January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Kelly to press for World Cup slot
The 17-year-old has been given time off by his school in Leicester, England, to join up with Bermuda's tour of Dubai for five one-day matches against the United Arab Emirates.
Kelly has already had a taste of international action, taking five for 23 against Namibia, when he played for Bermuda on their brief tour of England prior to the ICC Trophy last summer.
And after that thrilling debut, the youngster is itching for another taste of the action.
Speaking from his school at Oakham, Leicestershire, where he is on a cricket scholarship, Kelly said: “I was really excited to be selected, because after the Namibia game, I just wanted to play with them again.
“There had been some talk about it, but I didn't know for sure until last week. I got an e-mail from Saleem Mukuddem, telling me I was picked.”
Coach Gus Logie has already signall ed that he is keen to look at his seam bowling options, with Kevin Hurdle and Ryan Steede the only 'certainties' for the World Cup.
And Kelly, whose long-term aim is to play as a professional in the English county leagues, is aware that this is his big chance to ink in his name for West Indies 2007.
“I rate my chances, but it is not up to me. I have got to prove that I am worth a spot in the team.”
He's not phased by the prospect of playing alongside the likes of Clay Smith and Janeiro Tucker and says he has been welcomed by the players in the past.
“I have known a lot of them since I was younger and I have grown up around them.
“The few times I've played with them, they didn't put any pressure on me and they seemed like they would welcome new people as much as possible.”
Kelly's elevation from schoolboy cricket to World Cup contender has attracted the attention of U.K. radio and has impressed his school friends.
“They are all really excited about me playing for Bermuda. They think it's really young to have got that good and they're all really supportive. They think it's a real achievement.”
Kelly has actually been playing at a high level for Oakham School, where the team competes against the next generation of English cricketing talent, from top county academies across the U.K.
They just completed a winter tour of South Africa and Kelly has trained briefly with Leicestershire, where he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his former school friend Stuart Broad who now plays for the county side.
“That’s been my goal since I came out here — to play professional cricket in England. My coaches rate my chances. They think if I keep progressing the way I have and keep the right attitude, then I should make it.”
Kelly believes he has developed more consistency as a bowler and improved his fielding and batting since he took up the scholarship at the Leicestershire school.
The chance to train year-round and to work with other talented young cricketers has also improved his sharpness and fuelled his obsession with the game.
“A lot of times we will sit up late at night talking about cricket, different field settings, different ways of getting batsman out. When we are playing we try to watch players and work out their weaknesses. I'm thinking a lot more about my cricket now.”
He added that his batting was improving and his coaches were trying to develop him into a genuine all-rounder.
He now hopes to translate that improvement on to the international arena, where his aim is to become a fixture in the side over a new era for Bermuda cricket.
“What I want to achieve is to help Bermuda to be consistently playing international cricket and to get everything moving for kids that are younger than me.
“And help get Bermuda up there with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the next level.”[[In-content Ad]]
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