Thursday 7 April 2011

TTCB vs WICB

"In the event of the teams in either semi final finishing on an equal number of points the right to advance to the final will be the team which gained the greater number of points when the two teams (of the teams which competed in the semi final) competed against each other in the group stage of the tournament"


This is the rule for the regional 4-day tournament that was in force long before the competition started. It's probably not the fairest rule as it does not reward a team for playing well during the entire season. That being said, this rule is very straightforward, and should not have caused the level of confusion that happened after T&T v Jamaica semi final. In that game Jamaica scored 664 all out and T&T replied with 448 for 9. This resulted in a no result where both teams finished with equal points.


According to the rule for the semi final "the right to advance to the final will be the team which gained the greater number of points when the two teams competed against each other in the group stage of the tournament". The group game between these two teams ended as follows: Jamaica 356 and 226 for 5 dec. T&T 279 and 248 for 5. Jamaica winning on first innings gained 6 points while T&T gained 3 points. My basic level maths tell me that 6 is greater than 3 and according to the rules Jamaica advanced to the finals.


The fact that the TTCB filed an injunction to stop the final was in poor taste and gave the impression that they are sore losers. How could the team management interpret the rule as saying that T&T would qualify due to finishing in a higher position baffles most people, except of course the majority of T&T cricket fans who kept saying that T&T were the better team and they should play in the finals. This silly injunction was swiftly denied by the sitting judge in the Port of Spain high court.


It could also be an avenue to distract the population from the fact that the decision making upon winning the toss was wrong. Also if T&T is the better team as many like to claim then why were they unable to bowl out the Jamaicans for a much lower score, they were simply batted into submission and like a true wounded animal or politician they are now clutching at straws in an attempt to hide their own ability.


T&T should be satisfied with an excellent season thus far, CT20 champions, 2nd place in the 4-day league (higher than the much vaunted English Lions) and a date with destiny the Airtel CLT20 in India. 20/20 cricket is where T&T are way above all other regional teams and even many first class teams in the world. This claim can be substantiated with the evidence that T&T has only lost competitive T20 games to Guyana and the New South Wales Blues.


To Trinidad & Tobago cricket, accept the results which were correct according to the rules and try to figure out where improvements are needed and begin planning for what should be an exciting Airtel CT20 tournament. Good luck to CCC and Jamaica in the finals and let the best team win. 

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