Tony Becca
THE SUPER Cup, the country's top cricket competition, gets under way tomorrow.
With a nice balance of clubs and parishes, with a change in the format, with more money for the clubs and parishes, with each team now enjoying the services of a coach, and with some money for the players, it promises, not only to be an exciting and interesting tournament, but one that should also be good for Jamaica and West Indies cricket.
A few years ago, when Supreme Ventures stepped in with its sponsorship of $45 million spread over three years, the all-island competition was divided into two. It became the Super Cup for the top 10 teams and the Senior Cup for the next 11, it involved promotion and relegation with the bottom two from the Super Cup being relegated to the Senior Cup and the top two from the Senior Cup being promoted to the Super Cup, and there were six clubs and four parishes in the Super Cup.
Today, however, it is five and five, and although it is sad that Kensington, many-time national champions and the club that produced so many Jamaica and West Indies stars, finished at the bottom last season and have been relegated, that, as far as development is concerned, is good for Jamaica's cricket - as is the change in the format to determine the winners of the Cup.
DEVELOPING PLAYERS
After changing from one format to another so many times over the years, it is good to see that the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has finally agreed that a league is a league, that with all the teams playing each other on different pitches and in different conditions, a league is the best way to develop players. Also, that in a league contest the fairest way to determine the winner is by points won at the end of the league and that from now on, hopefully, that is the way it will be.
In changing the format, the JCA, no doubt in an attempt to facilitate the sponsors who always want a big day or two a final preceded by two semi-finals, has added another contest which will see the top four teams at the end of the league competing for the Challenge Trophy and that is also good for the game. There is one disappointment, however - and that is in the cash prize available to the winners of each competition.
The league, the Super Cup played over nine rounds and in different conditions, should be the top prize, and the knockout, the Challenge Trophy played over two rounds, should be the second prize.
With a cash prize of $500,000 going to the winners of the Super Cup and a cash prize of $500,000 going to the winners of the Challenge Trophy, however, with $250,000 for the runners-up in both competitions, it seems that both competitions are on par and that just does not seem right.
The real good news for local cricket, however, the real good news for the clubs and parishes is the increased money available to the clubs and parishes.
Apart from the attractive incentives for the players - which included $10,000 to the batsman scoring a century and $10,000 to the bowler taking five wickets in an innings, apart from the attractive incentives - $10,000 and $25,000 - for leading on first innings and for winning a match, last year the clubs and parishes received $200,000 each.
TEAM SUPPORT
This year, however, not only have the incentives to the players remain basically the same, not only have the incentives to the clubs remain basically the same, but on top of that, the clubs and parishes will each be receiving $400,000 more with $300,000 for team support - including a subsidy for the players, $200,000 for improvement to facilities, and $100,000 to assist in the employment of a coach.
What all that means is that a team - including the one that finishes last, fails to lead any team on first innings and does not even win one of the incentives for individual performance - will pocket at least $600,000, and that a team has a chance of walking away with almost $2 million.
Although that is still really only a drop in the bucket, it is a start in the right direction, it is good for Jamaica and West Indies cricket, and thanks, many thanks, to Supreme Ventures and to all those in the JCA who have recognised the role of the clubs and parishes in Jamaica and West Indies cricket. Those who have seen the financial plight of the clubs and parishes and who see the importance of assisting them as they continue to serve the game - to find and nurture, groom and develop players good enough, not only to represent Jamaica and the West Indies, but also to do so with distinction.
