Director of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and chairman of the Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence Roland Butcher, has issued a call to the governments of the region to come together and assist Cricket West Indies (CWI) in having a Regional Under 23 tournament.

He made the plea while speaking at a press conference at Kensington Oval this afternoon to launch the commencement of its Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence Under-23 cohort.

As part of the initiative, 26 cricketers between the ages of 19 and 23 will undergo training sessions at the Oval from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each Saturday under the guidance of BCA’s head coach Dexter Toppin and former Barbados and West Indies players’ Corey Collymore and Ryan Hinds.

Butcher said a Regional Under 23 tournament held alongside the West Indies Championship was imperative to stop the region from losing a significant number of young cricketers who are over the age of 19.

Read more at Barbados Today 

I support. Bagla seems to be doing something similar. It can only help us to continue improving.

Good idea, however lack of funds could be an issue,

right idea but an under 23 league is limiting, i recently proposed a second eleven competition, which i think would be better as i would want to include players above age 23, this should run alongside the PCL

In reply to hawk

would be essentially be the same thing U23/Second 11! scrap the U17 ,not really necessary.

A CWI XI could be a good addition to the 4-days competition, as it would give playing time to good players who do not make their National teams, like Springer, Jordan, Motie, Cummings and some of the other players that were on the team that won the 50 overs competition.

In reply to camos
essentially yes, but why limit it to players under the age for 23?

In reply to hawk
just a name not a strict guideline.

In reply to dayne

what you are talking about is adding another franchise....not enough, this only exposes 11 players another competition would give much more players the needed exposure and playing time

In reply to camos

name says it all, nonetheless same concept I have proposed

In reply to hawkI have advocated that for years.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Thanks CC.Com

I wanted to share this info here...since yesterday.

on the ball.

About time they did something. So many youngster wasting away at home instead of competing. Seems like folks in the WI cannot see that some youngster mature later than others and need the competition to show this.

In reply to solidrock

The observation that we have been losing too many extremely talented players between 19 and 23 is finally being addressed.

So this is good news-

one of the young U 19 players said he welcomed it as too many of those before him just go adrift after 19...

Lets hope the entire Region sends or develops their chosen ones to keep them competitive

In reply to powen001

Not good news yet. I agree with those who opine that with the Windies already strapped for resources, hosting another competition in addition to all the existing regional competitions presents a costly option that may be too difficult. It would be a good idea though to adopt what others said above, i.e. including a U23 - loosely named team to compete in the 4-day PCL and Super 50.

The nucleus of the team could come from the U19 squad and supplemented with other players who and young and upcoming and on the fringes. The success of the WI Emerging players in the Super 50 gives credence to the idea. So extend it to the 4-day.

One of the reasons we lose players between 19 and 23 is that they mostly do not make their regional teams for whatever reason. Look at Springer, Chemar Holder is now getting a look-in after being on the back-burner, Imlack, Kanhai and others are in limbo.

I do not see a place for Forde, Young or Morris in the Barbados team in the near future.

In reply to Outswinger

Keen Observation...

I am guilty of assuming that all of these youngsters will be competing to force themselves in...

that is an assumption on my part...


Costs: Sadly- its usually the mitigating factor that results in lesser talented but deep pocketed Nations outshine our lads in this same age slot.

Indeed- the U23 squad just my work to keep them fit , fighting and together where possible.- Funding...thats the rub.