The king of Test wickets is coming to Bermuda - and young cricketers will get a chance to learn from him and study him in action.

World record-holder for the most wickets in Test cricket, Courtney Walsh, will conduct a clinic for the Island's Under-15 cricketers as well as play for a Select Caribbean XI against St. George Cricket Club during a visit to the Island next month.

The former Jamaica and West Indies fast bowler will be a guest of the West Indian Association from September 12 to 17 as the organisation celebrates its 25th anniversary. He will take part in activities to mark the occasion and is also scheduled to hold two book-signing and autograph sessions at which fans can meet this legend.

On September 13, he will hold a two-hour clinic for junior cricketers at the Police Recreation Club, starting at 10 a.m. This is being seen as a unique invitation for aspiring fast bowlers to learn from a master of the craft.

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity. Not many people get a chance to be coached by or to listen to the world's best fast bowler, in terms of the number of wickets he has claimed.

"Courtney Walsh is a man of very high standards and such a great example for our young people. I would suggest our players take full advantage of this opportunity," said Sports Minister Randy Horton.

Though he has not been notified officially, President of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) Reggie Pearman is aware of Walsh's visit and welcomed any assistance from the only man who boasts 500-plus wickets in Test history.

"We would appreciate any help we can get, particularly from someone of that calibre," he said.

President of the West Indian Association Trevor Fyfe explained that "from time to time we bring in people who are role models to uplift the community".

"We try to find people who can have a positive influence on children. This clinic is a rare chance for them to meet a sports star who has been extremely successful but who has not let it go to his head or who has not become obnoxious.

"Courtney has remained very humble with both his feet on the ground. If that characteristic can rub off, it will show kids that success does not have to spoil you. He has remained a very decent human being throughout all of his record-breaking achievements," noted Fyfe.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette from Jamaica last night, Walsh said he is looking forward to the trip which was postponed last year. As fate would have it, he was scheduled to fly to Bermuda on September 11.

"I am sure I'll have a great time in Bermuda. I know there is a big West Indian community there and that lots of Bermudians follow West Indies cricket and have been coming to the Caribbean and supporting us for many, many years.

"I look foward to being a part of the celebrations and meeting the cricket fans and young cricketers over there. I'm honoured to be invited and I would like to thank the association," he said.

Fyfe disclosed that the cricket match to be contested between the Select Caribbean XI and St. George's Cricket Club will be an annual event and the prize will be The Courtney Walsh Unity Shield. This year's inaugural match takes place on September 15 at Wellington Oval and will be a 40-over game, starting at 12 noon. The admission is $5 and fans will be able to purchase Walsh memorabilia.

During his six-day visit, the cricketing icon will also attend the 25th anniversary banquet of the West Indian Association on September 14; be the guest of honour at a Government reception at Camden; hold two autograph sessions (at Cable & Wireless and C-Travel) and do a live radio talk show.

Walsh, who turns 40 on October 30, retired from 17 years of Test cricket last year after the West Indies' home series against South Africa. He concluded his illustrious career with 519 wickets and produced some of his greatest feats within recent times.

On March 27, 2000, in front of his home crowd at Sabina Park, he had Zimbabwean tail-ender Henry Olonga caught by fellow Jamaican Wavell Hinds to surpass India's Kapil Dev as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 435 scalps.

Then, on March 19 last year at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad, he became the first bowler to reach 500 Test wickets when he trapped South Africa's Jacques Kallis leg before wicket. Kallis was also the victim when Walsh overtook the late Malcolm Marshall as the leading West Indies Test bowler in 1998.