WI local:Empire await crowning-Hitting out

The local cricket season is approaching its climax and by next weekend the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 championship and the Barbados Fire & Commercial Cup will be decided.

Four teams-ICB Empire, Banks, ESA Field Pickwick and United Carlton-stand a chance of winning the Division 1 competition which moves into the final series of matches this weekend.

The Cup final will bring together Empire and defending champions Cable & Wireless bet on December 17, the day after the Division 1 competition ends.

The game of cricket has often witnessed stunning upsets, but I would be willing to put my money where my mouth is and predict a double triumph for Empire.

In the Division 1 competition, they hold a comfortable five-point lead and should easily topple Combined Schools South in their final match on their Bank Hall home ground.

If for some reason the match ends in a draw with first innings points going to Empire, Banks would need to defeat YMPC to earn a share of the title.

There should be much more excitement in the battle for the Cup title.

Bet have been hot and cold in the league championship, but they still boast of one of the most exciting teams in the country.

They should be formidable opponents, but the way Empire are playing these days, their die-hard fans might even suggest they could beat a few Test-playing countries.

Only a few weeks ago, however, Empire were not really seen as major contenders for the Division 1 title. Mid-way through the season, most of the talk centred around front-runners Banks, Pickwick and Carlton.

Almost unnoticeably, they moved to the top of the standings following successive victories over Carlton and Schools North and followed with Cup wins against YMPC and Spartan.

So what has been responsible this timely resurgence?

It is, I believe, due largely on the shoulders of stand-in captain Sherlon Greaves, who had to take over when a hand injury ruled out Roland Holder with four Division 1 matches remaining.

Apart from his ability as a shrewd tactician, here is someone who appears to have the knack of inspiring those around him and commands a great deal of respect from teammates and supporters.

Greaves may no longer be the dependable all-rounder that he was in the early 1990s when his more than 500 runs and 50 wickets inspired Empire to the double in 1993, but he still remains a key player as batsman and leg-spinner.

Greaves has always been one of the better club captains around, if not the best. It is an assesement I believe most club cricket observers share.