LEEWARD Islands Cricket administrator, broadcaster and coach Vernon Springer says Antigua will be ready to host the entire West Indies first-class season which is scheduled to commence in April.
This was after Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chris Dehring confirmed that for the time since Regional first-class four-day cricket began in earnest in 1966, all of the matches will be played in a single territory with three rounds being contested at the same time.
The tournament has reduced from the original six teams (Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Leewards and Windwards Islands) with CCC and the Academy X1 being excluded.
Dehring confirmed that funding was main reason for the unprecedented move by CWI.
The Jamaican explained that this arrangement dramatically reduced the money spent on flights to move the teams and officials around the region from Jamaica in the North to Guyana
in the South.
“It’s going to be shorter, it’s going to be in Antigua and we (CWI) own a ground in Antigua in Collidge (the Stanford ground close to airport) so this helps with the cost.
You also have to remember that there is going to be a lot of cricket being played this year so we have to try and manage were we play matches and how many matches we host.
It doesn’t really matter if it’s an International or domestic four- day games we are hosting; CWI has to pay for all of the cost.
So… we have to be very prudent how we manage everything this year” added Dehring.
Springer, speaking from the 108 square mile Island of Antigua, said in addition to the international venue at North Sound (Sir Viv Richards Stadium) and ground in Coolidge, the former Test venue in St John’s Antigua Recreation Ground) (ARG) all ready for the first-class tournament.
“The ARG hosted matches in the Regional tournament and was used by the Leeward Islands Hurricanes for their preparation for the Regional Super50.
Another ground the Government is working on is the Kenny Benamen ground in Liberta…so that’s another alternative venue” informed Springer who hails from St Kitts and Nevis.
Another ground which is also coming on stream…it’s going to take quite some work… is the Police ground in St John’s.
There were some challenges there with the water but the engineers are working speedily there to rectify that problem.
Practice sessions were held there during the T20 World Cup in 2024. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda invested the facilities for the last World Cup. So, work and communications are ongoing at the Police Ground.
So… Cricket West Indies, which has their headquarters in Antigua, will sooner than later we will be able to benefit because the government has stepped up to make sure they’re empowered to get more grounds up and running so they can help with the hosting or even training faculties in Antigua and Barbuda,” Springer noted.
Both Dehring and Springer were guests on last Tuesday’s Sean Devers Sports Watch on Kaieteur Radio.
