Tomorrow Saturday February 4 sees the handing over of one of 21 “Flicx” move-able cricket pitches to local cricket organizations across the Caribbean. The Vincentian version comes off at Arnos Vale II from 1pm. A number of stalwarts will test their skills in a hard ball cricket match.

The ceremony is part of Cable & Wireless’ World Cup sponsorship activity. These pitches will enable cricket organisations in the various islands to take the game to areas where there are limited resources.{{more}}

The pitches will be used to encourage the region’s young people to “Get in the Game” of cricket, according to local coordinator Jennilee Glasgow.

Xnet will be led by Cable & Wireless’ manager Daryl Jackson and includes Tourism, Youth and Sports Minister Glen Beache, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, local Cricket Association president Julian Jack, National Sports Council Chairman Osborne Browne, and Cricket Administrator Elson Crick.

Former Under 19 player Selwyn Allen, former Windwards’ opener Lance John, allrounder Linton Greaves, Central Sewerage and Water Authority’s manager Garth Saunders, Vincentian journalist Jerrol Primus as well as radio personality Justin Douglas will also be in action.

It will be a mixed gender affair with national Women cricketers Samantha Lynch, Sherry Abbott, and Sherry John taking part.

Cable & Wireless’ Khalique Bailey will lead the bMobile squad. Former West Indies, Combined Islands, and Windwards wicket keeper batsman Mike Findlay will roll back the years, alongside former National Sports Council chairman Joel Providence, Vinlec’s manager Thornley Mayers, Windwards’ Cricket Board president Lennox John, former Combined Islands off-spinner Stanley Hinds, Sunil Ambris, Kenneth Taylor, Jomo Thomas, Garth Williams, Noel Edwards, Wilvan Charles, Leslie Jack, and William ‘Kojah’ Anthony.

West Indies Women player Juliana Nero will be part of the action.

The Flicx Cricket Pitches are an assembly of over 6000 interlocking plastic tiles to form one continuous flat surface consisting of small hexagonal holes. The roughened area provides a surface for the cricket ball to grip and bounce, ensuring one of the most versatile cricketing surfaces on the market.

This versatility allows for a range of innovative products to enter the cricketing market, from standard match pitches to skills and coaching pitches.

The Flicx Match Pitch is generally green for a standard game of Cricket with dimensions of 20.12m X 2.05m. This pitch can be used from junior games right up to club cricket.

Designed by top cricket authorities and coaches to assist young cricketers to develop their skills in a game, the flicx pitches can be used on any surface, grass to asphalt. The pitches are long lasting and low maintenance.

The Flicx Pitch is easily transported and is fully endorsed by leading cricketing authorities around the world.

Its recent “ Hard Ball” approval through extensive testing procedures of the Centre of Sports Technology in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and from the ECB itself is an indication of its quality as a playing surface for cricket. The Flicx Pitch is the first of its kind to be approved by either body. Hard Ball cricket has been played on the Flicx Pitch since its inception in 1997.