By Isaac Lockett
Following the exciting final of the 2023 Cool and Smooth T20 that saw the Empire Nation lift the trophy, it is time to reflect. Over 14 days of cricket, new names have come to the forefront of Antiguan domestic cricket as local talent emerged throughout the tournament and international talent showed their class.
The Empire Nation are the newly crowned champion after beating the Liberta Blackhawks on the final day to halt the Blackhawks’ dominance. The Nation finished the group stage with a record of four wins and three losses, then went on to win both knock-out matches during a thrilling run in the tournament which saw them also take part in the tournament’s only super over. After captain Kenrick Scott lifted the trophy, other teams will see the Nation as the team to beat in 2024, with the Blackhawks looking to return to the top while teams like the Bolans Blasters have a young core of players who will only be better for the experience.
When speaking to Nikhil Uttamchandani, homegrown hero and regional representative Kofi James made it known that he was looking to use the tournament as a springboard to get the attention of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots coaches after being a part of their development side. After scoring 330 runs, averaging 47.14 and a strike rate of 143.48, James finished as the top run scorer at the event where batting was not always easy on spin-friendly pitches. The runs combined with 13 wickets got the attention of the fans at the Cool and Smooth T20 and showed the opportunity the tournament can give players. U19 starlet Jewel Andrew finished second in the run-scoring charts with 324 runs after a successful season for the Piggots Crushers, which saw Andrew’s stock rise across the Nation. Kittian cricketer Mikyle Louis finished third after scoring 264 runs.
In terms of wickets, the top wicket takers were all spin bowlers, as Empire Nation leg spinner Micah Mckenzie finished top of the pile with 17 wickets. Liberta Blackhawks and West Indies international Hayden Walsh Jr. finished second with 15 wickets, with the lowest economy out of any top wicket takers with 4.23. Jennings Tigers bowler Glenton Williams claimed third place in the wicket-taking charts after taking 14.
Through Cricket District and the hard work of individuals such as Melinda Farrell, Nikhil Uttamchandani and Toby Marriott, the tournament saw more social media coverage and interaction than ever. This growth is only the planned start for the tournament, with growth expected to continue for years to come, with the Cool and Smooth T20 hoped to become a staple on the Caribbean cricket calendar that gets support from across the area.
It was only possible to host the tournament with the work of the sponsors who helped the tournament reach its potential this year. The tournament organizers look forward to working with the sponsors again to put on another cricket festival.
Finally, a thank you to all the fans that supported the tournament, whether on social media or at the ground. It was fantastic to see the passion both online and at the stunning Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and hopefully, the attendance will only grow as the tournament continues. Without fans, cricket is nothing, and the sport cannot grow.