In a little over a month from now, (February 28 to be exact), the nation will know whether Mark Neita would have been successful in his bid to unseat Wilford “Billy” Heaven as president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA). I will have more to say on that election as the date gets closer. For now, though, I would advise that whoever wins takes up the matter of the waning interest in high-school cricket in Jamaica. No matter what other lofty plans they may have, if the issue of the rapidly declining participation in cricket in high schools is not addressed, then cricket in Jamaica will never make it to the heights that we all want it to.

I accept that high-school cricket, strictly speaking, comes under the auspices of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), but the JCA will have to show initiative, and together with the high-school body, come up with a formula to make more high schools play cricket. A few years ago, up to 60 high schools in rural Jamaica were playing Headley Cup cricket. This year, that number has dropped to a mere 39. St Elizabeth, widely regarded as the parish that plays the most community cricket in Jamaica, has 14 high schools. Only four of those schools are playing in the current Headley Cup.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

The JCA should be responsible for all cricket, but it appears that like all the other cricket boards in the region, they were incapable, perhaps this is why ISSA is involve?

But whatever the reason, school cricket is the grass-roots and the alarming drop in participation is a West Indian problem and if the JCA has any care in the world, they would partner up with ISSA to grow the business.

How is it the region (not only Jamaica) became so inept in a business that we totally dominated for years and even before the undisputed domination, we are top dogs?

WICB always claiming how much it spends on players, the development of any sport is not the responsibility of Education ministries,there are clubs at various levels of the game that is their function.

In reply to Emir

The JCA should not be responsible for cricket at school level. The school body should. However, there should be some input from the JCA where this is necessary and it is necessary now.