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What have been the reasons given for our short regional competition? I am guessing that the money to operate a longer league is a factor. But seeing the strong start that some batsmen have made to the tourney, I am wondering what is stopping us from having a longer tournament that will give players more chance to compete.

In reply to Yardman_83

Short answer: CWI leader incompetence.

I guarantee that Windies has the shorted First Class and 50 Overs competition.

And many wonder why the team is crap.

Lack of money is always the main reason. Almost no one attends the matches, so the CWI does not even make money from gate collection. This year they made an upgrade by not playing all the games on one Island, but the present leaders at the CWI are trying hard to up the standards of WI cricket.

In reply to dayne

But?

Finances.

The travel costs of home/away matches, I think accommodation was an issue as well.

I think they should disband the CCC side and have 6 matches followed by the Champions taking on The Academy and then a Select XI from the rest in a Challenge Series.

In reply to WICFan

I can get behind this but there will be an argument by persons from different territories. We need the best players, regardless of where they are from, playing against each other in a franchise-type system.

In reply to Yardman_83

We also need them to be playing more games.

In reply to dayne

Hopefully this continues and gets expanded. I have been excited by the scores I have been seeing and the individual performances.

In reply to TanteMerle

I agree. We might also need for better administration from the territorial levels to ensure that the youth cricketers get a chance to come through and develop properly.

Been short since existence but 3 things are different now
a.Weak local club structures-previously the premier 2-3 day club competition over consecutive weekends had good veterans with FC experience,
solid premier club players, emerging youngsters learning from them and most importantly current senior team players who consistently played for club when home.
b. Senior team pros had contracts with counties but would always come back and impart knowledge
c. National players with FC reputation would go to the leagues allowing others the opportunity to play high class (back then) 1st division/senior cup cricket.

So the short FC season were like mini tests and it didn't matter if it was short you got lots out of it.

Nowadays with other countries having pro programs for their national teams CWI has to rethink....we doan even have facilities and set programs for fast bowlers skill and fitness training which is now common worldwide

In reply to dayne

You don't make money from gate attendance these days... this is 2025 not the 1980s.

You make money through viewership.. either through streaming websites, broadcasters etc.

CWI could make a decent amount from their youtube and social media channels. Some of those live streams get over a 100k views. If they improve the quality I am sure you will get more viewers.

In reply to anthonyp

I agree. A large diaspora plus people in the region cannot travel to the venues. The product could be improved to target companies looking to advertise. 100k is a large audience in the Caribbean.

In reply to Yardman_83

A more effective, centralized, affordable regional ferry system needs to be in place from long...

Who realize that in every single island local corporate sponsorship for cricket is below '60-70-80's levels?

People really delusional yes

LARGE diaspora will watch regional FC cricket?

Lololololololololol

In reply to imusic

Well, relatively speaking it is bigger than those who are in the stands in the region. So yes, large. We are challenged by a younger generation that is not as interested or maybe more interested in t20 cricket... So you are saying that you would not watch regional FC cricket based on the rounds you have seen so far?

In reply to Brerzerk


Correct is right

Oops

In reply to Brerzerk

Each territory should be trying to acquire shirt sponsors as well, even if it is meagre sums in comparison to other nations, all income is welcome.

In reply to Brerzerk

You sum it up, most youngsters have not seen international players representing clubs, I remember my mom allowing to go to my first match at 11-12 years old, P came home crying to my mother because I could not see the game.
Empire vs Spartan 1957, Wes Hall returning from England, every cricket fan was at Queens Park that Saturday afternoon, I refused to go the following two Saturdays but my older brother went.
What a match, Hall, Tony Mayers, Cammie Smith, Peter Lashley and company against Everton Weekes, Seymour Nurse, and Francis Scott, that's how my roots in cricket started.
A couple of years later I attended every game Empire played when playing at Wanderer, The Park, Pickwick,(The Mecca), Harrison College and Carlton.

In reply to openning

You miss George Rock

In reply to tc1

Lionel William was way ahead of George and his name is not mentioned.
Is he one of your homies?
Francis Scott was Hooper-like.

In reply to openning

Not way , check George fc record,

In reply to tc1

You must be joking, George played 8 matches and Lionel 2 matches.

In reply to openning

He played 4 times amount of matches more than Lionel . In 8 matches he had 40 wks @ 18.00.
He was a renowned lady man ,a produce of CP and St. Lucy. His family owned the Rockline Bus company.

If you lived in St.James and miss the 12 o' clock bus. You wait at Eagle Hall and either George or his Buddie Briggs Robinson would give you a ride about 3 in the morning. RIP C/P boys.

In reply to Emir

There is more competition for the corporate sponsor $ so a company will spend more on a Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce initiative/football/netball than a tepid, unpopular cricket team.
CWI couldn't market Ms. World Ina red-light district

By the way when the WI B was introduced in the 90's it made a difference because the tournament was stronger than presently