Tony Becca
THE REGIONAL first-class cricket tournament bowls off today with the promise of an exciting season but also with a touch of disappointment.
With all six teams, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands, just about evenly-matched, the race for the title could be close and exciting. On top of that, there is some exciting young talent around - the kind of talent that could lead to the revival of the West Indies team.
For the talent around to serve West Indies cricket, however, it has to be fully developed; it has to be properly groomed and that is why the start of the new season is accompanied by a touch of
disappointment - in fact, by huge disappointment.
Going into last season, the West Indies Board, after sitting down and looking at the poor state of West Indies cricket, came to the conclusion that in order for West Indies cricket to improve, in order for the West Indies team to become strong once again, West Indies cricket needed, among other things, a longer season and, after long deliberation, decided on such.
The result was that last season there was a new format - a format that was tried before but shelved after one season.
The new format called for return matches. That meant that instead of playing five matches, each team played 10 matches and the consensus was that it was a success - that it was good for West Indies cricket.
LONG SEASON WAS GOOD
Although it was too early to tell, the longer season was good and for the simple reason that the players played more first-class cricket, they played on different kinds of pitches and by playing more first-class cricket the players practised and trained more than they ever did before.
What was also important, however, even though the West Indies players were absent for half the time, was the impact it must have had on the young players. By playing more first-class cricket, the young players were afforded more opportunities to play with and against more experienced players and in the development and grooming process, that was important.
Once again, however, it lasted for one season, and that cannot be good for West Indies cricket - for the development of a strong West Indies team.
According to the board, the reason for the change back to the old days is a lack of money and it hopes to be in a position to return to the longer tournament next time around.
The lack of money has always been a problem, however; based on the economy of the islands, the lack of money may always be a problem, and if the lack of money was really what caused the reversal this time, unless a group of companies come together to make it possible, the lack of money may make it almost impossible in the future.
The fact, however, is this: in this day and age the West Indies team will never ever be strong again unless West Indies cricket is strong, West Indies cricket will never ever be strong again unless, and on top of everything else, the game at the first-class level is strong, and it will never ever be strong if the first-class tournament is limited to 20 days per team per season.
Money or no money, it is as simple as that.
