HERE WE GO
It has been three long years since the dust last settled upon the cricket uniforms of the Nation’s secondary school students. Covid-19 and its after-effects put paid to many efforts to have sporting activities in that time. Now, however, excitement is rife as the 2023 season of the Secondary Schools’ Cricket League is about to bowl off. The League’s top two divisions, the Premiership and Championship, both make triumphant returns to the field of play this Thursday. With National youth and Inter-zone players present on many of the 23 teams across these divisions, competition will be fierce. Let us take a brief look at the composition of each division.
THE PREMIERSHIP
Shiva Boys’ Hindu College return to defend their 2020 title, won by the cruellest of margins over St. Benedict’s College. Locked atop the standings on equal points, victory went to Shiva by virtue of winning their head to head battle. Now, the rules have been amended to use net run rate to separate teams tied on points. St. Benedict’s, no doubt, are hungry for revenge and out to capture the crown that narrowly escaped them. Eternal North Zone rivals Fatima and St. Mary’s will naturally expect to have a say in matters. Apart from securing bragging rights over each other, both will want to return the title to their beloved North Zone. Stiff competition is also expected from the southern duo of Naparima Boys and Presentation San Fernando, as well as Hillview from the East. Traditional Central powerhouse Presentation College can be a dangerous opponent to any team on their day. Rounding out this division is Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College, promoted at the end of the 2020 season.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The SSCL’s tier 2 competition is actually split into a North and South division, with 7 teams each in 2023. Queen’s Royal College are the sole representative from the North Zone, and they will be looking to improve on 2020’s performance. With them are East Zone schools Tunapuna Secondary, El Dorado East, and Trinity College East. Manzanilla Secondary and Toco Secondary from the North-East and Tobago’s lone representative, Signal Hill Secondary, round out this division. Over in the South division, ASJA Charlieville, Couva East Secondary and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal will carry the torch for Central Zone. They will face off against a host of schools from the southern regions of the country. ASJA San Fernando, St. Stephen’s College, Barrackpore West Secondary and Princess Town West Secondary are all capable of surprising opponents. At stake for the winners of both divisions is promotion to the Premiership and the chance to go down in school history. Let the battles begin!
