Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

During the imbroglio within the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) in the lead-up to the recent West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) presidential election, I used this column to criticise the attitude of St James Cricket Association (StJCA) president Cecil Fletcher, who emerged as one of the antagonists in the whole scenario.

Earlier this week, while taking a stroll in downtown Montego Bay, I met an elderly cricket fan who was one of the diehards of the game in St James back in the days when the parish's cricket was flourishing and was the envy of other rural parishes.

After commending me on the column, he went on to bemoan the embarrassing state the parish's cricket is in today.

Following the conversation, I found myself agreeing with him. In its current decrepit and hopeless state, St James' cricket has gone to the proverbial dogs under Fletcher's leadership. St James' cricket now is far from the days when men like former president George Johnson offered innovative leadership.

When I came to live in St James in 1980, cricket was alive and vibrant. Cricket was challenging football for popularity at the time. On any given weekend during the cricket season, one could bank on seeing large enthusiastic crowds watching the then Hart Shield at venues such as Jarrett Park and the Barnett Oval.

At that time, cricket clubs such as Riahs CC, Montego Bay CC, Jet Set, Seawind SC and Providence CC were all household names across western Jamaica. Most of the promising young cricketers from Cornwall used to gravitate towards St James because it was widely felt that the parish was the gateway to top-flight cricket.

I still have fond memories of watching the likes of former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams and fellow national players Nigel Kennedy, and brothers Lawrence and Franz Cunningham parade their skills on the St James domestic cricket circuit, rubbing shoulders with other stalwarts such as Alrick Haughton, Chester Sterling, Cecil Lee, Barton Reynolds, Wilbert Plummer and Devon Hughes.

Interestingly, while there were turbulent times under the leadership of Fletcher's predecessor, Osmond Erskine, the latter was able to hold the game together. As a proud man who spoke of St James cricket almost with reverence, he always sought to back his talk with action.

Sadly, since the advent of Fletcher, the game has steadily been sliding off the national radar. The majority of clubs have folded due to the absence of a structured competition to match the former Hart Shield.

In fact, the little cricket that is being played these days is more of the 'curry goat' flavoured, which does not speak well for development.

To say St James cricket is crying out for attention would be an understatement. The sad truth is that it's desiring life support.

Based on what I have seen of Fletcher's leadership style, or lack thereof, I seriously doubt that he has the capacity to turn around what is definitely a sinking ship.

It is against this background that I'm publicly calling on noted stalwarts Steve Bucknor, Jerry Reid, Chester Sterling and Everton Coach. These men have demonstrated over the years that they have the type of passion required to rescue St James cricket and give it new life.

Feel free to send your feedback to adrianfrater@hotmail.com.