The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots CPL team returned home recently after being unceremoniously dumped from the 2023 competition.
Generally speaking, the team was the whipping horse for all of the other teams and when they eventually won a game, it was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Andre SPICEMAN Fletcher showed glimpses of excellence, but a lack of consistency did not help the team’s overall efforts.
Skipper Evin Lewis, just did not feature this time around and he needed to lead with a lot of runs if the team was to compete.
Rutherford his deputy, was also inconsistent, though he showed glimpses of his real potential, but potential alone, just does not cut it.
The bowling power this year seemed to be lacking as well and so no matter what total they strung together, the opposing team, always felt that they could overhaul it and did so for the most part.
Our team ended at the bottom of the points table. They played 10 games; won one; lost 7 and there were 2 no results.
The Administrators of the team will now have an entire year to rethink—personnel; strategy and recommitment to please their loyal fans.
One recommendation is to ensure that, for starters, at least two players from St.Kitts and Nevis are a part of the set up-one from St. Kitts and one from Nevis.
Another recommendation is for the owners of the franchise to interact with the NIA and offer assistance in making sure that Nevis gets an international cricketing venue so that CPL games and others can be played in Nevis, which is home to some of the most loyal fans of the franchise.
These are people who cross the channel late in the night after witnessing games in St. Kitts.
Finally, invite persons like Elquemedo Willet and Derrick Parry to have a close connection with the team.
The twosome can teach them a thing or two about what it takes to excel at the highest level.
When all is said and done, SKN Patriots is still our team.