From as young as he can recall, Jamie Hay has been following cricket closely with his grandfather Herbert Garriques, who is councillor for Linstead Division in St Catherine and vice-president of the St Catherine Cricket Association.
“My love for the game has never changed; it has grown immensely,” Hay told The Beacon, adding that the academic studies and the profession he pursued so far are all linked to cricket. “Cricket is my whole life!”
His grandfather is proud that three of his grandsons, including Hay, are highly promising players of the game that he loves dearly.
He was among people who, on Easter Sunday, watched when Hay was being presented with five individual awards, which made him the most decorated player this year in the most high-profile cricket tournament for the parish of St Catherine – the Jamaica Energy Partners St Catherine Cricket Association Competition.
Hay’s individual awards were for being this year’s best batsman, best bowler, the most valuable player, one of three century makers this season, and one of six bowlers who knocked out at least five wickets.
The 29-year-old plays for the competition’s second-place finisher – Basement Cricket Club out of Linstead. He has been doing so since he was 14 years old.
In the grand final between his team and Bridgeport Cricket Club, Hay took three wickets for only 30 runs.
He stated that it is a ‘bitter-sweet feeling’ for him to have won five individual awards, yet his team ended up not winning the overall tournament.
He is also ‘disappointed’ that he was not included in the Jamaica Titans squad that is now in Antigua for the Cricket West Indies Breakout League – a premier T20 tournament designed to spotlight emerging talent from across the Caribbean.
“It is good that, in the face of disappointment [regarding not being in the Jamaica Titans squad], I was able to do all of that in the parish final],” said the alumnus of Vaz Prep and Kingston College.
He also attended the University of Technology where he attained a degree in Sports Management. He is a Player Development Manager at West Indies Players’ Association.
The Guy’s Hill native currently is an administrator, but he told The Beacon: “Playing cricket is my main priority.”
He hopes to play professionally especially for Jamaica and the West Indies, but he is open to other options. “I would want to represent Jamaica, but, if another team sees my talent and wants me to represent them, by all means I will do that.”
In addition to playing for Basement, Hay plays in the Michael Holding Senior Cup for Kensington Cricket Club. And he is a cricket coach at Kingston College.
Asked what advice he would give to younger cricket players, he said: “If you want to be a professional cricketer, it is a very difficult road, but it can only be achieved through hard work and determination. There might be obstacles along the way, but there will be a time when that road will become clear and you will be able to achieve what you want to achieve.”
Hay is the eldest of three brothers who play cricket for Basement. The others are Matthew Lloyd who is a member of the Jamaica Under-19 trial group, and Andrew Lloyd who is part of the Jamaica Under-15 team that is currently in Antigua.
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