Lorna Austin & Alex Navarette, New American College Cricket Hall of Famers!
Lorna Austin, Lloyd, Alex Navarette
Each year the Inductees into the American College Cricket Hall of Fame are usually made Aug. However this year there were 2 early Inductees, from the NYC PSAL High School Cricket League, and with the season ending Monday, American College Cricket President took the opportunity to make the Presentation at the final game, the NYC Mayor’s Cup.
The 2 Inductees are :
Alex Navarette – Coach of the John Adams High School Cricket Team. 11 years ago Alex had no knowledge of cricket, as he was from Uruguay he was a Soccer coach. But as he put it, he “learns about the game from my students”, which is a humble way of speaking about his role in molding, guiding and motivating the passionate and often talented kids who now flock to John Adams. They lost the first 2 Championships in 2008 and 2009 in the Finals, and went on to a total of 8 Finals in 11 years, winning 3 Championships.
When we look at the records John Adams High School is right up there with the Chennai Super Kings, University of South Florida, New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team, the New England Patriots as the Top Sports Teams of the past Decade ! At least 3 years his players have won the Wingate Award presented to the PSAL Cricketer of the Year, who this year was Alix Hussein who average over 100 runs for the 2nd consecutive year and Captained John Adams. Alex himself won PSAL Coach of the Year out of 33 sports.
For his team’s record and his dedication and work in accepting the challenge of coaching cricket, a new sport to him, the obvious love and respect his players have for him Alex Navarette is a 2018 Inductee into the American College Cricket Hall of Fame.
Lorna Austin – Cricket Coordinator of the NYC PSAL Lorna was one of the people who motivated the creation of the Cricket League in America’s and the world’s most high profile city which in itself was remarkable for the game. Before the League came along countless generations of cricket – heritage kids were lost to cricket, never to be recovered. For the past 11 years that has changed and whether you’re a new kid immigrating from a cricket playing country, or growing in NYC wanting to play the game, there are opportunities in the NYC Public Schools.
The League grows nearly every year and for the past 2 years 35 High Schools have participated in the League, with over 700 students. With more funding, or sponsorship other schools that wish to field a team can start. Originally from Barbados Lorna has been very active in the overall management of the League all 11 years and can be seen actively attending to details at the Finals, including dishing out food for the students.
For her immense and invaluable role in developing, maintaining and growing the NYC PSAL High School cricket League Lorna Austin is a 2018 Inductee into the American College Cricket Hall of Fame.
Commissioner of the PSAL Cricket League Bassett Thompson was inducted into the American College Cricket Hall of Fame in 2015.The remainder of the Class of 2018 American College Cricket Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced at the end of July.
The American College Cricket Hall of Fame was launched in Dec 2013,and Shiv Chanderpaul was announced as the First Inductee at a function in Queens, New York.
