Fourteen year old Gian Benjamin from the Carib Territory in Dominica took home the top prize at the end of the Digicel Cricket Clinics on Wednesday.

A former national Under 13 player and a current national Under 15 player Gian was adjudged best batsman by lead coach Keith Arthurton who was overly impressed by the young left hander’s temperament, range of strokes and compact defence while he batted in the Digicel Cricket Clinics at Windsor Park.

While there were no cricketing activities on the final day due to heavy and persistent rain caused by Tropical Storm Erica, the Digicel Cricket Clinics ended on a high note with an interactive discussion between the young cricketers and Arthurton, Denesh Ramdin and local coaches. The pint sized Gian used the previous two days of the Digicel Cricket Clinics to impress Arthurton – the former West Indies batsman and super fielder – along with Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ramdin.

“(Gian) is an extremely impressive batsman and I think he certainly possesses the ability to go on and play for the West Indies once he gets the right sort of guidance over the next few years,” Sarwan said Wednesday evening, on the Off the Field radio programme hosted by Brian Francis on DBS Radio.

Arthurton also spoke very highly of the multi-talented Gian.

“This youngster is remarkable. He has the skills to do almost everything - he has superb fielding ability and he is a very good wicketkeeper. He also bowls tidy left arm spin and Sarwan, Ramdin and I were most impressed with his batting,” Arthurton remarked at the end of the Digicel Cricket Clinics.

“We only hope now that the Dominica Cricket Association recognizes this and continues to work with Gian and all the other young players to develop their cricket skills as they move all the way to the top,” Arthurton added.

Fast bowler, Dylan Joseph, copped the best bowler prize and received kudos from Arthurton as another outstanding talent with exciting pace for his age. Thirteen year old Kyle Cabey was selected as the best fielder, while Jason Paris took the top wicketkeeper prize.

Each winner was presented with a miniature bat autographed by the West Indies team while all of the 24 participants – selected by the Dominica Cricket Association – received certificates and a photograph of their participation in the Digicel Cricket Clinics.

Local coaches, Lockhart Sebastien – a former Dominica and Windward Islands player, and Shane Shillingford – a current Dominica and Windward Islands player, also assisted Arthurton in conducting the Digicel Cricket Clinics which ran from September 1st to 3rd.