THE T&T Cricket Board is basking in the warm glow of one of its most successful seasons ever as it strives to establish the gains achieved in 2016 as a platform for the further accelerated development and growth of the sport in 2017.
In a media release, the TTCB notes that in the face of serious challenges it was able to manage scarce resources in a creative and effective manner to craft an attractive and sustainable cricket product which continues to be the envy of the rest of the Caribbean territories.
It pointed to the unprecedented accomplishment of T&T teams winning seven of nine regional championships across the board which represented a major breakthrough for the national senior men and women, and its age-group cricketers, both boys and young girls.
Additionally, several national cricketers played significant roles on the West Indies teams, as the regional side also made international cricket history by sweeping three International Cricket Council World Championships.
Significantly 17 star players and officials were part of the regional squads which won the ICC men's, and women's T20 Championship in India, and the Under-19 equivalent in Bangladesh at the beginning of 2016.
The TTCB attributed the outstanding performances of the local cricketers on the seven regional championship-winning teams, and stellar roles acted out on the international stage to well thought-out plans and programmes which among other important initiatives, harnessed the wealth of abundant natural talent and the innovative coaching and technical expertise available locally.
The TTCB points to the fact that over the past year there has been a greater emphasis on national team preparation and specialist training, making optimum use of the state of the art Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at Balmain in Couva.
 
New ground at NCC
The organisation has also been making great improvements to the playing venue with an overhaul of the ground and its pitches, creation of more accommodating facilities for patrons, coupled with an enterprising beautification project of their fully owned expansive National Cricket Centre which engages environmental awareness and young athlete/scholars.
A new digital scoreboard to enhance the visual experience at matches is in the offing but its prohibitive cost remains a bugbear for the cricket administrators who are steadfast that the plan will become a reality in the not too distant future.
Administratively, the TTCB has been actively pursuing the goal of strengthening the club structure of its close to 200 members by the hiring of university qualified Zonal Co-ordinators, through a novel programme forged with Government's National Training Agency which is already bearing rich fruits.
In its focus on providing the best opportunities for its cricketers, the TTCB is also extremely proud of its roster of at least 23 Red Force players who were part of the CPL T20 franchises throughout the Caribbean.
In addition, there were several others who were drafted by franchises to lend technical support to the respective which reflected the overall development as players, and as conduits for the transfer of knowledge and experience for the benefit of the entire Caribbean.
Their dominance characterised the exceptional job the TTCB has done to replenish its cricket stocks by fielding cricketers of a very high calibre to not only service its Red Force requirement in a highly competitive fashion, but to also add great value to other squads around the territories.
 
A proud regional host
T&T led the way once again by hosting three successful regional competitions – the Nagico Super50 tournament, West Indies Cricket Board Under-17 tournament; and the Women's Under-19 Championship.
The TTCB, which started the trend of encouraging regional cricketers to ply their trade in local competitions here, which eventually led to the new franchised based T20 format adopted by the WICB, continues to showcase Caribbean talent in the annual NGC National League-organised T20 Festival which now attracts over 30 overseas players including this year, a young talented Englishman for the first time.
In the area of officiating, the TTCB is proud of the achievement of Joel Wilson who was called by the ICC for assignments in Tests One-Day Internationals, while five other young and promising umpires are included in the regional panel and are excelling at their vocation.
The TTCB has also been lobbying very hard for the establishment of the Brian Lara Stadium at Tarouba as an alternative first class venue strategically located in south Trinidad, and is happy that Government is moving apace to complete the facility in time for the CPL season in mid-2017.
In an effort to streamline the operations of its zonal affiliates, the TTCB also counts among its meaningful engagements, their decisive action taken this past season the return to normalcy of the Central Zone which had unfortunately lapsed into administrative confusion.
 
Improved prize monies in 2016
However, the appointment of an interim executive placed the zone back on the road to transparent and accountable management as all stakeholders, especially the cricketers, were able to benefit from the competitions organised, and attractive prize money made available for the outstanding teams and individuals.
In this vein the TTCB was also able to re-structure the National League prize structure which enhanced the rewards earned by its clubs in a fair and equitable manner, a move that was widely welcomed and appreciated.
Not to be forgotten were the many improvements made by the present administration which are having an immediate impact on the state of Tobago cricket and everyone in the sister isle have renewed optimism that the current generation is being adequately prepared for another golden age of the sport there.
Looking ahead, the TTCB was also able to strike an alliance with the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus to collaborate and adopt scientific and data driven engineering breakthroughs especially in the bio-mechanical field which are certain to embellish the cricket product.
The advantages to be gained in the field of technology are not lost on the TTCB as during the past year, the local cricket presence was firmly planted on the social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to allow current activities and developments to be relayed to the world in real time.
Further, groundwork was laid which paved the way for the employment of a fascinating Scoring App and an innovative CricHQ initiative which were successfully tested, and produced positive feedback allowing the TTCB to break ground once again ahead of the other WICB members.
Yet, despite these historic developments in the local game, the TTCB was faced with several challenges on and off the field, but which it has not failed to meet head on in an effort to effect effective and amicable resolution.
The TTCB is confident that the legal challenge to its constitution currently engaging the attention of the High Court will result in a decision in its favour whereby the executive can again focus on its primary duty of overseeing the growth and development of the sport.
 
Stronger relationship with QPCC
The abandonment earlier this year of a West Indies versus India Test match at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain also produced a major predicament for the TTCB, but any lasting fallout was averted when it worked with the Oval officials to investigate the causes of the debacle while making recommendations to avoid a repeat in the future.
Concern has also been raised about the increasing difficulty of sourcing sponsorship from Government and the private sector because of the prevailing negative economic environment, but the TTCB is confident that its local partners are very satisfied with its governance and that they will continue to exhibit admirable corporate responsibility to develop cricket and build communities throughout the nation.
The TTCB also wishes to assure the public and its stakeholders that its administration is well-grounded in justice and fair-play and that the feeling that there is a public perception of some cricketers are being victimised, for whatever arcane reasons, is not based in reality.
The performance of the Red Force team in the four-day regional tournament continues to be a cause of great worry for the TTCB and all efforts are being made to address the situation with the hope and expectation that a change in fortunes is imminent on the resumption of the competition after the current Christmas-break for the WICB Super50 tournament.
And while the major zonal affiliates of the TTCB continues to make exceptional strides in its administrative performance, the South Zone poses a unique opportunity for reform geared to resuscitate its floundering status.
The national organisation is hopeful that meaningful dialogue will be effected in the coming season which will return the zone to normalcy and enable its clubs, cricketers and supporters to take their rightful place they once enjoyed on the national stage.
The future looks bright for cricket and the TTCB is set to move into the new year committed to using its available resources, with its officers renewed and invigorated by the achievements of the past season, confident that the best is still ahead.