'Mr. BCL' passing on the torch (1 August 1999)

1 August 1999

'Mr. BCL' passing on the torch

Bertram Niles

He is a mere five feet in height but size has never deterred Owen Estwick.

He has loomed large in the administration of cricket, and his recent announcement that he was stepping down from the presidency of the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) has coincided with expressions of fears about the organisation's future.

The same doubts surfaced when co-founder and secretary Mitchie Hewitt died suddenly in 1969. Don Norville, BCL stalwart and journalist, predicted at the time that the league would not survive.

It did then and Estwick believes it will now.

'It must not be assumed that because the BCL First Division team is not doing well in the standings, that the BCL is a dead organisation,' he said. 'Far from it.

'The domestic competition is healthy and I believe the BCL still has a role to play because there are too many players who cannot afford to join the established BCA (Barbados Cricket Association) clubs.'

If the early years of the BCL were dominated by Hewitt and Tony Hinds, then Estwick has presided over the modern BCL, having being president from 1973 to 1990 and from 1994 until he formally demits office at the AGM this week.

During that time, the BCL underwent adminstrative overhaul with adoption of a constitution and a proper structure.

But as Estwick himself acknowledges, these are not the best of times for the BCL's flagship team in the BCA's Courts/Suzuki Division 1 - and which really represents the public face of the League.

Once again, he put forward an optimistic front based on the BCL's promising beginnings in the top league this year.

'I am of the firm opinion that the BCL has made a turnaround and will do much better in 1999 than they have done in the past five years,' he insisted, denying any suggestion that the BCL's low-rated position was pushing him out.

'I say that because we have been able to attract a number of young players who are keen, who are highly motivated and who are a pleasure to work with.'

He was also leaving, he said, with the satisfaction of knowing that he had rehabilitated the League's finances which were in disarray when he was recalled for a second stint five years ago.

He resigned at the start of the decade partly because others, perhaps tired of his long tenure, felt they could do the job better.

Those who succeeded him were later thrown out of office and Estwick answered the SOS to return.

Now, he admits some disillusionment with the lack of help he is getting in reaching out to the clubs.

Zone meetings he requested have not materialised and he senses others are not as keen as he to see the League move forward.

But he is still willing to serve the BCL in another capacity.

'I would like to see a new leader emerge at this stage while I am still around to give him the benefit of my experience which dates back over 48 years of association with Barbados cricket.'

Estwick's best memory of his involvement with the BCL is the graduation to Test cricket of Sylvester Clarke, described by the departing supremo as 'a very talented young man but not the easiest person to deal with'.

Estwick was credited with guiding Clarke from scratch to the pinnacle of the game in the region.

But such nursery service is no longer perceived as the raision d'etre of the BCL whose increasing profile is one of a Saturday hobby for an aging generation of players.

In the early days, the intention was to give raw talent the exposure and the BCL produced national and regional players virtually at will.

Ormond Graham was the first to make the Barbados team. Sir Everton Weekes the first to play Test cricket, and Sir Garry Sobers the first to captain the West Indies.

But times have changed and the League has been somewhat marginalised, still doing some grooming but losing promising players in quick time 'to the blandishments and attractions of the more established clubs', as Estwick put it.

In addition, the player drain is linked by him to a perception that the BCA's selectors ignore BCL players.

Estwick pointed out that six of the Spartan team that last won the Fire and General Cup had their start in the BCL and that clubs were still sourcing the league.

Dave Marshall and Mark Lavine are the last two Barbados players to have begun their careers in the BCL.

He acknowledged that many of the League's best players have not always turned up at Blenheim to represent BCL in Division 1 but put that down to selfishness on the part of the clubs who prefer to farm their talent in search of trophies.

All this runs counter to the vision of Hewitt who had talent scouts who would bring players to him. Villagers and schoolmasters would go out of their way to send forward their best players as a means of uplifting their communities.

Also, many of the best BCL clubs are now members of the BCA.

In fact, three of the four semifinalists of the Fire and General Shield competition - Conrad Hunte, St. John Cultural and BRC - were formerly in the League. So too were St. Catherine, Malvern, Wotton, and the list goes on.

Sometimes the move to the BCA followed the upgrading of grounds and pavilions.

But Estwick does not support the move that they should accept the whole hog and be swallowed up by the BCA.

He has had a close-up view of the workings of both organisations having been a member of the BCA's board of management and is in no doubt that the BCA is no position, at this stage, to take on the BCL with its complex network of 65-70 clubs, five divisions and more than 1 000 players.

He said the BCA could help by providing financial and coaching assistance to the League.

Simultaneous with leaving the presidency of the BCA, Estwick is seeking another term in the BCA's board of management.

His opponent for the position of second vice-president is BCA chairman of selectors Charlie Griffith.

Estwick is a director of the West Indies Cricket Board, a position up for grabs at the postponed BCA AGM but he will remain a member of the WICB's human resources sub-committee.

Born Christmas Day 1934, Estwick is no meek and mild individual, having to overcome accusations that he is a dictator. He disputes this characterisation, saying that he consults, but is a 'very firm and no-nonsense' person.

In the end the retired Government permanent secretary insisted: 'I have always tried to serve the interests of cricket.'

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)