TODAY: “I had a friend who came to watch the final [on the second day] from Bermuda and he asked me who is this fella and I told him and he said Nico looks very good. And this is a man who is in the Bermuda Cricket Association and he was very impressed with Nico.
“I want to predict here in 2015 that Nico is going to go on to higher things for Barbados and West Indies. He just needs the time and the development and I hope he gets it together mentally but technically he is a good player. I hope that he works on his game and go on to do great things,” said Browne, adding that with the high quality cricket facilities in England Reifer should do well.
