Tony Becca: The franchise system and West Indies cricket
Franchise cricket matches are supposed to be a way of pulling in the crowds and making money out of cricket, or, according to West Indies Board president, Dave Cameron, and the English technical director of West Indies cricket, Richard Pybus, it is one of the ways to develop West Indies cricket. Both ways can be right, but in West Indies cricket, both are wrong, and definitely so. As Mark Nicholas of BBC fame wrote recently, “Franchises spread West Indies cricket so thin that the franchises are a terrible sop. It is as if a fancy name will change anything.” Like everything else in life, it takes money and good sense to make money. Either that, or one must have some very good friends, or one has to be lucky, very lucky. On top of that, franchise cricket, a form of cricket in which players are bought and sold, does not, or should not, include sovereign nations. West Indies cricket is losing ground. In fact, it has lost ground for some years and is now trying desperately to find its way back. West Indies cricket is really falling apart, and the West Indies Cricket Board, in a desperate attempt to halt the slide, to improve the skill of its cricketers, and to make some money has gone the franchise route. Apart from money to make it work, however, franchise cricket, needs proper planning, a good atmosphere, and it needs competitiveness. The Professional Cricket League consists of six teams, not Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, the Leeward Islands, and the Windward Islands as usual, but the Jamaica Scorpions, Barbados Pride, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Guyana Jaguars, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, and the Windward Islands Volcanoes. Probably the biggest point about this version of the franchise system, however, is this: for a franchise system to be a real one, it should be free of certain restrictions. For a start, a franchise like the Jamaica franchise should be free to buy players from anywhere and from any country in order to strengthen their team. It should not be restricted to West Indian countries, and it should not be a forced situation. Even if a country has the money to accommodate a player or two – or any number for that matter – a country should not be expected to contract a player unless it needs to do so. If a country’s players are better than others in the market, why contract one? It may be too early to see the folly of the franchise system. However, right now, after Jamaica’s embarrassment in losing seven wickets for 20 runs in one session, despite the presence of a foreign player, although they came back to win, and after the Leeward Islands declaration at 24 for seven in the first session and losing the match inside two days, it certainly is cause for concern. The other concern, based on the lack of support for the competition and for the West Indies team, is this: where will the money come from to keep this system one going? The franchise system is not working out. Based on the crowds, it is not working in terms of money, and based on the action, it is not working in terms development, and certainly not when teams find it difficult to bat out one session. Players from other territories Free of certain restrictions This year, the territories were ordered to accept players from the other territories. The names sound impressive, like those of the American franchises. The difference, although it may be really too early to tell, is the appeal of the American franchises, the money they make daily, the quality of the players, and the competitive nature of the tournament. This season, the board, which is the source of funding for each team, has made it compulsory. Each team must have two or three overseas players in its squad of players and each franchise must have a manager, a marketing man, a coach, a physiotherapist, a trainer, a doctor, and an accountant. The plan is that the board will provide each franchise with money, some US$45,000, to run the franchise each year, and the territories are to select a squad of 15 players, including two or three overseas (West Indies) players for the tournament to be played as return matches and run from November to March. With some US$27,000 going to the salaries of the players, only approximately US$18,000 is left to pay all other expenses. The first question which must be asked is this: what will happen to the respective boards during all this? Will they simply mark time from day to day doing almost nothing, or will they serve the board as well as the franchises in a move to save the franchise some money? If this is so, if one man serves a territorial board and also serves a franchise, is it a move which could spell trouble in the long run? Another question is this: what is a franchise? Is it a group granted authorisation to carry out special commercial activities, is it an individual within a group that is granted such authorisation, or is it that one leads to the other? Is it that the West Indies Cricket Board is the franchise, or is it that Jamaica, for example, is the franchise? Is the WICB the franchise owner, and is Jamaica one of its members? Is Jamaica expected to finance itself, and expected to share any profits, or losses with the board? Is it that the West Indies Cricket Board is expected to finance Jamaica as the Jamaica franchise, or is Jamaica expected to develop young cricketers, to produce cricketers, through its own resources for the West Indies-Jamaica franchise? Will the franchise team, its players and its management team, replace, for example, the Jamaica Cricket Association as guardians of Jamaica’s cricket, in the school, the clubs and parishes, etc? West Indies cricket is weak, some of the regional teams and many of the clubs are very weak, and the franchise system is seen, in some quarters, as the way to improve standards and to balance things. Once upon a time, when a team was weak, people, like coaches, worked to improve the players’ skill. After this, however, people will simply shop around for a replacement, from anywhere, and according to the board, or so it seems, even from weaker teams. This, as sure as the night follows the day, will eventually lead to a situation where the stronger the bank account, the stronger will be the team, unless, of course, the governments of the West Indian territories step in and protect the sovereignty of their country.
For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Ayo, a champion coach in the NCAA with Letran and UAAP with La Salle before transferring to UST, isn’t worried at all despite the latest departure of Jordan Sta. Ana, who was a key cog for the Growling Tigers last year in the UAAP.“Not really because we have new players filling in especially the rookies who are going to fit in with the program and system,” Ayo told INQUIRER.net when asked how big of a loss Sta. Ana is to the team.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownApart from Sta. Ana, Regie Boy Basibas, Justin Arana, Oliver de Guzman, Christian Garcia, Carlo Escalambre, MR Romero, Joco Macasaet and Ben Kwawukumey had also left the team.Ayo believes UST is better off having new players who fit his system. LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Jury of 7 men, 5 women selected for Weinstein rape trial Dave Chappelle donates P1 million to Taal relief operations Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Winfrey details her decision to withdraw from Simmons film China population now over 1.4 billion as birthrate falls
Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles01:00Chief Justice Peralta on upcoming UAAP game: UP has no match against UST05:02SEA Games 2019: Philippines clinches historic gold in women’s basketball02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina View comments “It’s better for us to have a new set of players and we’ll try to make all of them fit into what we’re trying to do here,” he said.“We don’t remove players but it’s the players themselves who wanted to leave,” he added.Ayo said the players who left are just not up to the challenge of being a student-athlete at UST.“They leave because they can’t do what they’re supposed to do even if what we’re asking them to do is very simple. Go to class and attend practice,” said Ayo.“The players who left are those who couldn’t do it especially the academic part. They sensed that they’re going to have problems in their academics that’s why they opted to leave.”ADVERTISEMENT The player exodus from University of Santo Tomas doesn’t faze Aldin Ayo.ADVERTISEMENT Dads Ronaldo and Messi still seek World Cup title In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew MOST READ
In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ “You got to give a lot of credit to San Miguel, they came out and played tough, and they were really focused,” said Brownlee who carried Ginebra on his back in Game 3. “They were very sharp, they came out shooting the ball well, they were executing and they were defending.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next That staggering setback to San Miguel tied the PBA record for largest blowout in a championship game, a feat that stood for two decades since Alaska trumped the Beermen 99-61 in Game 6 of the 1998 Philippine Cup finals.Brownlee, who finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds, though, is still counting on his team’s fighting spirit.“Hopefully we can bounce back after this game and we’ll be better,” said Brownlee, who couldn’t help but praise what the Beermen did in Game 3.San Miguel was intoxicating in the third game shooting at a 51.5 percent clip, 52-of-101, while also smothering Ginebra on defense.The Beermen limited the Gin Kings to 35-of-74 from the field and stole the ball 15 times.ADVERTISEMENT Gov’t in no rush to rescue animals in Taal After their strong opening win, the Gin Kings haven’t looked like conquerors in their past two games losing to the Beermen by an average of 31.5 points.It was only in the first game that Ginebra looked like a title contender when it beat the Beermen 127-99, and Justin Brownlee hopes his team could once again channel that fighting spirit by Game 4.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone still willing to coach Gilas but admits decision won’t be ‘simple yes or no’READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel clobbers Ginebra by 38 points for 2-1 lead“You only have to come out and fight, that’s the only thing you can do,” said Brownlee after Ginebra’s 132-94 loss in Game 3 Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. LATEST STORIES Barangay Ginebra may just be trailing by 2-1 in the best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against defending champion San Miguel, things are not looking good for the crowd favorite.ADVERTISEMENT Ceres, Home United battle to draw in first leg ‘High crimes and misdemeanors’: Trump impeachment trial begins Palace OKs total deployment ban on Kuwait OFWs Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Peza offers relief to ecozone firms MOST READ After winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folk Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles02:11SEA GAMES 2019: PH’s Nesthy Petecio boxing featherweight final (HIGHLIGHTS)02:10SEA Games 2019: Didal collects 2nd skateboard gold02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award View comments
The Kwendin Township in Lower Nimba County is without good public school building to host dozens of school-going age children.Due to the lack of good public school facility, classes are conducted in a makeshift unsafe building constructed with sticks and covered with palm thatch.“This is where we are using as a school building to educate children in the township,” commented one of the teachers who asked not to be identified.He said there are three of such buildings being used for students in the upper classes. “They were built by a certain NGO for a women group in the community, and because we did not have any public school building in the community, the citizens arranged for the building to be used in the meantime.”At the township on October 28, dozens of school going kids were seen roaming about playing, due to what one of the parents said was the result of the lack of space to host all of them.The Daily Observer learned that students playing outdoors would have their time to return to the classroom and the others in the classroom would be asked to play outdoors, until those who were inside finished their lessons.Kwendin used to be the center of education in Nimba during the regime of the late President Williams R. Talbert Jr. with a boarding school under the management of the Baptist Church, a local resident said.He said the Baptist Mission is in ruins and the vast land occupied by rubber, planted by the Mission while other areas have been occupied by residents.Our informant said it is about 30 minutes drive from the city of Tappita and it is one of the populated townships in lower part of Nimba County.Efforts to speak with the District Education Officer of the area did not materialize as his mobile phone rang endlessly.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The day starts with a ‘Walk with the Mayor’ event, from 12:10 p.m. until 12:50 p.m. Participants are asked to meet at City Hall, and will get to tour a part of the city on foot. There’s also a free yoga lesson happening in Centennial Park at 12:10 p.m. Anyone interested can drop in, and should bring a mat, a water bottle and proper attire. Many local gyms are offering free one-day memberships on Monday, including Today’s Techniques, Shapes of Success, World Gym and Energetics.Warkentine says there will be a healthy and active living fair in Centennial Park from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Advertisement By Christine Rumleskie [asset|aid=2868|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=14bbf2305a95ddbf1a12190011bd42ea-Searna 2_1_Pub.mp3] Last year, more than 1,000 local residents came out for the Move for Health day, and Warkentine says organizers hope more than 2,000 people show up for this year’s event.
Couch potatoes in the Energetic City will have an excuse to get outside and exercise in the park next Monday.The City of Fort St. John is holding its annual ‘Move for Health Day’, in conjunction with the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association. – Advertisement -Recreation Programmer Serena Warkentine says there’s a bunch of free events planned at Centennial Park. [asset|aid=2867|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=14bbf2305a95ddbf1a12190011bd42ea-Searna 1_1_Pub.mp3] Advertisement
Treaty 8 First Nations have taken the Site C fight all the way to the United Nations.Treaty 8 Tribal Chief Liz Logan recently had a meeting with Special Rapporteur James Anaya during the tenth session of the United Nations permanent form on Indigenous Issues.- Advertisement -Logan says she is disappointed that the Province is supporting B.C. Hydro in its bid to build the dam.[asset|aid=3588|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=d70b66011f40c31c386ca26eaed1b5f7-Liz 1_1_Pub.mp3] Since Canada has endorsed the UN’s Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People, Logan says the UN can intervene with the Province and the federal government on behalf of Treaty 8.[asset|aid=3589|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=d70b66011f40c31c386ca26eaed1b5f7-Liz 2_1_Pub.mp3] Advertisement The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was set up to deal with economic and social development, culture, the environment and other rights for indigenous peoples. The forum provides an outlet for indigenous peoples to voice their concerns.Treaty 8 is currently touring southern B.C., discussing what they see as the threats the Site C dam poses.
It couldn’t have gone much better for Louis van Gaal in his first game in charge of Manchester United as they thrashed LA Galaxy 7-0 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.And the Dutchman appears to be working miracles with the squad already as Danny Welbeck struck a fine opener from outside the area and Ashley Young played a part in four (yes, you did read that right) goals, scoring two of them.These shocking events led fans to look back at last season’s pre-season opener, which they lost 1-0 to Singha All Stars in Bangkok, and on Twitter they had a good laugh at their former manager’s expense.And some worried supporters are hoping Real Madrid weren’t watching Young’s performance… 1 Former Man United boss David Moyes 
Mike Tindall and Perry Groves were alongside Colin Murray in the studio and talked Kevin Pietersen and Bayern Munich v Barcelona, as well as a host of other sporting topics, while Tim Simpson and Ollie Phillips were today’s Murray Meets guests.
Mikel Arteta 1 “If Wenger doesn’t buy a DM just because Arteta has signed a new contract it’s a sackable offence – if we don’t win the league.”Not our words, but the thoughts of a Gooner (see below).Arsenal’s search for a new defensive midfielder appeared to be leading toward long-term target Morgan Schneiderlin, but with the Frenchman now likely to join Manchester United, that particular pursuit could be called to a halt. Especially as news has broken that club captain Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract with the Gunners.The 33-year-old had received offers from Spain, and some Arsenal fans were pleased at the prospect of waving goodbye to a player who spent a significant amount of the campaign out injured.Whether Arsene Wenger decides to ease off the hunt for a new holding midfielder or not, the suspicion that the Spaniard’s signature would warrant that decision has caused a ruckus amongst the fans.Here’s what they’ve been saying…
Adding to the mess is an increase in foreclosures, dumping more homes on the market. Lenders issued 635,159 foreclosure filings in the third quarter, nearly double the number a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. The Census Bureau says there is an eight-month supply of unsold homes. The slumping market has caused builders to take huge write-downs reflecting falling values of their unsold homes and options on land. Both Horton and Dallas-based Centex swung to losses in their most recent quarters, caused by falling sales and huge write-offs. Each builder has cut several thousand jobs and reduced the number of homes under construction. Tomnitz said the slump differs from others because speculators who had bid up prices disappeared. “Once those investors could no longer buy a home and flip it for 15, 20 percent more, they left the market,” he said. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! DALLAS – Shares of two big Texas-based homebuilders fell to their lowest levels in more than four years on Tuesday after their CEOs said that the troubled housing market will weaken further next year. “This is my fourth downturn,” said Donald J. Tomnitz, CEO of D.R. Horton Inc. “No question about it, this is the most difficult downturn Horton and I have worked through.” Tomnitz said his company would decrease housing starts to cut its inventory of unsold homes. Timothy Eller, the CEO of Centex Corp., said, “There is no way to predict when this thing will bottom.” AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREPettersson scores another winner, Canucks beat KingsShares of Fort Worth, Texas-based Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder by deliveries, slipped 17 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $10.41, its lowest mark since early 2003. Centex shares lost 10 cents, to $18.28, its lowest level since late 2002. Their comments came a day after an influential and usually bullish housing analyst with Citigroup downgraded both stocks from “buy” to “hold” and cut ratings on six other homebuilders. Homebuilders enjoyed a boom for several years but were caught with a glut of unsold homes this year when mortgages became hard to get and sales slowed. Builders have slashed prices to sell houses, but buyers have stayed on the sidelines because they’re having trouble getting mortgages and they believe prices will fall further. 