Caribbean Cricket and New Zealand

Above: the Limacol CPL

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League seems to have been been a success thus far for Caribbean cricket — but it may be helping other cricket markets, too.

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (along with fellow Kiwi James Franklin) until an injury took him out of the tournament, said this week that the league has helped market New Zealand cricket to the rest of the world. Another Black Cap, former national captain Ross Taylor, has played for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

That could be a boost for the Black Caps, who, Guptill says, have struggled to convince other countries to provide them with lengthy international engagements, particularly at the test level.

Fast-bowling legend Sir Richard Hadlee made similar comments earlier this week.

“The only way we can get better is by playing more Tests and if that can come in the next few years and we can keep developing as a team then who knows where we can go from there,” Guptill said.

For now, Guptill he hopes to return to the league, should New Zealand’s schedule allow for it.

“I have absolutely loved it — it has been a great atmosphere with the crowds; we have had packed houses pretty much everywhere we have been and I would love to (come back),” Guptill said. “It all depends on the scheduling of New Zealand’s future tours and when they are going to schedule the Limacol CPL but hopefully there will be a gap in our schedule and I will be able to come back and play some more cricket.”