Brian Lara Stadium

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$13 million Brian Lara Ground upgrade complete
JELANI BECKLES (NEWSDAY).

THE Brian Lara Recreation Ground in Santa Cruz, which cost $13 million to upgrade, was officially re-opened on Tuesday.

The project took two years to complete and includes a car park and a refurbished pavilion, which seats 500 people. The facility also includes a multi-purpose court, cricket practice nets and a children's play area.

A number of officials attended the opening including former MP for St Ann's East Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Sport Company of TT (SporTT) chairman Douglas Camacho and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs deputy permanent secretary Claire Davidson-Williams. The San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation was also instrumental in the work done at the facility.

Dr Gadsby-Dolly said the facility is especially for the children of the area. "We recognise (the children) this morning...because it is for them more than for us. This facility having been built will benefit the residents of Santa Cruz and we are so happy to be at this event this morning."

Gadsby-Dolly knows the facility is in good hands. "I know the residents of this community will use it well. I know that they will take maximum care and respect of the facility."

She said it is pleasing that a facility under Lara's name is complete. "This ground is named after one of our global sporting legends and the community of Santa Cruz is always very proud to acknowledge Brian Charles Lara's start in this community. His family is still here and so we are very happy to be able to have the ground live up to its very illustrious name."

Lara, a TT and West Indies batting legend, was born in Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz.

The MP thanked all those in Santa Cruz for making the opening possible and looks forward "to the transformation these types of spaces bring to the community."

Davidson-Williams said, "We at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs are committed to providing first-class facilities to our youth population by creating a platform that can significantly enhance their capabilities in sporting activities, youth development (and) positioning them as next generation change makers who can contribute to more sustainable policy and opportunities."

Davidson-Williams urged people to "see this facility as an opportunity to improve your skills and to find meaningful ways of occupying yourselves with meaningful activities."

She urged residents to maintain the facility. "I challenge you to ensure that it is used in an effective way and maintained in its pristine condition, so that it last beyond generations."

Camacho thanked community activist John Williams for his enthusiasm in urging him in getting the facility complete. The SporTT chairman said the project took longer than expected but "it is really indeed a pleasure and an honour to eventually be able to deliver this."

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BLCA–an amazing ground
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).

Facilities manager at the BLCA Haresh Ragoonath a no-nonsense man.

When the entire country is drenched in rain you can pack your cricket gears if you are up for it and head to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba, South Trinidad.

The drainage at the sprawling facility is about the best you can find in the world of cricket.

At this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) there have been many instances where the rain has belted down on the venue and the outfield looks like a pond but in no time, the umpires are calling the play.

On Thursday evening, the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) was due to play at the facility against the Jamaica Tallawahs and assistant coach of the franchise, Imran Jan, made a call while on the drive down from the bubble at the Hilton Trinidad in Port-of-Spain to find out if play would be possible because the team bus was in the vicinity of the Grand Bazaar Mall, Valsayn, and it was pouring. Similarly, to down at the BLCA and the outfield took the look of a very large swimming pool.

Within minutes of the rain subsiding facilities manager, Haresh Ragoonath issued instructions and the outfield took a turn of a very busy corner as men were fully engaged in working on different aspects of the field.

As soon as the TKR team arrived at the Tarouba venue, the players were able to go unto the outfield and begin their warm-up exercises with the match going ahead as planned, much to the amazement of many.

Ragoonath speaking to Guardian Media Sports said the drainage at the venue is second to none.

“We have excellent drainage at this facility and we keep on telling people and rain can only stop cricket while it is falling. Once the rain is done we have cricket here on average 20 to 25 minutes after, depending on the downpour.”

Ragoonath’s efforts were seen again yesterday (Sunday) when it looked impossible that any cricket match would be played for the entire day. With two matches carded for the venue on day five of CPL action, the TKR was due to play the Barbados Tridents at 10 am, while the Guyana Amazon Warriors were due to play the St Lucia Zouks at 2.15 pm.

Heavy overnight and early morning rain left areas in South flooded. The rain stopped around 9.40 am at the BLCA and the match between the TKR and Tridents got off at 10.30 am.

This facility which was due to be completed in time for the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in the Caribbean was completed three years ago and since then it has been the hub of cricket in the country.

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Bassarath: Pakistan matches set for Tarouba
Roger Seepersad (T&T Express).

T20s FOR ‘LARA’

While there is still no certainty about the resumption of domestic cricket in Trinidad and Tobago in 2021, T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath insisted the sport will bounce back, as he revealed plans for the return of international cricket to the country, including the debut of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) as a venue for men’s international cricket.

Bassarath is also optimistic that fans could be allowed back into venues sometime next year. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all major sports in March.

However, international cricket resumed in June when the West Indies embarked on a bio-secure tour of England. Franchise cricket followed, with Trinidad successfully hosting the Hero Caribbean Premier League in a bubble before the West Indies travelled to New Zealand for their second tour during the pandemic.

The Windies will embark on their third international tour in the pandemic as they head to Bangladesh in January while regionally, Cricket West Indies (CWI) is planning to host a shortened Super50 Cup in February followed by a shortened West Indies Championship four-day tournament.

Meanwhile, Trinidad has not hosted a Test match since Sri Lanka in 2018 while India was the last international side to play in Trinidad in 2019 for a pair of One-Day Internationals at the Queen’s Park Oval, in Port of Spain.

While outlining the TTCB’s plans for 2021 on Monday, Bassarath revealed that Trinidad will be hosting Pakistan for two Tests and two T20 Internationals next year.

“We will have four international tours (in the Caribbean) and Pakistan will be coming to Trinidad to play two Tests and two T20s. The first two T20s of that series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on the 14th and 15th of August, so we are doing what we can to provide a lot of cricket for spectators and everyone involved in the sport,” Bassarath said.

Should those matches come off as planned, it will be the first time that the BLCA will be hosting international men’s cricket.

Originally targeted to host matches in the 2007 ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup, the venue never became available until 2017. In that year it hosted its first-ever international match when the West Indies women’s team played Sri Lanka in a One-Day International.

As for spectators, the TTCB boss is optimistic that if T&T’s Covid-19 infections remain low after Christmas and into the new year, fans could be allowed back into stadiums in time for the Pakistan series or even earlier.

“The reason I mentioned spectators is because we are hoping to have spectators allowed back at the venues by that time. We are also planning our T20 tournament as a Festival at Tarouba from the 20th-29th of May so I hope that 2021 brings a lot more ease and comfort in terms of getting rid of the virus and also where people can rest assured that all their health issues will be taken care of and when they are allowed back to see games, we will see large numbers,” the TTCB boss added.

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Brian Lara Cricket Academy to host T20Is in money-spinning England tour.
T&T Guardian Reports.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) will host an international involving England for the first time when the World champions tour the Caribbean next December for a money-spinning eight-match white-ball series.

The venue, located in Tarouba in south Trinidad, will stage the final two fixtures of the five-match Twenty20 International series on December 19 and 21, Cricket West Indies announced Tuesday.

Only last year, the stadium hosted its first-ever international when West Indies went down to India by 68 runs in the opening T20I of that five-match series.

Kensington Oval in Barbados will host the opening T20 International on December 12 before the series moves to the National Stadium in Grenada for the second and third T20I on December 14 and 16.

The tour will get underway with One-Day Internationals at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua on December 4 and 6, with Kensington Oval staging the third and final ODI on December 9.

“We are delighted to be able to confirm the England match schedule and to welcome once again their many travelling fans to the region for a pre-Christmas white-ball tour,” said CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave.

“This tour will be a major economic boost to the host countries, as well as providing our fans with the chance to see some of their favourite players in action against one of our biggest rivals.

“The tour will also help with our ongoing venue preparation and event planning for one of the biggest events ever to be staged in the region, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which takes place in June next year.

“We also look forward to announcing the fixtures and venues for the India tour of the West Indies in July and August very soon.”

England toured the Caribbean last year January for a five-match T20I series which the hosts captured 3-2, and then returned in March for a three-match Test series which they lost 1-0.

England are the reigning ODI and T20I World champions while West Indies are ranked seventh in T20Is and ninth in ODIs. - CMC

SCHEDULE

December 3: 1st ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

December 6: 2nd ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

December 9: 3rd ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados

December 12: 1st T20I – Kensington Oval, Barbados

December 14: 2nd T20I – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada

December 16: 3rd T20I – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada

December 19: 4th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

December 21: 5th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad