Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
On Target
November 9, 2007

Spare a thought for Cricket

Cricket, the game that distinguished the region as a world power during the latter part of the 70’s through to the early 90’s, but which has since become an ailing patient.

The region, has for sometime been praying and hoping for a speedy recovery, to no avail.{{more}}

Here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the situation is no different, except that cricket is not bed ridden, but it is still not in a good state of health.

Various forms of therapy have been administered, with little success.

It was no coincidence that over the past two weeks remedies have been prescribed by persons knowledgeable of the sport.

The current executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association has recognised the need to put the sport back on a good footing.

Its development plan, unveiled two years ago, whilst comprehensive, has been slow in being implemented – an indictment on those at the helm of the process.

Having coaching courses constitutes small areas where the assurance of equipping players with the necessary expertise is channeled.

The ease with which some players get into the senior national teams tells the tale of the state of play.

Having seen the likes of Colville Browne, Douglas Haynes, Sam Isles and Oneil Bonadie, among others, during the 70’s, I churn at the standard which the modern players offer as national material.

I am certain that some of the present national players may have found it difficult to get into a club team then.

Today, these players are seen as stars, and are feted, without stopping to think the harm being done to them.

For several years, local cricket authorities have been thumping their chests about the number of young players who are coming through, who often disappear into oblivion.

I sense that the wheel may be re-invented with this emerging crop of players, who, without a doubt, possess a lot of talent.

Are we not too quick in bestowing the superlatives on their abilities, when many of them have not proven themselves consistently at different levels?

Many are being trapped into a false sense of security with their occasional flashes of brilliance, and are often touted as “good”.

But, then, can these youngsters be faulted for their sometimes cocky demeanour?

What, then, can we do to turn around the sport?

There are several pluses that cricket enjoys. The provision of some of the best facilities is at the sport’s disposal.

But, sadly, the administration and its lack of foresight have retarded the sport.

Marginalisation, whether designed or accidental, of persons with an interest in making a contribution to the sport, adds to its stagnation.

Inputs have been confined to persons who have played the sport.

At the same time, there are those who have played the game at the highest level, but whose contribution is minimal.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has produced one of the better wicket keepers the Caribbean has seen, in the person of Mike Findlay. But I cannot recall Findlay, with all his abilities and great knowledge of the sport, helping to produce a top class wicket keeper.

The time may have come for all persons involved in coaching of cricket to sit and chart a more definitive path for cricket.

Certified coaches Ian Allen, Ortis Jack, Stanley Hinds, Irvin Warrican, among others, have to put their personality and personal differences aside and come to the assistance of cricket.

Some of these coaches have to come from behind the scenes of confinement of concentrating on assisting in their locale, and aid the national interest.

Of significance, too, is greater emphasis on players’ mental preparation, as that seems largely lacking in many of the upcoming prospects.

Professional approaches towards the preparation of pitches, instead of the hit and miss approach that currently obtains.

But spare no thought for the Longest Organising Committee (LOC), for erecting that monument of colossal ignorance, in the guise of a ‘Mound’ at the Sion Hill Playing Field. That eye sore continues to spoil the aesthetics of one of the country’s best sporting facilities.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park on Monday has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of a six-...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok