All-round Thurton shines for St Benedict’s

NEWSDAY will be closely following the performances of this country's youth cricketers in the 2019 PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League premiership 50-over competition. Each week a player will be selected as Newsday's star of the week and profiled. In round one, St Benedict's College player Crystian Thurton was the top player, after helping his team beat Vishnu Boys by eight wickets. Newsday spoke with Thurton about his strong performance on Tuesday.

Newsday: When did you start playing cricket?

Thurton: At age seven at Preysal Coaching Clinic

Newsday: How do you feel about the team's performance in round one?

Thurton: I was pleased with the team performance. We started training early since November, and personally I saw a lot of improvement from the players. It was good to see the players going out there yesterday and executing.

Newsday: Does St Benedict's have a chance to defeat defending champions Hillview College in round two and make a run at the title this season?

Thurton: I think it is possible once the main players play their part and the other players support us. Although Hillview have a great team, I think we could still pull off a victory once we do the right things – stay patient and be positive.

Newsday: What are your goals in cricket?

Thurton: I am playing premiership cricket this year and I think once I achieve all the goals that I set out for this year, more than likely I will put myself on the senior team trials and move forward from there."

Name: Crystian Thurton

School: St Benedict's College

Age: 18

Form: Lower Six

Club: Preysal Sports Club

Batting style/Bowling style: Right-handed batsman/off break bowler

Star performance

Batting: 35 not out (40 balls, two fours and one six)

Bowling: four wickets for 16 runs

Favourite cricketers: Aiden Markram (South Africa), Nathan Lyon (Australia), Lendl Simmons (West Indies)

Achievements: TT U-15, U-17 and U-19 teams