There?is a school of thought that the standard set by the Sagicor UWI cricket team can be and should be emulated by cricket clubs throughout Barbados, hence lifting the overall standard of local cricket.
It sounds excellent in theory but in reality it would be easier for Tino Best to break into the top ten of the ICC batting rankings.
I visit cricket clubs on a regular basis as I move around Barbados covering cricket. I am not aware of any cricket club with the resources to build an indoor training facility, hire countless coaches, financially support a squad of cricketers and provide educational opportunities for its members so they don’t have to work in the day, attend evening classes and still find time to play cricket. Most clubs can barely maintain their current facility to a satisfactory level.
The UWI has proven their model works. Provide the best facilities available, competent coaches and the best pool of players while reducing the pool of talented cricketers from other clubs and you can produce a cricket team capable of winning many domestic trophies.
Having thoroughly tested the model it is now left to the UWI to determine the way forward. That would depend on the goals set by management.
If the objective is simply to become the most successful cricket team in regional club cricket or even beyond, then nothing needs to change.
If, however, the purpose is to improve cricket in Barbados and the region, a new approach is essential.
I suggest that all Elite division clubs be asked to nominate at least one emerging player, who is eligible and interested in genuine tertiary level studies. The player ideally should be no older than 23 and yet to make his first-class debut.
These players, in addition to a limited number of overseas participants would then enter a three-year programme at UWI with the understanding that on completion they return to their clubs for at least one season. They can then be facilitators in exposing the wider club membership to their newly formed insights.
Such a plan, which, I must emphasise, has wide scope for modification, falls under the concept of development. The purpose is clear, that is, to spread throughout clubs a cadre of cricketers who will influence higher levels of professionalism and cricketing intelligence.
This approach would not only sustain but enhance club life and will do more for cricket development in the region than establishing an unbeatable squad of domestic superstars to compete against depleted clubs struggling for survival through a lack of financial and human resources.