The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is named after the legendary West Indies cricket captain, who holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket (400 not out) and the highest first-class score (501 not out). The academy was inaugurated in 2017 and has since hosted several high-profile cricket matches, including the finals of the Caribbean Premier League from 2017 to 2020.
Located in Tarouba, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, it is not just an academy for aspiring cricketers of all ages and levels! It’s also a multi-purpose stadium which is used for cricket matches. The academy provides many courses and programs to help cricket lovers develop their skills, techniques, performance and fitness.
Brian Lara Cricket Academy
The academy offers a variety of cricket coaching programs for different levels of players, from beginners to professionals.
Whether you want to learn the basics of cricket, improve your batting, bowling or fielding skills or enhance your fitness and mental toughness, the academy has something for you.
Some of the features of the academy are:
- State-of-the-art cricket ground with a capacity of 15,000 spectators, equipped with floodlights, electronic scoreboard and video screens.
- Modern pavilion with facilities for players, officials, media and VIPs.
- Cricket training center with indoor and outdoor nets, bowling machines, video analysis and fitness equipment.
- Cricket coaching institute with qualified and experienced coaches, who provide personalized guidance and feedback.
- Cricket development program that focuses on talent identification, skill enhancement and performance improvement.
- Sports academy that offers academic courses in sports management, sports science and sports medicine.
- Cricket camp that organizes residential and non-residential camps for children and youth during school holidays.
Cricket Training Center
This is a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of cricket, such as batting, bowling, fielding, wicket-keeping, fitness, nutrition, mental toughness and game awareness. The program is designed for different age groups and skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
The program is conducted by qualified and experienced coaches who use modern equipment and technology to enhance the learning experience. The program also includes video analysis, feedback sessions, match simulations and assessments.
Cricket Coaching: Cricket Skill Development
This is a personalized service that caters to the specific needs and goals of individual players. The coaching sessions are tailored to suit the player’s strengths, weaknesses, style and preferences.
The coaching sessions are conducted by certified and professional coaches who use innovative methods and drills to improve the player’s technique, confidence and performance. The coaching sessions also include one-on-one mentoring, guidance and support.
Cricket Facility
This is a state-of-the-art facility that provides a world-class environment for playing and practicing cricket. The facility includes:
- A full-sized cricket ground with a capacity of 15,000 spectators,
- A pavilion with dressing rooms
- Media rooms
- VIP lounges and conference rooms
- A gymnasium with modern equipment and machines
- An indoor practice area with nets and pitches
- An outdoor practice area with turf and synthetic pitches &
- A swimming pool.
The facility also has floodlights, electronic scoreboards, digital screens and PA systems.
Lara Cricket School
This is a special program that aims to nurture young talent and produce future stars of cricket. The program is open to children between the ages of 6 and 16 who have a passion for cricket and want to pursue it as a career.
The program is based on the philosophy and vision of Brian Lara himself, who mentors and inspires the students through his personal involvement and interaction.
The program covers all aspects of cricket education, such as technical skills, tactical knowledge, physical fitness, mental strength and life skills. The program also provides opportunities for exposure, recognition and scholarships.
Sports Academy
This is a holistic program that offers academic education along with sports training for students who want to balance their studies and sports.
The program is affiliated with reputable schools and colleges that provide quality education in various subjects and streams.
The program also provides career guidance, counseling and placement services for students who want to pursue higher education or professional opportunities in sports or related fields.
Youth Cricket Coaching
This course is designed for young players who want to start their cricket journey early and have fun while learning. You will learn the basic skills of cricket in a fun and interactive way, using modified equipment and games.
You will also learn about the values and spirit of cricket, such as teamwork, respect and fair play. All these courses are taught by qualified and experienced coaches who have played or coached at various levels of cricket.
They use modern methods and technologies to help you learn faster and better. They also provide feedback and support to help you achieve your goals.
The academy also has a state-of-the-art cricket facility that provides an ideal environment for learning and playing cricket. The facility includes:
- A world-class cricket ground: The ground has a natural grass pitch that can produce different types of conditions, such as fast, slow or spinning. It also has floodlights that allow for day-night matches.
The ground has hosted several international matches, such as ODIs, T20Is and Women’s ODIs.
- A high-performance center: The center has a gymnasium that has various equipment for strength and conditioning training. It also has a physiotherapy room that has facilities for injury prevention and rehabilitation, a video analysis room that has software for analyzing your technique and performance too.
- An indoor practice facility: The facility has six indoor nets that have synthetic pitches that can simulate different types of surfaces, such as hard, bouncy or dusty.
It also has bowling machines that can deliver different types of balls, such as swing, seam or spin. It also has a pitch vision system that can measure your speed, accuracy and movement.
- An outdoor practice facility: The facility has four outdoor nets that have natural grass pitches that can replicate match conditions. It also has a turf wicket that can be used for practice matches or trials.
- It also has a fielding area that has various equipment for practicing catching, throwing and diving.
Conclusion
As you can already guess, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is more than just a cricket ground, it is a dream destination for cricket lovers who want to enjoy, learn and excel in the game!
It is a cricket development center that aims to produce world-class cricketers who can represent Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies with pride and passion. And beside that, it is a cricket destination that attracts cricket fans and tourists from all over the world who want to experience the culture and beauty of the Caribbean.
If you are interested in joining the academy, you can visit their website or contact them through phone or email. You can also follow them on social media to get updates and news about their programs and events.