John gives the thumbs up!

Lennox John, President of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control, has given the thumbs up to the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) decision to include Combined Campuses and College teams in future regional one day and four day tournaments.{{more}}

John gave the decision its blessing when he spoke to SEARCHLIGHT last Monday from his office at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

John’s approval was on the basis that it would provide more cricket for all participating teams.

“Apart from that, it will give some cricketers who are not interested in playing for the West Indies a chance to play cricket at a high level, while still pursuing their studies,” John, also a WICB director, stated.

“It will also give those cricketers who cannot make their territorial teams a chance to play at this level”, he added.

The long standing cricket administrator said this would also provide opportunities for late bloomers to excel and get in the game.

At present, several persons are attending the University of the West Indies pursuing degrees in cricket studies, and it was John’s view that that would assist in the overall knowledge and understanding of the sport.

John believed that with the present cricket set up at the various major tertiary institutions across the Caribbean, the team can expect to be a good one.

At present, a team from the University of the West Indies, Barbados, plays in the annual Barbados Division One cricket competition.

Among the players representing that team are Windward Islands openers St. Lucian Craig Emmanuel, Vincentian Rommel Currency ,and middle order batsman and spinner Dominican Liam Sebastian.

Along with the Combined Campus team, the WICB approved the regional Under-19 squad’s participation in the KFC Cup slated for next month.

The Under -19’s are preparing for the Youth World Cup in Malaysia next year.

John said that this will be a plus for the regional youngsters who will be exposed to a high level of competition before they head off to the South East Asian country.

Also coming out of last month’s meeting held in Barbados, the WICB reviewed the proposal to revive the West Indies Cricket Academy and look into the establishment of a professional cricket league in the region.

It is expected that the Combined Campuses, formatted under the auspices of the University of the West Indies, will form the basis of the revitalised Cricket Academy. Professor Hilary Beckles, a leading light in the cricket programme at the University of the West Indies, is the Implementation Chairman of the Academy.

Former West Indies Vice-Captain and wicket keeper and current President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, Deryck Murray, Board of directors Paul Campbell and Gregory Shillingford form an internal committee looking into the establishment of the pro league.

They are expected to report their findings to the Board by November 30 this year.

In addition, the Board has included the lucrative Stanford 20/20 Tournament set for January to February next year on its calendar of events.