Local cricket season bowls off this weekend

Local club cricketers will enjoy the best facilities ever following the expansive upgrade of the Arnos Vale, Stubbs and Sion Hill Playing Fields for official World Cup warm up matches.

They will have improved dressing rooms and better outfields to show their cricketing wares.{{more}}

Having got rave reviews for their immaculate condition from the four teams that visited here last month, Australia, Bermuda , England and Zimbabwe, these venues will be in use as the local cricket season gets going this weekend.

Up to last Tuesday, it was unclear whether the traditional opener which pits the defending RBTT Premier Division champion and the promoted First Division winner, would have been part of the opening fixture.

In what was a clean sweep made by the local constabulary in last year’s shortened competition, Police Two won the premier title and Police One were crowned first division champion.

Other teams in the premier division are Radcliffe, Rivals, Saints, Spartans, St. David’s, and Victors One.

Originally set for a March 31 start, the competition was postponed to this weekend. With the improved facilities, all eyes will be on performance as there were no visible signs that the teams were involved in any rigorous pre-season training.

The first division competition which also forms part of the national competition will be staged at the Grammar School Ground, Brighton, Calliaqua, Buccament, North Union, Keartons and London Playing Fields

Apart from the two league competitions, the Neil Williams 20/20 competition staged for the first time last year as a prelude to this country’s participation in the regional Stanford 20/20 tournament will once again hold interest among the teams.

Neil Williams, a former Saints, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Windward Islands, as well as Middlesex and England fast bowler died last year after a short illness.