Craig Emmanuel, Junior Derose, and Alton Crafton returned home over the weekend from a cutting-edge biomechanics course conducted at the Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago. The three received instruction from renowned biomechanics specialist Dr. Paul Felton.
Felton is a senior lecturer in biomechanics at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology. He is considered one of cricket’s most prominent applied researchers, and his main interest is optimising individual sporting performance.
Emmanuel is a former Windward Islands batsman, a current coach, selector, and chairman of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre (SLCHPC). Derose is a Cricket West Indies Level 2 coach. Crafton, meanwhile, is one of the most successful local coaches, winning multiple titles over the past year with Gros Islet.
The participation of the three local coaches was facilitated by the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA) and National Lotteries Authority (NLA). The course represents a major step forward in advancing the science and practice of coaching within the Windward Islands and the wider Caribbean.
“This collaboration with the National Lotteries Authority demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in lifting the standards of cricket in Saint Lucia,” said SLNCA president Wayne Auguste.
“By exposing our coaches to world-class expertise, we are investing in the long-term success of our players and in the professionalization of our coaching systems.”
Biomechanics plays a critical role in modern cricket, offering scientific insights into player movements, injury prevention, and performance optimisation. Through this specialised training, the coaches will be able to apply advanced methods in analysing batting, bowling, and fielding mechanics, thereby strengthening the high-performance pathway for Saint Lucian cricketers.
As part of the programme’s next phase, the participating coaches will host a seminar in Saint Lucia to share their learnings from Dr. Felton with fellow coaches and stakeholders, ensuring that the benefits of this initiative reach the wider cricketing community.
