West Indies: 'Cricket link-up the way to go'

The Barbados Cricket League (BCL) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) need to join forces to chart the way forward for cricket, says a BCA board member.

Wendell Kellman was delivering the feature address at the BCL's annual awards ceremony at Solidarity House on Friday night.

'The Management of the BCL should enter into early dialogue with the management of the BCA as equal partners, to determine ways and means by which the two organisations can work together to improve the state of cricket in Barbados,' he said.

This was one of many suggestions Kellman put forward in an address in which he traced the history and development of the BCL from the time it was founded in 1937.

He lauded the work of the early stalwarts such as Mitchie Hewitt, Tony Hinds, J.T.C Ramsay, Owen Estwick and 'friends' of the BCL like Freddie Clairmonte, Maurice Cave and the Goddard family.

Kellman urged the BCL to revisit some of the old strategies which served it well in the past.

He noted that in 1947 Mitchie Hewitt introduced a system of divisional committees, divisional selectors and talent scouts.

He said this enabled Hewitt to stay in touch with the performances and the players in every village and district.

'The committee of management should consider reintroducing the system of divisional committees, divisional selectors and talent scouts to command a greater control and understanding of what is going on at club level,' Kellman suggested.

He also recommended the reintroduction of the annual BCA/BCL match but in a modified form.

'The teams could be select President's Xl from both sides, and could engage in a limited-overs game and a three-day game.'

Kellman, who is the chairman of the BCA's Fire & Commercial Cup committee, acknowledged that the BCL was facing serious challenges, includ-ing limited finances, inadequate facilities, management problems, lack of coaching facilities and the changing system of values.

He noted that the First Division team had only limited success in its effort to maintain an acceptable level of performance.

'I believe that it is only through hard work, belief in self, dedication, regular and organised practice, coaching and an adoption of some of the old-time values and the love for the game, that success will be yours,' he said.

'All BCL club members should be invited to make a full commitment to action and to try to be professional at all times.'

Kellman, a former BCL player, urged The Management team to seek the assistance and advice of the outstanding BCL cricketers of the past, such as Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Garry Sobers, Seymour Nurse, Charlie Griffith and Duncan Carter.

He said these human resources should be used to to establish an advisory committee, part of whose role would be to offer guidance and advice on all aspects of cricket development.