22 hours ago
ANTONIA Burton’s first taste of strength and conditioning coaching in cricket has reinvigorated her love of the sport.
Burton, 36, served in this role for the Guyana Amazon Warriors women’s team in the inaugural 6ixty and Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League T20 tournaments.
The tournaments not only provided opportunities for international cricketers to show off their skills, but also allowed coaches and other technical staff to be a part of two weeks of intense cricket in St. Kitts.
Burton said the passion, professionalism and camaraderie he experienced among the players, staff and officials of the Guyana franchise was tremendous.
Burton is UTT’s head track and field coach, but also does strength and conditioning in cycling, swimming, karate, and other sports.
The Warriors were managed by former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor of Jamaica and coached by Steve Liburd of St Kitts.
“I was very nervous starting, because I had never worked in cricket before,” she said. “From the first day I was introduced to Captain Stafanie and Vice Captain Shemaine Campbell, they were very open. I know you were used to certain shows, and I have my way of doing things.
“But Stafanie told me to bring what I have and they’ll do it and if it doesn’t work out we’ll communicate and find a middle ground. In that sense, it was very easy from there.”
Coming from an athletics background, where athletes have more than 30 minutes to warm up, Burton had to find creative ways to get things done in the 15 minutes allotted to cricket.
He adapted and found innovative ways to bring out the best in the group. Burton credited Liburd with helping to balance his training sessions with hers, to bring out the best in cricketers.
“It was also a learning experience. Working so closely with the coaches is what I appreciate and how I work best. We sit down and plan programs. Steve was very involved. Before each session I would talk to him about what he is doing today and try to find the best running program where the athletes would not be too tired for the game the next day.”
Burton said he worked in a similar way with former national cycling coach Erin Hartwell, and that maintaining a balance with cycling track training and strength and conditioning was a key element of the then-TT team’s success.
Although the women’s Guyana Amazon Warriors team did not win either tournament, Burton said the team’s energy was always positive and she was inspired by Captain Taylor.
“Being surrounded by players like Stafanie, we had a lot of meetings and talks, and she is very self-conscious about her body, so it was very easy to get the best out of her. She wants to become the Michael Jordan of cricket and I love working with athletes who are so passionate.
“All the Warriors players are so committed and want to do well, which is why I think (elimination from the women’s CPL) was so disappointing.”
Burton is certified by the International Association of Sports Sciences and the National Association of Sports Medicine. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
She said she was happy to be part of the inaugural women’s competitions, but said with only three teams competing, it was indicative that there are not enough women playing cricket in the region.
She hopes that franchise owners will keep the tournaments alive for the next season so that young women will be encouraged to see women playing the sport they love on television.
“I definitely want to stay in the CPLT20 for the long term. It was a very good experience. I am a huge fan of cricket and being back in the fold reinvigorated my love of the sport. I was a huge fan of WI cricket a few years ago, but I chose my mental health.”
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