Banks tap into lead

If some argue that the quality of the game is still below an accepted standard, there has been a pleasantly, new look to the top of the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 cricket standings.

For a change, the established teams like two-time defending champions Stansfeld Scott Police, Big B Spartan, Cable & Wireless BET and BNB St. Catherine have had to give way to teams which have clinched little silverware in recent years.

Banks, without a Division 1 title since 1986 and lightweights for most of the 1990s, are the surprise front-runners at the half-way stage of the competition following four successive victories.

ESA Field Pickwick, searching for their first Division 1 championship in more than four decades, were the leaders up until the sixth series of matches before Banks surpassed them.

Statisticians will have to search hard to find a recent instance in which the men from Kensington Oval were second after the first seven rounds of matches.

United Carlton, a young side featuring six newcomers and a new management team, have also been a surprise package and were lying in third before ICB Empire slipped into that position after the last series.

It must be pleasing to most observers that Banks, who many felt had no place in Division 1 up until about two years ago, have been able to transform their fortunes.

It has taken the arrival of a relatively new captain, Mark Estwick and a couple of his former YMPC colleagues to inspire the success, but the skipper feels that almost everyone's desire to do well has had a lot to do with it.

"We have been building team spirit over the last three years. The guys are hungry for success and determined to achieve," Estwick told Nationsport.

Estwick was credited for developing an average YMPC team into a championship-winning unit that always challenged for the title.

In 1998, he, Winston Reid and Stephen Lorde left Beckles Road and have now been joined by Terry Rollock.

Have some qualities like the togetherness and never-say-die attitude - of the YMPC set-up been instilled at Banks?

"To some extent," Estwick responded.

"But it is not the same. They are two different teams altogether. I think Banks have a much better team.

"The kind of spirit we had at YMPC is not the same as at Banks. That is something that would take some time."

Reid, us usual, has been among the wickets and is developing young left-arm spinner Anderson Sealy, while shot-gun Mike Maynard, the experienced Richard Carter, Barry Callender and Orion Bostic have been among the runs.

The adjustment of leading a club which he only joined recently was nothing entirely straightforward for Estwick.

"I had always envigased captaining another team besides YMPC because I wanted to see if I could achieve the same success I achieved with YMPC," said the diminutive wicket-keeper.

"Captaining a team like Banks, which was struggling, was a challenge, but it has been a source of satisfaction that we have been able to do so well."

Pickwick have never been push-overs, but they never appeared to have what it took to become local cricket kings.

Captain Mike Matthews is certain about what has made the difference this season.

"The guys have always played together so I don't know what to say that is the reason," he said.

"In the past years we have not had a very good bowling attack to start with and we have always struggled at the beginning of the season to bowl teams out."

With national youth team off-spinner Ryan Austin joining the club to form a potent spin combination with Grenadian leg-spinner Camilus Alexander and seasoned professionals Tennyson Roach and Vasbert Drakes available at the start of the season, Pickwick's attack was much stronger than in the past.

"Our bowling this year has been a lot better at the beginning of the season. We are batting and we are bowling out teams twice," Matthews said.

"Our battting has always been our strength. It has always been deep, but first innings points cannot win a competition."

Matthews reckons once the pitches remain good the better part of the remainder of the competition, Pickwick are capable of winning their first Division 1 trophy since 1958-59.

Carlton captain Shirley Clarke has attributed the Black Rock side's good run to hard work and dedication.

"The fellas put in a lot of work, especially before the start of the season," he said.

"We trained a lot. Everybody was present and everybody was working together for one particular goal."

That goal is securing Carlton's first Division 1 Cup since 1981 when they shared the title with St. Catherine.

"We weren't expected to win the title this year, but it so happened that we put ourselves in a position where we can win it. That is what we are focussing on right now."

This season, Carlton attracted six newcomers, including talented batsmen Dale Richards, Kurt Wilkinson and all-rounder Callitos Lopez, all of whom made their first-class debut against South Africa "A" last month.

The 23-year-old Clarke, who also played in that match, said the presence of so many first-timers to the club did not pose too many problems for him as team leader.

"They are newcomers to the club, but they are not new to me," he said.

"As a club captain, I always find it a bit challenging, but I've worked hard at it. I try to be as calm as possible."