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July 2015

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THE CARIBBEAN

T-20 expands cricket world

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND

SOUTH AFRICA

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T-20 expands cricket world

T-20 expands Cricket world

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ricket as been around for centuries. But like all institutions it has always inevitably adapted to the changes in the milieu in which it was played. This is how it had to be...not to change would mean stagnation and death. Cricket started out as a “gentleman’s game” of the English upper classes and most of the initial change was a consequence of the democratization of society in England and in its colonies to which it had transmitted the love of cricket.

Test matches between the cricketing nations was the epitome of what Cricket was all about. But in the late 20th century, the leisurely pace of a game that took five days to unfold often to inconclusive draws - was out of synch in a world of instantaneous communications and connectivity that spurred instantaneous gratification.

A shortened form of the game, limited to fifty overs for each team but played on the same day - dubbed “One Day Cricket or 50/50 – or One Day Internationals (ODI) when played between different nations were unveiled. The first ODI was in 1971 between England and Australia and by 1975 had proven

wildly successful in a “World Cup” involving the major Test Nations. It was won by the West Indies.

But with the advent of the new millennium, as the acceleration of life continued apace, it led to the new format T-20

unfolding in 2003. The game would now be limited to 20 overs per innings and with its attendant changes in bowling and fielding restrictions, it ensured a fast, exciting game that delivered a result in four hours. Cricket could now be played as a sport for the masses after they worked.

Presently every cricketing nation has a T-20 competition but in four of them - India (Indian Premier League), the West Indies (Caribbean Premier League), Australia (Big Bash League) and South Africa (Ram Slam T20) the game has been professionalized through the formation of “clubs” that are identified with specific areas of their countries.

The experience of the Australian Big Bash League described below, offers a feel about how T-20 became the most popular cricketing package in the world today. Everyone knows of the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ....but like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Big Bash League of Australia has achieved great success in bringing out the fans to the ball game.

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CPL among the biggest T20 leagues in the world T

By Treiston Joseph

he Twenty 20 game has brought thousands of fans back to the sport of cricket and while many prominent leagues exist in the world today, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) also known as the “Biggest Party in Sport” stands out as one of the biggest in the world.

When we speak of big hitters, fast bowling, gripping spin, expert fielding and an electric atmosphere, the “Biggest Party in Sport” is the league to watch.

With top leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) the Big Bash League in Australia, the NatWest League in England, the Ram Slam T20 League in South Africa, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Sri Lanka Premier League in existence, what really sets the CPL a part from these leagues?

Well if you want to experience an atmosphere that is electric, that carries its own jive, vibe and swag then look no further that the “Biggest Party in Sport”.

Music, horns, dancing and crowd participation, the experience of being in such as atmosphere is second to none in the world.

The quality of cricket in the league is also right up there with the more prominent leagues such as the IPL and the Big Bash.

In its three year existence, the CPL has continually grown not just in viewership and ratings but also in popularity and star attraction.

The third edition has brought the likes of Jacques Kallis and Kevin Pietersen to the tournament and as usual the big stars such as Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard continue their exploits in the formant the league will only grow.

One other big significance that the CPL must be lauded for is the lack of corruption within the league compared to others around the world which makes it a comfortable atmosphere for the fans and players to be in.

However, if we are to compare the CPL to what is seen at the biggest T20 league in the world, the IPL; the one advantage the IPL is their abundance of quality Indian players that only plays for their Indian franchises.

Nevertheless, the likes of Gayle, Pollard, Narine, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo have made the IPL must watch television with their flamboyant style of play and the Caribbean boys bring that very same flavor to the CPL as their home league.

While the IPL have larger stadiums and has the larger attendance, the CPL atmosphere is spicy and flavor which is the reason the tournament is dubbed “the Biggest Party in Sport”.

Without a doubt the CPL is growing and definitely the ever improving league will continue to be one of the best if not the best T20 league that exist in the world.

In addition, if we look at leagues such as the NatWest and the Big Bash while those leagues have produced outstanding cricket it pales in comparison to the ever rising CPL. To witness Shah Rukh Khan buying a stake in the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, simply speaks of the tournament to a cross section of people and further validates that the tournament is definitely among one of the biggest in the world.

CPL is definitely on the rise and the only question will be is what’s next for the “Biggest Party in Sport”?

T-20 expands cricket world T-20 expands Cricket world

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The experience of the “Big Bash League” – Australia

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he creation of the BBL was an investment by Cricket Australia, an investment to expand cricket’s audiences with a view to one day making a profit. It was also in this sense, a risk.

“The future cannot be predicted,” wrote the inventor of holography, Dennis Gabor, in 1963, “but futures can be invented.” Gabor’s words would no doubt resonate with Cricket Australia. When the Australian board invented the Big Bash League in the summer or 2010-11, they invented the future of cricket in Australia.

Market Research

It is apposite of the age that the origins of the future of Australian cricket lie in the meeting of 180 stakeholders who convened in August 2010 at the inaugural Australian Cricket Conference. The summit, held over five days in Aitken Hill Conference Centre in Melbourne, saw extensive market research presented to those in attendance and has since been referred to by those at CA as a “wake-up call.”

Plunging interest

The research found that cricket’s popularity amongst teenage demographics was plummeting. BBL general manager, Anthony Everard recalls that “cricket faced losing a generation of fans unless something was done,” and it was within the T20 format that CA felt the answer lay. “It’s become pretty clear to us,” said CA’s operations manager Mike McKenna at the time, “that T20 is the vehicle by which we were going to get females and kids interested in the game ... it’s the product they prefer and it’s the one that’s going to get us into a new space.” Not only were there concerns surrounding the game’s popularity amongst young people, but also more generally with a 24% decrease in television audiences over the preceding decade and a huge over-reliance on broadcasting revenue from the sub-continent and particularly India.

A list of the main Twenty20 domestic competitions in each cricketing country.

Country Australia Bangladesh Canada England India Kenya Nepal New Zealand Pakistan Scotland South Africa Sri Lanka USA West Indies Zimbabwe

Domestic Competition Big Bash League Bangladesh Premier League Scotiabank National T20 Championship NatWest t20 Blast Indian Premier League East Africa Premier League Nepal Premier League HRV Cup Faysal Bank T20 Cup Murgitroyd Twenty20 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Sri Lanka Premier League American Twenty20 Championship Caribbean Premier League Stanbic Bank 20 Series

Club competition vs State competition

In 2010 Australian cricket already had its own domestic T20 tournament, the KFC Big Bash, which was played by the six existing state teams. The Big Bash produced a high standard of cricket and was typically competitive but it had broken down very few barriers into new demographics of fans. To compound problems, as Graham Dixon, then Queensland’s chief executive, recalled, “despite a lot of people going to the Big Bash in 2009-10, the bottom-line is that it still ran at a loss for the state associations.” Australia’s domestic T20 tournament wasn’t growing the sport and it was losing the sport money at a time when it needed to do the opposite.

“It’s pretty obvious to us that people aren’t as passionate about state cricket, and state competitions generally as they are about club competitions,” said McKenna in 2010.

This was a seminal realisation, one perhaps informed by the AFL backgrounds of CA’s most influential men, CEO James Sutherland (former finance manager at Carlton Football Club) and McKenna (former general manager of Essendon Football Club), but a seminal one all the same. The six state associations represented over 100 years of history and were part of the fabric of the sport in the country, but they were institutions seen to be out of touch with modern inclinations and were anti-brands as much as they were brands.

“In order to to be able to provide a product to appeal to different audience than we currently have, we need to have something different,” said McKenna. “Having different teams, new brands, the ability to basically start again and target a different audience, is really important.”

“To reach kids,” McKenna said, “we need cricket that doesn’t look the the cricket they know.”

Indian Premier League Success

There is little doubt that CA were heavily influenced

by the success of the Indian Premier League.

Indeed, McKenna acknowledges that the IPL was “one of the references for planning the BBL,” while Sutherland admitted that there was “a lot to be learnt from the IPL.” However, CA were in one regard ahead of the BCCI and the IPL. As early as 2005, prior to the IPL even existing as a concept, CA struck up talks with New Zealand Cricket and Cricket South Africa about forming a “Southern Premier South Australia won the final state-based Big Bash title in 2010-11, before League,” involving teams the future of T20 cricket was reinvented in Australia © Getty Images from all three nations based October 2010 it was planned that 33% stakes in the new loosely on Super Rugby. These plans even progressed far BBL teams would be sold, and following a report by the reenough for the sports management company IMG, who were search firm LEK that predicted teams could command prilater heavily involved in the IPL, to have a temporary desk vate investment of between A$25 million and $40 million, set up at Cricket Australia’s offices in Jolimont. The idea for by March 2011 CA planned to sell 49% stakes. Queensland the SPL was widely reported as news in 2008 following the Cricket reportedly received requests from overseas investors enormous success of the IPL, but in the end, the concept was in the United States, China and India before the Brisbane put on hold “indefinitely.” team even had a name. This was all happening during the

Private Ownership

One aspect of the IPL that did find its way into the origins of the BBL was that of private ownership of teams. In

boom years of T20. Lalit Modi had been and gone at the IPL, but despite his scandalous exit the league surged on and two TURN TO PAGE 8

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T-20 expands cricket world

CPL pumping billions into Caribbean economies – study A

mid slow growth in most Caribbean countries the recently launched Caribbean Premier League is seen as the right fillip and has been pumping billions into some countries to help jumpstart their economies.

According to an independent Economic Impact study on

the tournament last year, it revealed that Guyana’s economy alone cashed in on some US$24.5 million from the overall US$166 million that was injected into the Region’s economy during the 2014 tournament – a significant increase of 58 per cent on 2013. Guyana’s Minister of Business,

Dominic Gaskin in an invited comment had said “generally, any major sporting event that excites Guyanese and brings people to Guyana has the potential to possibly impact the economy… I do believe that the CPL games may increase the economic activities,” he offered.

Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes has also welcomed the CPL to Guyana. She said since its inaugural tournament in 2013, CPL has evolved to one of the Caribbean’s and undoubtedly Guyana’s most popular sporting event.

Although the Caribbean is renowned for its Cricket, the success of the CPL proves that the Caribbean has the capacity to host world class sporting events, Hughes said. “Sporting events have the potential of creating mass movement of visitors from one destination to another and this is even more evident with the success of this tournament which has become an annual fixture for the Caribbean.”

She said that as Minister of Tourism, “I recognize that sports tourism is a growing niche market in Guyana and it is poised for a takeoff. The linkages between sports and tourism sectors have the ability to generate economic gains while promoting destination Guyana - “South America Undiscovered “to the world. Our Ministry’s vision is to develop Guyana’s tourism as a sustainable, competitive and world class destination year round and undoubtedly, sport tourism has the potential to achieve this. Once again welcome to all visitors from the Caribbean and beyond, I am certain that this year’s HERO CPL will continue to live up to its slogan “the biggest party in sport”; and to all the participating teams “Good luck!”

Economic benefits

According to the study conducted by SMG-Insight/ YouGov, one of the world’s leading sports measurement, research and analysis companies, showed a breakout across each of the eight markets as follows: Antigua and Barbuda – US$13.8 million; Barbados – US$28.7 million; Grenada – US$13.3 million; Guyana – US$24.5 million; Jamaica – US$25.1 million; St Kitts and Nevis – US$26.3 million; St Lucia – US$13.9 million and Trinidad and Tobago – US$21.1 million. With an investment of over US$25 million to date, the CPL is the world’s second biggest T20 cricket tournament – behind the Indian Premier League – and is set to continue growing in 2015 and beyond.

The study also revealed that last year host country for the finals, St Kitts and Nevis, reaped significant benefits with a whopping US$25.1 million invested in the local economy – second only to Barbados with US$28.7 million. Key findings in the report show: incremental spending by regional and international fans totalled US$47.4 million (excluding accommodation and airfares); an estimated 217,176 regional and international spectators watched CPL 2014 live; the international TV audience increased to 65 million in 2014 from 36 million in 2013, with 29 broadcasters from around the world airing the games live; over 21,500 international visitors (approximately 10 per cent of total spectators), attended CPL 2014, spending US$7.9 million; thousands of new jobs were created in tourism and travel across the Region by CPL and more than 156,000 jobs positively impacted and the tournament’s high profile international broadcast media campaign (which encouraged tourism in the Region) generated US$4.47 million in advertising value.

CPL’s CEO, Damien O’Donohoe had said that “These results are fantastic and are a testament to CPL’s significance as an economic driver in the Region. While we have always said that the Caribbean is without doubt the natural home of T20 cricket, we are very proud to say that CPL is now a truly international event – appealing to fans and players from around the world – and one that the people of the Caribbean should be very proud of.”

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Sports and Development:

The role of the CPL The beginning T

he slogan, “Sports - it’s not just a game”, summarises the realisation - at least in some quarters - that sports is an integral part of the national life of every society.

Sports can develop the character of the individual as well as that of the community and the nation. It is not by chance that countries such as Russia and China, which attempted to leapfrog economic development, all introduced strong national sports programs.

“Sport builds and nurtures the spirit of friendly competition, it provides healthy entertainment, it exercises the body, it focuses the spirit, it creates a climate of achievement and it challenges the youth in particular to higher levels of endurance and attainment.”

While sports initially was seen as a private undertaking, which was epitomised by the “amateur” traditions of cricket, in the last half a century, professional sports have moved to centre stage, and in fact is today the driving force in modern sports development. The mantra seems to be that “all that the amateurs can achieve for sports, the professionals can do it better”. And the professionals have taken games to such a level that they have a significant direct economic impact on development of the countries as a whole.

This was brought home most forcefully in the inaugural seasons of the T-20 Cricket Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2013 and 2014, especially in Guyana, with its home team the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

When the idea of a West Indian T-20 Tournament was touted in 2012, most locals scoffed at it because they felt the logistical and organisational challenges, not to mention the financial demands, could not be overcome. One local company, however, felt otherwise - the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC). It not only purchased the local franchise (the Amazon Warriors) but actually sponsored the entire tournament which then became the Limacol CPL. This decision brought home the difference between the old amateur and the new professional approach to sports.

Marketing surveys were done to verify that the markets were there for the product - T-20 cricket. The challenges were identified and one by one, they were addressed - using modern project management approaches that emphasised planning, execution and feedback mechanisms.

And so when the CPL tournament kicked off on July 30 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, very little had been left to chance. And the “jam packed” stadiums with their enthusiastic cricketing fans in every one of the six venues - St Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Antigua and Trinidad - testified to the success of the vision. Then there were the TV broadcasts to every continent on the globe.

In the end, the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Jamaica Tallawahs fought it out in the finals at the Trinidad Oval. Even though the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel had been eliminated, the “joint was jumping” like never before that night. Jamaica might have won the first trophy, but every West Indian country won numerous other prizes. In 2014, the Barbados Tridents defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in a final that was decided controversially by the Duckworth Lewis Method.

First and foremost, there was the pride inspired in the

hearts of every West Indian who had been told that we could not run anything successfully. This is not an inconsequential achievement; for if a people cannot believe, they can never achieve. West Indians now know that they can produce an event that was broadcast to every corner of the cricketing world that lived up to the very highest standards achieved elsewhere - and then some. There can be no turning back now.

Then there were the unity and amity displayed by the West Indian people that thronged the stadiums - and even among those that watched the games from their living rooms. Whether we call this building “social capital” or “one love”, the bottom line is that people who see themselves as embarked on a common mission can achieve so much more.

More concretely, we can appreciate the economic spin offs up close from the Guyana leg of the Tournament. Every hotel in the Georgetown area was booked solid - not just the Princess next to the Stadium but also the Pegasus and the smaller ones. And this was in the inaugural tournament when there had to be a host of doubters as to whether the event could be pulled off successfully. Next year, with the certainty of success, the visitors will increase in multiples.

And they will bring with them all the well-known benefits of tourism: money pumped into the economy not only in hotels, but into food providers, transportation services, sightseeing sites, souvenirs sellers etc.

But just as important was and will be the selling of the West Indies itself as a tourist destination. The tourism product in the West Indies has taken a beating in the last decade, because of the downturn in the traditional northern markets. But the CPL had opened up a whole new world literally, to the local attractions. The rise of China has already sent millions of tourists abroad - mostly to the US. India which is also rising has a middle class larger than the entire population of the US - and they are all “cricket mad” and tuning in to CPL’s games. We have a chance of attracting that audience both from India and from their expatriate community in the US. Sports in general and professional cricket represented by the COl and its Guyana franchise the Guyana Amazon Warriors, owned by the New GPC will assist in the development of a brighter future for Guyana.

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T-20 expands Cricket world

The experience of the “Big Bash League” – Australia new teams, Kochi Tuskers Kerela and Pune Warriors India had just been sold for nine-figure sums. The Kochi franchise was worth more on paper than many established European football clubs.

BBL

In February 2011 CA announced that the inaugural BBL would run from December 2011 to January 2012.

By April 2011, eight new teams, superficially if not foundationally detached from the state associations were unveiled. There was a team for the capital city of four of Australia’s six states and two per state in New South Wales (Sydney) and Victoria (Melbourne). The teams were centrally assigned home grounds, kit colours and nicknames, purposefully unfamiliar to the existing ideals embodied by the state system.

As appears to increasingly be the case in the ever-more opaque world of cricket administration there were those unknown to those on the outside pulling the strings and controlling the message of Australia’s new league from the very beginning. In the IPL it was IMG, and for the BBL, it was Chicago-based sports marketing company PCG. Having recognised the restrictive connotations of the state system CA therefore realised the importance of the BBL’s image being distanced and isolated from such vestiges and outsourced the job to an expert third-party. PCG had worked with the NBA, NFL and MLB. Their man on the ground in Australia was Dan Migala, a US sports marketing expert who has had a desk in CA’s offices since day one of the project. Migala recalls how he was asked to question “every detail about [cricket’s] sporting code and literally write the marketing, brand and fan-engagement vision from scratch.” PCG, Migala said,

were involved in the very earliest meetings surrounding the formation of the BBL and “had a direct role in planning the marketing vision; including team colours and names.”

It’s interesting to consider that in an age in which popular culture is increasingly Americanised the BBL, in Migala’s words, drew on lessons from “North American sporting codes.”

Sutherland was keen to create a window free of international cricket in the Australian season to give the BBL the star quality that was seen as so integral to the success of the IPL. However, he soon accepted that the rigours of the international schedule made a window impossible. The BBL was going to rely on domestic talent and foreign imports.

Opposition

The progress towards the BBL was not without opposition, however. In detaching T20 contracts from the existing all-encompassing state contracts, the financial rewards on offer for non-T20 players was di-

luted. Furthermore, the new BBL would be at least ten matches longer than the old Big Bash, eating into more of the existing domestic calendar denying fringe Australia players opportunities against the red ball during the summer’s Test series. In a time when Australia’s national side, particularly their Test team were struggling there were those who saw CA’s priorities as betraying the national team for financial gain. CA would’ve argued that the performances of the Test team are of little relevance if in 15 years’ time there were half the number of players to choose from.

In the absence of private ownership the eight teams were to be centrally funded by CA. “Seed funding,” Everard explained, was tagged to specific purposes “such as marketing, event presentation etc” while clubs were also granted “foundation funding” to “assist them in their formative years and take the pressure off them living hand to mouth, enabling them to focus on the key objective of acquiring new fans.” CA planned that the

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level of central funding would decrease over time as the teams became more self-sufficient.

Prior to the first BBL season, the broadcasting rights for the original Big Bash still had two seasons to run with the pay-per-view channel Fox Sports.

Having signed that deal way back in 2005 the price of the rights were well below the market value by 2011.

Without private ownership of teams and without a recent or sizeable broadcasting deal CA were investing big money, big dreams and big goals in a league that existed only on paper and had at least two years to run until sizeable revenue could be generated from a new broadcasting deal. Queensland’s CEO was candid in his admission that “the game simply cannot afford another elite competition that is a drain on income.” CA were looking to solve a problem evident in its existence with a solution conspicuous in its infancy.

The creation of the BBL was an investment by Cricket Australia. It was an investment to expand cricket’s audiences with a view to one day making a profit. It was also in this sense, a risk. The BBL would shift the target audience of cricket and redesign the sport’s popular image. Detached and separate from existing conceptions of cricket, CA had created the BBL with the hope that it would bring a new generation of fans to the sport. If it failed CA would be poorer, potentially have a smaller audience than before and have the wreckage of 100 years of state cricket on its hands.

As the first season approached McKenna boldly proclaimed that “virtually the entire cricket industry is behind us because we can all see it is going to work.” It was going to have to; CA were rewriting cricket’s history to invent its future.

Freddie Wilde is a freelance T20 journalist. @fwildecricket (ESPN/Cricinfo)

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TEAM PROFILE

Guyana Amazon Warriors Sunil Narine Age: 27 Player Position: Bowler (right-arm off-break) Batting Style: Left hand Best T20 Bowling Figures: 5-19 Other Franchises: Barisal Burners, Cape Cobras, Kolkata Knight Riders.

Marchant De Lange Age: 24 Player Position: Bowler (Right-arm fast) Batting Style: Right hand Best T20 Bowling Figures: 4-31 Other Franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians

Umar Akmal Age: 25 Player Position: Batsman Batting Style: Right hand Best T20 Score: 95* Other Franchises: Barbados Tridents, Lahore Lions

Denesh Ramdin Age: 30 Player Position: Wicketkeeper/Batsman Batting Style: Right hand Best T20 Score: 84 Catches: 84 Stumps: 36

Paul Wintz Age: 29 Player Position: Bowler (Right-arm fast-medium) Batting Style: Right hand Best T20 Bowling Figures: 2-11

David Wiese Age: 30 Player Position: All-rounder Batting Style: Right hand Bowling Style: Rightarm medium-fast Best T20 Score: 71* Best T20 Bowling Figures: 5-19 Other Franchises: Royal Challengers Bangalore

Assad Fudadin Age: 29 Player Position: Batsman Batting Style: Left hand Best T20 Score: 29

Ronsford Beaton Age: 22 Player Position: Bowler (Right-arm fast-medium) Batting Style: Right hand Best T20 Bowling Figures: 2-15

Brad Hodge Age: 40 Player Position: Batsman Batting Style: Right Hand Best T20 Score: 106 Other Franchises: Barisal Burners, Kolkata Knight Riders, Melbourne Renegade, Rajasthan Royals Christopher Barnwell Age: 28 Player Position: All-rounder Batting Style: right hand Bowling Style: Rightarm medium-fast Best T20 Score: 88 Best T20 Bowling Figures: 2-4 Other Franchises: Royal Challengers Bangalore Devendra Bishoo Age: 29 Player Position: Bowler (Leg-break) Batting Style: Left hand Best T20 Bowling Figures: 4-17 Other Franchises: Barbados Tridents Lendl Simmons Age: 30 Player Position: All-rounder Batting Style: Right hand Bowling Style: Rightarm medium-fats Best T20 score: 100* Best T20 Bowling Figures: 4-19 Other Franchises: Mumbai Indians

Shivnarine Chanderpaul Age: 40 Player Position: Batsman Batting Style: Left hand Best T20 Score: 87* Other Franchises: Royal Challenger Bangalore, Khulna Royal Bengals Tillakaratne Dilshan Age: 38 Player Position: All-rounder Batting Style: Right hand Bowling Style: Right hand Off-break Best T20 Score: 104* Best T20 Bowling Figures: 3-16 Other Franchises: Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore Trevon Griffith Age: 24 Player Position: Batsman Batting Style: Left hand Best T20 Score: 41 Veerasammy Permaul Age: 25 Player Position: Bowler (Slow leftarm orthodox) Batting Style: (right hand) Best T20 Bowling Figures: 3-32

Carl Hooper Role: Head Coach

Sir Curtly Ambrose Role: Assistant Head Coach

T-20 expands cricket world 10 West Indians and the passion for cricket

“It is the single most unifying force in the region” – Dr Roopnaraine

his alma mater Queen’s College, and has the distinction of dismissing one ricket and West Indian people are inof the Caribbean’s premier cricketers, separable. Anyone who would want Garfield Sobers. to argue against that notion would be In those days, red ball and white treading on dangerous grounds, for the game clothing cricket was all that was has been part and parcel of Caribbean folklore known, but with the passage of time for centuries. and the introduction of the white ball No other sport has been so vigorously celand coloured clothing, cricket in two ebrated by the masses, and so deeply interwothose primary institutions had beven into calypso and social commentary as the come a thing of the past. ‘gentlemen’s game.’

Dr Roopnaraine, in his new role Dave Martin’s “Cricket in the Jungle” as minister, is a keen advocate for and David Rudder’s “Rally ‘round the West the sustenance of that interest for the Indies” are two of the most popular musical sport among the next generation of renditions that captures the impact cricket West Indians. has had on the lives of West Indians, and its “The collapse of sports in our attractiveness in this part of the hemisphere. schools, including cricket, has much Eloquent volumes by renowned commen- Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to do with the general decline of our tators and historians, the likes of Tony Cozier, education system. Bringing sports Dr Ian McDonald, Dr Winston McGowan, and and music back into the schools is high on the agenda of the the most famous of them all, C.L.R James and his much re- Ministry of Education. There is no doubt in my mind that vered “Beyond A Boundary”, have added to the rich history sports- athletics, table tennis, football, cricket- enrich the edof the game. ucation of the child. Academic achievement is always to be It’s no doubt a clear indication of how passionate Caribbean commended, but academics alone is not very nourishing. It people are about the sport- the spirit it encapsulates and the does not nourish the whole child,” Dr Roopnaraine explained. portrayal of one common identity.

Regional governments therefore, Dr Roopnaraine be lieves, must play an active role in sustaining that passion Proudest achievement for the game among the populace by investing funds and reGuyana’s Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, a sources into the school system and other avenues that can typical West Indian man, who, like so many of his contempopotentially help to aid its broader development. raries, tried his hand at the game and also followed it closely, “Politicians who did not back cricket would not survive is convinced cricket is the single most unifying force in the very long in the West Indies. I am sure they would keep it seregion. cret, as such absence of support would mean that they were “I believe that we are as passionate about cricket as we out of touch with the deep satisfaction and affection that are because it is what most unites us as a Caribbean people. cricket inspires in the masses of Caribbean people from all It is the single most unifying force in the region. It is also walks of life,” the minister intimated. our proudest achievement as West Indians,” Dr Roopnaraine

noted.

CPL’s impact He continued, “C.L.R. James puts it best in his Appendix The advent of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has to The Black Jacobins: It is an original pattern, not European, made a significant impact on the cricketing landscape, not not African, not a part of the American main, not native in just in the region, but globally. any conceivable sense of that word, but West Indian, sui geIts social and economic impact, and the tourism potential neris, with no parallel anywhere else.” that revolves around the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ is already Growing up in an era where cricket in schools and on the evident, and Dr Roopnaraine, though a fan of the longer versugar estates was very prevalent, Dr Roopnaraine played for sion of Test cricket, is cognisant of how the game has evolved.

By Avenash Ramzan

C

The Caribbean Premier League has attracted sold out crowds

“There is no doubt that CPL has revived interest in the game where the demands of the longer forms seem not to be in keeping with the instant gratification that the television audiences have become accustomed to. In terms of the technology of the game, my sense is that it is in fielding that the 20/20 game is making a real contribution,” he reckoned.

Dr Roopnaraine added, “I confess that my own preference remains the five-day Test match, although I can settle for the 50 and 60 over ODIs when there is no Test series to watch.

At the moment I find the current Ashes series completely absorbing. Dr Ian McDonald once drew an amusing distinction between cricket and “licket”. I can live without “licket”, but not to have cricket would be an awful deprivation.”

Studies have shown the extensive economic benefits that Caribbean territories have been able to derive from their embrace of the CPL, along with the global exposure that host venues receive through televised coverage to millions in Asia and North America.

“The CPL has proven to be something of a windfall and the territories seem to be putting the money into worthwhile projects, although the restoration of Bourda would have been high on my agenda. In terms of its impact, it has raised awareness and heightened enthusiasm for the game, but it has also brought with it some bad habits, especially for the batsmen, who are never allowed time to settle, to read the wicket, assess the conditions and to patiently build an innings,” the minister concluded.

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CPL high

Brad Hodge blasted three fours and six sixes for his 30-ball 65

Marlon Samuels hit two sixes and six fours in his 61, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots v Guyana Amazon Warriors

Chris Gayle lashed six fours and nine sixes, St Lucia Zouks v Jamaica Tallawahs Photo creditS - CPLT20 and Cricinfo.com

T-20 expands cricket world

hlights

Denesh Ramdin struck five fours and four sixes in his 54, Guyana Amazon Warriors v St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Robin Peterson picked up three wickets in one over, Jamaica Tallawahs v Barbados Tridents

Dwayne Bravo celebrates the wicket of Martin Guptill, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots v Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel,

Chris Gayle puts an arm around Fidel Edwards, Jamaica Tallawahs v St Lucia Zouks

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VENUE PROFILES

Barbados Tridents

Kensington Oval The Kensington Oval has been home to Pickwick CC since 1882, and originally a pasture on a plantation 600 yards from the coast, it has grown into one of the most impressive grounds in the Caribbean. The official capacity of the old ground was 15,000, although more were crammed in on occasions.

In more recent times, the locals were often outnumbered by tourists (Barbados being a tourism centre) never more so than when England visited.

The pitches at Bridgetown are generally fast and bouncy, but generally favour the batsmen. The ground was closed down at the end of the 2004-05 season and demolished in order that a new stadium could be built at a cost of $135 million in time for the World Cup, with the capacity being raised from 12,500 to 28,000. It was also allocated the final.

The process was fraught with problems and the completion date slipped almost by the week. The venue is steeped in history. It hosted the first England touring side (1895), the first combined West Indies side (against MCC in 1910-11) and was the scene of West Indies’ first Test in 1930.

The reason for this is mainly geographical - Barbados is the easternmost island in the West Indies and so the first port of call for travellers from Europe.

That first Test produced records aplenty, with Andrew Sandham’s 325 the first Test triple hundred (in 1920 Tim Tarilton had hit the first triple century in West Indies on the ground). The ground was demolished and rebuilt at the end of the 2004-05 season as part of a redevelopment effort ahead of the 2007 World Cup. Source: CPL.com

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Providence Stadium Located in Providence, about 9km south of the capital, Georgetown, the Providence stadium has three major stands and a grass mound that can accommodate approximately 4,000 people, giving an overall capacity of around 16,000.

Built for the 2007 World Cup, the venue cost in the region of US $30 million, with much of the funding coming by way of loans and grants from India.

The stadium hosted six World Cup matches between March 28, 2007 and April 9, 2007, most notably the match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in which Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga became the first bowler in international cricket history to take four wickets in four consecutive balls, a “helmet trick”.

The Providence Stadium is also known as the fastest drying ground in the Caribbean region, knowing to drain six inches of water within an hour.

The pitches are usually slow and conducive for slow bowling making it tough for batting.

The venue hosted its first Test in 2008, but it wasn’t a happy one for the hosts, as Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 121 runs. However, in the next Test in May 2011, West Indies recorded their first win, beating Pakistan by 40 runs. Source: CPL.com and Wikipedia

Jamaica Tallawahs

Sabina Park Sabina Park, the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, is situated in the driest part of Kingston and for many years the pitch was one of the hardest and fastest in the Caribbean.

But in recent years the surface slowed, despite attempts to restore life by relaying it on more than one occasion.

In terms of size, Sabina Park was relatively small, but like other major grounds in the region it underwent a major renovation ahead of the 2007 World Cup, a process that was fraught with headaches and delays.

The capacity was raised from 15,000 to 20,000, still 5,000 less than the Trelawny Stadium down the coast. Locals were worried that the unique atmosphere of the old ground would be lost amid the mass of new concrete, and the acid test will come during the tournament.

The spectacular Blue Mountains, (home of the world famous Blue Mountain coffee) form a picturesque and spectacular backdrop to the north facing the George Headley Stand, with Kingston Harbour to the south.

Sabina Park’s greatest moment in Test cricket was the 365 not out made by Garry Sobers against the Pakistanis that stood for many years as the highest individual test score.

Conversely its worst moment was when the England - West Indies Test in 1998 was abandoned on the opening day due to an appalling pitch endangering the players. Source: CPL.com

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Warner Park

Warner Park was the first of the Caribbean’s seven new World Cup stadiums to open, staging its first ODI in May 2006 and its first Test a month later. The building was largely funded by the Taiwanese government (they provided $7.1m of the total $10m cost) and built entirely by locals, unlike many of the other stadia which leant heavily on the Chinese.

It is not the biggest ground, although its 8,000 capacity needs to be put into context as the island itself has a total population of 35,000. No stands were built on the east side of the ground, allowing the prevailing easterlies to have their cooling effect, although temporary seating for the World Cup took the capacity to 10,000. Overspill accommodation for major matches will be on Nevis, a 35-minute ferry ride or six-minute flight away. Source: CPL.com

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VENUE PROFILES

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel

St Lucia Zouks

Queen’s Park Oval is generally thought of as the most picturesque of the old grounds in the West Indies. It is also the largest, accommodating 25,000 spectators in comfort. Home of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) since 1896, it hosted the English teams touring the West Indies early in 1897 one under Lord Hawke, the other under Arthur Priestley.

The capacity of the ground has made it most profitable (holding at least 7000 more than any other ground in the West Indies). The pavilion was erected in 1896 and by and large, remained unchanged until 1952 when it was replaced by a two-tiered structure.

Natural turf was used in the early years for matches. However, damage cased by the mole-cricket in the soil rendered it impossible to prepare turf pitches. For forty years thereafter, a clay strip was used, over which matting was laid.

The final Test played on matting was in 1954 when West Indies scored 681 for 8 and England 537 in reply. Within three months, the pitch had been removed and efforts were underway to replace the centre square with turf. Queen’s Park has been described as a classic ground with breathtaking backdrops, most notably, the northern hills.

No section of the crowd captures the spirit of Trinidad than the ‘Concrete Stand’, renamed the Learie Constantine Stand. The fans are avid followers of the game, excitable and generally enjoy their cricket, led by a character affectionately known as ‘Blue Food’.

While it has witnessed some dramatic performances by West Indies - it was here that England were blown away for 46 in 1994-95 - it has also staged some lows. In 1967-68 Garry Sobers’s generous declaration allowed England to win by seven wickets, and in doing so level the series, while in 1976-77 India scored a then record 406 for 4 to beat Clive Lloyd’s side.

Like most grounds in the region, it underwent a facelift ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

Situated on the outskirts of the tourist resort area of Rodney Bay on the island’s northeast coast, Beausejour Stadium is one of the Caribbean’s newest major venues, completed in 2002 and staging its first international match later that year and its first Test in 2003.

The Beauséjour Stadium is known for its high standard facilities and is regarded by the West Indies Cricket Board as a standard for current and future venues in the Caribbean.

Its outfield, a perfect oval, is predictably lush green.

In 2006 it became the first ground in the West Indies to stage a floodlight ODI when Zimbabwe were the visitors.

Constructed on 22 acres, the stadium has a seating capacity of 12,000 including 18 hospitality suites and a modern pavilion that offers each team its own gym, lounge, balcony and conference room.

Queen’s Park Oval

Source: CPL.com

Beausejour Cricket Ground

Source: CPL.com and Wikipedia

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Barnwell eager to overcome title jinx

By Avenash Ramzan

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o close, but yet so far! That’s the conundrum that has plagued the career of Christopher Dion Barnwell.

“It’s always difficult,” he said.

Being in the final of any competition is quite an achievement, but being second-best at the end of it all can be exasperating, especially if it happens with a great degree of consistency.

Time and time again the Demerara Cricket Club all-rounder has found himself in that situation, forced to dwell on the disappointment, rather than bask in the glory.

“For me, it’s becoming a habit…” he confessed.

Being runner-up in the first two editions of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has only added salt to the wounds that Barnwell carries, having donned the yellow and green uniform of the Guyana Amazon Warriors ever since the inception of the League in 2013.

The Warriors lost the final to Chris Gayle’s Jamaica Tallawahs in the inaugural tournament at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad, and then failed to get past Kieron Pollard’s Barbados Tridents set-up in the 2014 final at Warner Park, St Kitts.

For Barnwell, it was an all too familiar feeling.

“Because I also played in a couple of Caribbean T20 finals for Guyana and we lost there too to Trinidad, and also in a couple of 50-over finals [for Guyana]. It’s

Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder Christopher Barnwell being interviewed by journalist Avenash Ramzan prior to the start of CPL 2015

kinda following me, but I hope this year we can go one step further and win the [CPL] tournament,” the Royal Challengers Bangalore 2013 signing explained.

It’s one the hurdles the big-hitting batsman and steady medium-pacer is eager to overcome at the third installment of the CPL. After years of agony, winning a title, be it the CPL or any other, would undoubtedly bring tremendous relief to Barnwell.

“For the past two seasons we’ve been playing consistent cricket, we have been Christopher Barnwell, in the company of skipper Denesh Ramdin, exults after guiding the playing as a team, gelling together well and supporting each other, but it’s just Guyana Amazon Warriors to victory over St Lucia Zouks last season that final hurdle that [has] let us down. I think we had a great chance last time against Barbados Tridents, but unfortunately the rain came and played a part and that was something that was out of our control,” he pointed out.

Looking ahead, Barnwell believes mastering the fundamentals of the game is pivotal to breaking the title jinx and enjoying the champagne and confetti moment that comes with success.

“All the teams have quality players, they have overseas players; it’s just a matter of us going out there and sticking to the basics- that’s what we’ve been doing for the past two years, going out and playing good cricket. I think once we put up a total we have the bowlers to defend it, and once we bowl first we can restrict teams and our batters can chase it down,” Barnwell, who wears the number 90 on his back, stated.

With the magnitude of T20 cricket being played these days, Barnwell is fully cognisant of the need to stay grounded in this format, as the slightest judgment in effort can tilt the balance in the opposition’s favour.

“So it’s not a matter of us taking any team lightly, we just have to go and play good cricket. T20 cricket is a very funny game- one day one batsman can come and take it away from you and one bowler can come and bowl a brilliant spell so we don’t want to underestimate anybody,” he stressed.

CPL 2015 offers Barnwell the ideal opportunity to shrug off the bridesmaid tag once and for all.

Will his fortunes change? Only time will tell.

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“Chow Pow” talks the importance of Hero CPL to the Guyanese fans

By Treiston Joseph

A

s the announcer of the last two editions of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Guyana leg and back on board for the third installment, popular and local comedian Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine is of the firm belief that the CPL unites Guyana.

“The atmosphere is like no other in the Caribbean, there is more crowd participation, there is more excitement and the people are really into the game.

“The people really unite as well. Listen, if it’s one time we unite as people, it’s at a cricket match. You would see people of all races hugging and clapping and the people showcase this unity that is great and CPL is part of that which makes it fantastic,” Jardine stated.

Further, “Chow Pow” who labeled himself as the Amazon Warrior’s mascot revealed his favourite aspect of being a part of the “Biggest Party in Sport”.

“As the announcer for the past two season for the CPL here in Guyana, I really enjoy the games in itself, first because the games in itself is the entertainment but I also enjoy the opportunity to entertain the fans and get them in the game…I enjoy the reactions of the fans for the various aspects of the game.

“In the Caribbean the fans are in tune with what’s happening out in the middle and there are friendly arguments among the people about various decisions but the job as the announcer gives me the opportunity come outside my normal stand-up comedy zone and entertain and announce at a different level and it gives me the opportunity to showcase

my versatility, I think that I do help the fans to enjoy CPL, the game and themselves much more,” the popular comedian noted.

Jardine named Guyana as the country with the best fans in the CPL, calling the atmosphere “electric” and shared his reasons for such a notion.

“Guyana has been starved of cricket for various reasons and I think it’s very sad because I think we are a cricket loving nation and the fans come out in their numbers to see any form of cricket and the CPL when it comes brings us a lot of excitement that the people come out and benefit.

“So I think because of that and the anticipation of what the fans want to see and their enthusiasm for the game creates and electric atmosphere unlike any other and its really surreal to be a part of and that’s is why I believe I’m lucky to share in these moments with a unified cricket loving people,” a passionate “Chow Pow” stressed.

In addition, Jardine mentioned a few of the benefits that he believes CPL brings to the Land of Many Waters.

“People get to come out and showcase various talents everybody get some type of economic benefit whether it be foods or drink bars, technicians even the taxi drivers and the boutiques.

“Then again the CPL is carried live so we get to showcase our tourism product which is of course one of the best things that could happen to us and the CPL gives us the opportunity to do this, it’s really an amazing vehicle to sell Guyana,” he noted.

Meanwhile what does “Chow Pow” want to see the most?

Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine saved as Kirk Jardine

Well the popular comic and self proclaimed mascot ended the interview simply by saying, “I’m hoping to see the day we have a final in Guyana and I hope I can be the host but overall its beautiful to come to Guyana if you never came before and experience CPL cricket.”

T20 secrets of success ...a South African’s View Haze

O by

ne of the exciting aspects about T20 cricket being unleashed every season is that a new, often young, audience gets swept up in the festivities of this modernised and energised form of cricket.

Why is this T20 stuff so popular around the world and why does it draw so many people to cricket who normally would not be interested in the game?

Here’s my take.

ENTERTAINMENT GALORE

T20 is all about entertainment and cricket is the vehicle. It is a fast-paced format of cricket that is full of colour and played out in front of packed, buzzing stadiums.

NON-STOP ACTION

The T20 format is an incredibly influential package, attracting attention from across the spectrum as excitement and entertainment explode before you. Every ball is an event.

INSTANT GRATIFICATION

It provides a microcosm of where we are in our lives today, or more accurately, where we want to be. It delivers enjoyment in numerous ways and provides satisfaction in a timeous fashion. In today’s modern, often frenetic world, the luxury of indulging in five days of test cricket or even 100 overs in a single day is something that most can no longer afford in both cost and time. It’s a fast fix, and along with all the subsidiary entertainment that marries perfectly with the shortened format, serves up a formula for success.

LOTS GOING ON DURING GAMES

With this fast-food cricket there is always plenty going on around the game to add to the broad appeal the format offers. Cheerleaders for every team entertain as they cheer every wicket, four or six. The stadiums have a lively mood with music being played between overs. The spectators deliver a dynamic atmosphere which is an essential component of T20 success.

GET READY FOR UPSETS

In the T20 game, one of the big attractions is that it’s more likely to involve upsets than the longer forms of the game. One team only needs to have an exceptionally good over, or the other a particularly bad one, and the complexion of the game can change dramatically. The minnows are more likely to mix it with the more favoured teams in the game’s shortest version.

THERE IS ALWAYS A WINNER

Unlike test cricket or a 50 over game, if the match ends with the scores tied, the tie is broken with an exciting Super Over. Each team nominates three batsmen and one bowler to play a one over per side mini-match. In turn, each side bats one over, bowled by the nominated opposition bowler, with their innings over if they lose two wickets before the over is completed. The side with the higher score from their Super Over wins. There is always a winner.

COMMERCIAL BRAND VALUE

These days, brands are increasingly shifting their advertising budget from tests and ODIs to T20 matches. They are spending more on T20 because more people watch these matches. In addition to the requirement that it satisfies the needs of a fast-moving world, T20 also affords cricket its greatest opportunity to globalise. (From Supersport)

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VOX POPULI

PUBLIC OPINION

I SAY...

What the people say about the CPL coming to Guyana for the Guyana Amazon Warriors home games July 15-21?

Godfrey Broomes “For me, cricket is one of the things that really bring Guyanese people together.

Which other event in Guyana packs out the stadium like that? I for one am very much looking forward to the Guyana games just to be part of that brilliant Guyanese energy.”

Rosalyn McCalman “I’m not a big cricket fan, but I tend to watch the CPL games. Guyana has not been doing so well in this series, but win or lose, they’re still my team and I will support them.

Very much looking forward to the games here in Guyana.”

Charles Plumber “I’m basically just looking at the Guyana games as a chance to go and hang out with some friends and have some fun supporting our own regardless of the outcome.”

Pricilla Ward “I’m just looking to have some fun, enjoying the most celebrated sport in the Caribbean.”

Anthony Selby “I’m actually looking forward to the Guyana CPL games, even though I was not really impressed with the team’s selection this year: they gave up Martin Guptill, and [Shivnarine] Chanderpaul has just been disappointing with his earlier performances. I still think there’s a good chance of the team making a comeback in the later games though.”

Shanice Baker “Only with support can the Amazon Warriors win. I say this because many people already give up on their own team and started backing others.

Nobody’s perfect and I believe Guyana will win this year’s CPL.”

Winston Nicholas “Guyana got a good chance of winning. This year, I hope they meet the finals and these people don’t rob we like what they do last year.”

Shenica Smith “Guyana could have done better, but what we gon’ do?

Can’t be brilliant all the time.

Win some, lose some. That’s life.”

T-20 expands cricket world

Rules and Regulations of T20 Cricket Twenty20 cricket is a form of cricket that was introduced in England in the year 2003, mainly with the aim of making the game more interesting and attracting more audience. Though it is similar to the traditional cricket game to quite an extent, there are certain differences as well. Most of these differences arise from changes in the rules and format of the game. We have given a brief description of the rules of T20 cricket in the following lines:

and when, there is a tie by the end of a T20 match, it is broken with a one over per side - ‘Eliminator’ or ‘Super Over’. Each of the two teams nominates three batsmen and one bowler, to play a one-over per side, which can be termed as ‘mini-match’ or ‘One1’. If a team loses two wickets before the over is complete, it loses the game. If this does not happen, the team with the higher score from its over wins it. In case there is a tie after the ‘minimatch’ as well, the team that has higher number of sixes in its full innings, or in the ‘One1’, will be declared the winner. If, by any chance, there is still a tie, the winning team is the one with the higher number of fours in both innings.

Format The format of a Twenty20 match is quite similar to normal limited-overs match, only the number of overs for batting is just twenty, just as the name of the game suggests. The game is played between two teams, each of them having a single innings of 20 overs. In the context of Twenty20 cricket, there General Rules T20 Cricket is a visual difference as well, though it is a pretty * In a single innings, each of the bowlers can bowl a minor one. In T20, members of the batting team maximum of only one-fifth of the total overs i.e. 4 do not arrive from/retire to traditional dressing overs in a total of 20 overs. rooms. Rather, they have a bench, mainly a row of chairs, visibly in the playing arena, used for coming * If a bowler ever delivers a ball overstepping the popping crease, it is a no-ball. The batting team and going purposes. gets one run for the ball and the next delivery Field Restrictions is a free hit. In other words, in the next ball, the * At the most, five fielders can be on the leg side, at batsmen can only be dismissed through a run out. any given point of time. * In the first six overs of a T20 game, there cannot * If either of the umpires believes that a team is wasting time, he can award a five-run penalty, at be more than two fielders outside the 30-yard his own discretion. circle. * There can be a maximum of five fielders outside * In a normal T20 game, the interval lasts for 15 minutes. However, in a reduced-overs match, it the fielding circle, after the first six overs end. can be cut to 10 minutes. * The fielding team has to start bowling its 20th over within 75 minutes. If it fails to do so, extra * If, and only if, each of the two teams has faced (or had the opportunity to face) five overs, will be a six runs will be added to the batting team’s score, match deemed to have played. for every whole over bowled after the 75 minutemark. In case the umpire believes that the batting * In each Twenty20 cricket match, one short-pitched ball is allowed per over. team is wasting time, he may add more time to this. * To calculate a team’s net run rate, the average runs per over scored by that team is deducted Tie Deciders from the average runs per over scored against it.

There cannot be a tie in a Twenty20 cricket game. If,

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