IF PRESIDENT JOEL “BIG BIRD” GARNER’S words are to be accepted, then one should surmise that the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) 2011 innings was full of runs on a placid pitch. Given the importance of this game to the nation, his comments, delivered on Thursday at the BCA’s annual Christmas luncheon, must be carefully reviewed.
The move by the BCA to go in the direction of promotion and demotion was a step in the right direction. The ultimate aim was to help improve the standard of local cricket and make the organized competition a lot more competitive. In the past it was felt that there were too many players in the Division One level programme who were not up to scratch. Hopefully, the move will help to lift the standards.
It is agreed that the BCA has also done some positive things in the past three years to improve cricket and put it back on the right track. A coach has been attached to each Division One club; assistance has been given by donating balls and equipment to the clubs.
The ultimate aim is to bring the local competition in line with what obtains at the higher level across the region and, indeed, other cricket-playing nations.
The first step towards that should be moving to set up a semi-professional programme; however, we accept that funding would be a major challenge with a minimum of $1 million in players fees estimated to be required. This would call for major sponsorship and aggressive marketing on the part of the BCA.
We recognize that given the state of play in local cricket over the years there may be some reluctance by corporate Barbados to get on board as they will rightly ask: What is in it for them? The BCA needs to make its competitions, especially the Division One, more attractive. Perhaps the BCA needs to look at the LIME Pelican football which has been a success. Admittedly, that event was run by a private entity.
When Garner speaks of success with our cricket and indeed the reviving of interest in the game particularly at the senior domestic level, he needs to look at our cricket clubs. There is a dearth of proper management at the clubs, most of which still operate as they did 40 years ago, with no full-time staff, difficulty in raising revenue and struggling to attract membership.
The BCA needs to help clubs enhance their administration; assist schools with the provision of covers so that playing school competitions on rain-affected pitches would be no-balled.
In fact, a change in the season could also be considered as this year many matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled or ruined by rain.
The BCA’s rules and regulations need to be rewritten as cricket matches should be won or lost on the field of play and not in the boardroom or courts.
The BCA needs to work more closely with the National Sports Council, embracing its coaches in their set-up to ensure the success at the Under-13 level is emulated when the youngsters graduate to other age groups. Maybe, the BCA should consider an amalgamation with the Barbados Cricket League, given that the circumstances and social structure in our cricket have changed.
Cricket can play a critical role: sports tourism; the provision of jobs; new career options, both for players and administrators; and indeed a role boosting the national psyche. The year 2012 must be action time for local cricket.
We are depending on you, Mr Garner!
