The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
you have to start somewhere.
That's essentially what the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) with the support of its enlightened sponsors, Supreme Ventures, is saying as it begins the long road towards "professionalising" Jamaica's club and parish cricket.
For years, the cricketers from the tiny island of Montserrat have had to sit back and watch the Soufriere volcano spill lava and ash all over their playing fields, melting their dreams and the possibility of producing another Jim Allen, the formidable Montserratian batsman who represented the West Indies in the Kerry Packer Cricket World Series in 1978 through 1979.
However, the players have been given a reprieve thanks to Antiguan financier Allen Stanford and his US$280,000 capital investment in Montserrat cricket, and now these same players are poised to be the "wonder" team of the inaugural Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament which will take place in Antigua in July.
West Indies great Lawrence Rowe and the Mayor of Lauderhill were on hand last weekend at CaribbeanCricket.com's "Curry Goat Challenge". The event, which brings together members of the site's message board and local cricket fans to play friendly cricket, was judged a great success by those who attended.
"What we are hoping to do is promote cricket as an expression of West Indian culture, " said event organiser, Sean Mitchell. "We have a large community of cricket fans, and this is a way to bring them together beyond just typing on a chat board".
Antiguan batsman Sylvester Joseph has been appointed captain of the West Indies 'A' team to play two unofficial 'Tests' and five one-day games against a visiting England 'A' side.
Joseph will lead a team that includes 8 players with experience at the senior (Test) level and 3 'A' team newcomers.
At the risk of being slaughtered by every West Indian at home and abroad who is looking forward to World Cup Cricket 2007 being hosted in the Caribbean, I sound an alarm.
Throughout the region, people are being encouraged to build accommodation to house the tens of thousands of cricket fans from cricketing nations and their Diaspora in places such as the United States and Canada who are expected to swarm into the area for the series.