Supporters Happy at Return of Jamaica to CPL

The return of the Jamaica Kingsmen to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has meant more than runs, wickets and results to some of the team’s supporters.

It has been an opportunity to, once again, experience the excitement of top-level cricket on home soil.

That sentiment was evident among spectators who spoke with JIS News recently, following the Jamaica Kingsmen’s victory over the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their final home match of this year’s CPL campaign at Sabina Park in Kingston.

For cricket fan, Shelly-Ann Morgan, supporting the Kingsmen has come with a mixture of excitement, hope and the occasional case of nerves.

Speaking with JIS News she acknowledged that the Kingsmen are still finding their feet, and she believes the team deserves the opportunity to grow.

“I’m still going to say new, because there are still, although it’s a Jamaican team, it’s a new team,” she explained.

She also noted that the words “building” and “trying” also captured her perception of the team, particularly as it works to establish itself.

“They’re a new team, and I do think that they are where they are supposed to be… . They’re new, they’re trying, and it’s their first game out. I’m sure they have some nerves. I have nerves for them. But I’m hoping that they do very well,” she told JIS News.

For his part, supporter Alwayne Brown has a more personal connection to the sport.

“I am a big, big fan of cricket. Actually, I wanted to become a cricketer when I was in high school,” he shared.

Although life eventually took him in a different direction, Mr. Brown said he is happy to now support the sport from the sidelines, adding that, “things and times and everything change but I’m here as a supporter right now”.

Mr. Brown believes the Kingsmen have the ingredients to develop into a formidable unit, describing the team as “powerful, dynamic and all-rounded”.

“I would say that powerful, based on our overall team selection. Dynamic, also based on the team selection. And I would say all-rounded, also based on the team selection, because we have players that are dynamic in their batting and bowling, which is also all-rounded,” he explained.

“I think that we have a very compact team,” he told JIS News.

For Mr. Brown, however, the significance of the Kingsmen extends beyond what happens on the field.

“It’s really good to know that cricket’s back in Jamaica… . We have tons of supporters that are in Jamaica but we don’t get the opportunity to celebrate cricket the way we should,” he said.

He said attending the match at Sabina Park was particularly meaningful because travelling overseas to watch cricket is not financially feasible for everyone.

“For persons, if you can afford it, you can go to different countries, but for me, who can’t afford it, I have to wait for cricket to come in the Caribbean,” he said.

“And now that cricket is in Jamaica, I couldn’t miss it for the world,” Mr. Brown told JIS News.

That enthusiasm was shared by another supporter, Rushane Burgher, who described cricket as his favourite sport and commended the Kingsmen’s performance against the Patriots.

“I think it’s a very good game, very entertaining. I’m pleased with Jamaica’s batting, and I think they are doing well, so far, in the field,” he said.

With the Kingsmen putting on a strong performance, Mr. Burgher is confident about the outcome, adding that, “I expect them to win.”

He described the team as “brand new, talented, and up-and-coming”, reflecting a sense of optimism among supporters about what the Kingsmen can become.

For these fans, the Jamaica Kingsmen are, therefore, more than a newly assembled CPL side.

They represent a renewed opportunity for Jamaicans to gather at home, celebrate cricket and watch a team develop in front of them.

And while supporters recognise that the Kingsmen are still building cohesion and experience, the 51-run victory over the Patriots provided another reason for them to believe that the team is heading in the right direction.