West Indies local: Covers pass first test

The Experimental covers for the Cable & Wireless BET Under-15 cricket competitions have passed their first major test in most instances.

Visits by NATIONSPORT to six grounds yesterday revealed that most of the plastic-type covers proved adequate following heavy rain on Tuesday night.

There was a significant amount of rain in the north, but there were no adverse effects at Coleridge and Parry or their St. Peter neighbours, Alexandra and St. James Secondary, on the second and final day of third-round matches.

'When I came here this morning there was a lot of water on the covers, but there was no seepage,' said Dennis Springer, who doubles as Coleridge and Parry's groundsman and team coach.

'I'd recommend them for any level of cricket in Barbados.'

The covers, used on the initiative of the Barbados Schools' Cricket Council, are of a light plastic material which are a lot cheaper than the sophisticated tarpaulins used at Kensington Oval and other major international venues.

The costs varied, ranging from around $700 for the three strips used by Coleridge and Parry to $240 for four pieces used by The St. Michael School.

One common concern around the grounds was a shortage of manpower.

'The covers are a good idea, but you need additional workers,' said Alexandra games master Peter Vaughn.

'You will need support from spectators to bring on the covers, and I don't know how many of them will be interested in doing that.'

Both Vaughn and Combermere cricket master Roddy Estwick felt that such covers should have been introduced long ago.

'It is having a positive effect,' Estwick said, adding that the funding for the covers at Combermere was generated mainly through donations from parents.

The covers at The St. Michael School's home ground at Martindales Road and the Garrison Secondary's base at Beckles Road were also fine.

But there were complaints at Ellerslie in Black Rock where groundsman Henderson Sealy said there was seepage that left the pitch with four wet spots.

'These covers are a waste of time. They are not thick enough,' Taylor said. 'I am all for covers, but not this type of material. It is too light.'

Enough sun in the morning, however, facilitated a prompt start.

It was noticeable that the covers at Ellerslie were much lighter than those at the other grounds.