What shapes up as a busy youth cricket season gets underway this weekend, with both the Shell/BF&M Under-15 and Under-19 Leagues both set for action.

The younger group take the pitch first on Friday evening, as teams representing the various parishes tackle one another, while Saturday witnesses the older crop donning the whites.

None are more excited about the `kick-off' than the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, particularly its president El James, who is looking for good things to result.

"We're looking for a positive year for the youngsters, with both divisions having international engagements,'' said James yesterday. "The under-15s are going to Caymans on a venture sponsored by the Bank of Bermuda, which is a regional tournament, while the under-19s have a regional tournament of their own here in Bermuda in August.'' And while James lamented how numbers were not yet to desired levels, he said the pool was gradually building to where it stood nearly two decades ago, when the programme was a thriving entity under the banner of the Shell Youth League. The president said the league's benefits went wider than cricket.

"We're still trying to rebuild what was lost, so it's not to where we would want it yet, but we're striving for perfection and moving ahead each year,'' said James. "We're looking to instil in them the benefits of sport, the spirit of sport, team play, and we will always emphasise sportsmanship.

"So, we will be focussing not only on the performances on the field, but those attributes that are displayed on and off the field, sportsmanship and so on. In addition, this year we hope to be able to have a Player of the Week and a Player of the Year based on those points.'' Reflecting on the fore-running Shell League, James highlighted how many of those now involved in the senior national programme had sprung from it.

"From Albert Steede to Lionel Cann to Clay Smith, Janeiro, Kwame, you can go right down the line, Richard Basden, came through that youth programme,'' he said. "So, yes, we are looking again to create a nucleus of young players that are capable of carrying us to great success in the international arena.''