The 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League ended most fittingly with its
two best teams the defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors and three
times finalists St Lucia Kings contesting the final. As poetic justice would have it
the Kings silenced the 20,000 predominantly ‘Warrior Nation” home crowd to clinch
the title. It was an enthralling contest that ebbed and flowed like the waves of the
mighty Essequibo river, until the Kings sixth-wicket Barbadian-born pair of Royston
Chase blitzed 27 and 20 runs consecutively off the sixteenth and seventeenth overs to
effectively render the 149run set victory target a foregone conclusion.
The win provided the Kings with a first time victory which climaxed an incredible year
of sporting achievement for the tiny Caribbean island of St Lucia. An island which just
a couple of months before had experienced the unbridled joy and pride that was
provided by a daughter of the soil, Julienne Alfred, having won gold an silver in the
prestigious 100 and 200 meter final at the Paris France hosted Summer Olympics.
St Lucia’s year to be triumphant at CPL perhaps, but the 2024
tournament also provided much to reflect on. Much that was
good, some that was nit so good and most unfortunately, also a
few incident that were downright unsavory!
Foremost amongst the good was the joint confirmation, by virtue
of their accumulated scores of Nicholas Pooran and Shimron
Hetmyer’s unquestionable rankings as the two most talented T20
batters in the Caribbean and high among the very best in the
entire world. Pooran was majestic in compiling 504 runs at a 56+
average. Including a century that will now long be remembered
as one of the very best ever in CPL history. Hetmyer was equally
outstanding. His 402 runs scored at a 40.20 average from 13
completed innings.
Similarly Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph were both equally
outstanding with the ball conforming their undeniable status
as the regions best spinner and pacer respectively. Motie’s 17
captured wickets, taken at a 7.28 economy rate was the second
most by any bowler for the entire tournament. Only five behind
the 22 taken by the Afghanistan-born wrist spinner Noor Ahmad.
Joseph was only one scalp behind Motie, snaring 16 wickets at a
commendable economy rate of 8.50. Joseph was also by far the
quickest among all bowlers constantly hitting speeds in excess of
140km and at one point even being as fast as 147km.
CPL 2024 was undeniably good for its further confirmation of
already recognizable Caribbean batting and bowling talents.
It was, however, almost equally disappointing for its failure to
unearth any real new young and upcoming West Indian talent.
Either with bat or ball. Alick Athanaze, Jewel Andrew and Myklie
Lewis were among those who shone briefly with bat but failed
miserably to do so consistently. Among the bowlers it was an
even dismal picture with not a single Caribbean-born
practitioner having an season that was by any means
noteworthily outstanding.
Those disappointments were also played out against a
backdrop of matches plagued by numerous on-field
umpiring errors. The demonstrated shortcomings of the
participating umpires even at times extended off-field
to the television adjudicators. In one glaring incident a
third umpire was unmistakably shown up to be ignorant
of the laws of cricket governing run out dismissals.
Most regrettably CPL 2024 was also soured by
the unfortunate temporary failure of the Guyana
Providence Stadium lights during the crucial Eliminator
match between the third and fourth place League
finishers, Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Royals.
The near two-hour delay that ensued severely affected
the match’s outcome with the Barbados Royals
emerging victors by ten wickets having been set a DLS
victory target of 60 runs from five available overs.
Even more unfortunate than the incident itself, were
the vitriolic social media comments that followed,
revealing as they did that West Indies cricket is still
regrettably rooted in island insularities. Such comments
even included those from a world-renowned West
Indian global superstar all-rounder that were as
astonishing as they were unfortunate!
A tournament filled with its ups and downs but which,
thankfully, concluded with the best overall team
emerging as most deserving champions. Hail The St
Lucia Kings!