The 4Milla Academy Director Nikita Miller says the expansion of the summer cricket camp — highlighted by the attendance of two girls — was an encouraging sign as the third edition ended recently.

But the former West Indies and Jamaica left-arm spin bowler noted that he and his team of coaches, including former women’s player Rita Scott, will not be resting on their laurels.

“It is our most successful summer camp so far. The numbers were higher this year compared to the two previous stagings, averaging 34 attendees per day for the two weeks of the camp. This represents growth and so we want to continue on this upward trend for the 2025 staging of our summer camp,” he beamed after the 2024 camp at Melbourne Cricket Club closed off in early August.

“We were delighted to have two girls participating this year, and they were fully involved in all activities under the watchful eyes of our only female coach, Rita Scott. We also hope to attract more girls to be a part of our camps going forward,” Miller, who coaches at the national level, told the Jamaica Observer.

“By all [the feedback], they enjoyed it. It means a lot to us, as this was one of our goals for this season, to attract girls to our camp because we weren’t able to do so last year. Now we are committed to their growth and development through the different stages,” he added.

The annual summer camp, which Miller has said provides a holistic development for young, aspiring players, offers lessons about the fundamentals of cricket as a sport.

He said the improved turnout made it easier to arrange internal practice games.

“Last year our average attendance was 13 per day… We had to invite a team to play in the end of camp game last year. But this year we had more than enough to have the game internal, and we were able to have the participants play more games as well, so overall, this year was a success,” he explained.

Miller said investment in the youth is important if the regional game is to regain a strong footing at the international level.

“It is very important to have them in a structured environment from early so that they can be exposed to a wide range of methods and measures about the game of cricket,” he said.

The former Jamaica captain added that his academy can help to instil proper techniques and habits “by developing individual player plans which are geared towards improving each player and executing these plans expertly in a fun environment”.

Miller, widely regarded as one of the craftiest slow bowlers to play regionally, debuted for Jamaica in 2004 and retired from professional cricket in 2019.

He claimed 538 wickets in 100 first-class outings at a remarkable average of 16.31. A capable lower order batsman, he accumulated 2,296 first-class runs at 17.52.

Miller played 50 One-Day Internationals, nine Twenty20 matches, and one Test for West Indies before becoming a coach.