17th April 2019

Confusion at Sandals Under 19 Cricket Tournament!

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By SSO

On Tuesday 16th April 2019, the first match in the Sandals under 19 Cricket competition was delayed by two hours and reduced to 32 overs a side due to the unavailability of a prepared pitch at the Gros Islet Playing Field. According to reports, the stand in umpire for the match arrived at the Gros Islet Playing field and upon evaluation of the pitch conditions decided to leave. Reports indicate that an effort ensued to do some work on the pitch and find replacement umpires to ensure that a game was played. After much effort, the match was played and defending champions Gros Islet pulled off an impressive win.

On popular morning sports show “The Banter” on Vybe Radio, contributors to the program indicated that there was an expectation that coach of the Babonneau team John Eugene would have prepared the pitch for the start of the tournament. They indicated that Eugene prepared the pitch earlier in the week for another match and would have needed to do a little more work to bring the pitch to playing condition.

For his part, president of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association Julian Charles, indicated that Operations Manager for the Association Brian Calixte, informed him that “confirmation was given by John Eugene that the wicket would be prepared.” “Based on the information given to me, the umpire got there after nine o’clock and when he saw that the pitch was not prepared he left. A frantic effort was then undertaken to get in contact with the association and I was eventually contacted. After this, I found out that John was preparing the pitch, both teams were there and the kids really wanted to play.” Charles indicated that they attempted to get Maurice who is in charge of umpiring but their attempts were not fruitful. Charles, who is on vacation, decided that he would step in to aid with the umpiring of the game. Charles went on to explain that when he got to the playing field dressed in his umpiring gear, John Eugene decided that he can’t umpire the game. “Twice the captains were trying to go take the toss and John Eugene instructs his captain, to do no such thing” Charles explains. Charles went on to explain that “within the conditions of play, it makes allowances for the executives to either arrange the umpires or do the game themselves.” Eventually a young individual was identified and so the game was played.

In an ensuing telephone interview with John Eugene, he stated categorically that he was never informed he should prepare the pitch.  He went on to state that he never received a call from Brian Calixte to prepare the wicket for the under 19 tournament and that he has never been given the responsibility to prepare the wicket for the Gros-Islet Playing field. “I have prepared the wicket in the interest of cricket and if touring teams are coming down they would contact me and I put together a group to prepare the pitch,” he explained.   “I only did it on the match day after I got a call from Brian asking me to see how possible the game can be played, and I did it because five of my boys left school to play that match. Brian told me that they were going to send two umpires to umpire the game, I said ok I will prepare the pitch. I saw Julian Charles come there trying to play the role of umpire. So I said we are not going to take the field unless there is an official umpire appointed for the game.” Eugene indicated that when a young appointed umpire showed up he instructed his captain to take the toss and so the game was played.

In a subsequent conversation with the Operations Manager of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association, Brian Calixte indicated that there may have been a misunderstand in his communication with Julian Charles. Calixte indicated that there was not a call placed to John Eugene to have him prepare the pitch the day before and that upon realization of the lack of preparation of the pitch, they asked for his expertise. Calixte explained that in conversation with Julian Charles, he indicated to him that he called John Eugene on the match day to try to get the pitch to a playing condition. Calixte indicated that Eugene made every effort to then ensure that the wicket was prepared.

For his part, host of “The Banter” Micheal “Migit” Pierre suggested that the St. Lucia National Cricket Association identify someone specifically to ensure that venues and facilities for all the matches in the said competition are prepared. 

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