Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Breese

The nation's premier cricket competition, the Super Cup, and its second-tier Red Stripe Championship bowl off today with a full slate of matches, led by Super Cup defending champions St. Catherine Cricket Club who will play Lucas at Chedwin Park, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Ten teams are participating in each competition, with Kensington regaining promotion to the Super Cup, along with last year's Red Stripe Championship winners, Trelawny. St. Catherine Cricket Association and Portland were demoted from the Super Cup last season.

Over the last three years, betting and gaming company Supreme Ventures Limited sponsored the Super Cup, but the latter's three-year commitment ended last season, so the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has undertaken to fund the competition out of its coffers.

Incentives in place

Additionally, the JCA's Chief Operations Officer (COO), Brian Breese, said despite not having a sponsor they won't be reducing incentives.

"Everything is on track, but right atthis moment we don't have a sponsor for the Super Cup," he explained. "Despite that we are going ahead with it and all the incentives we had in place last year will be very apparent again. There will be no reduction in those levels of incentives."

Apart from the absence of funding, some of the island's top players will be missing as they will be playing league cricket in England.

They are Tamar Lambert and Danza Hyatt of St. Catherine Cricket Club, Brenton Parchment of St. Elizabeth, Nikita Miller of Melbourne, Andrew Richardson and Jamie Trenchfield of Kingston, David Bernard Jr. of Kensington, Ryan Smith of Lucas, and Kristmar Santokie of Clarendon.

Breese said that, despite their absence, a good standard will still be maintained because "... we're not losing as many (players) as we did, say two years ago".

With everything in place, the JCA's COO is hoping for good weather this weekend.

"Everything is ready and hopefully the weather will give us a chance to have an excellent start this weekend," he said.

Today's Games

Super Cup

St. Catherine CC vs Lucas at Chedwin Park

Kingston vs St. Elizabeth at Sabina Park

Jamaica Defence Force vs Kensington at Up Park Camp

Trelawny vs Melbourne at Bounty Hall

Manchester vs Westmoreland at Kirkvine

Red Stripe Championship

Portland vs Boys' Town at Folly

Hanover vs St. Thomas at Elgin Town

St. Catherine C.A. vs Policeat Port Esquivel

Kingston & St. Andrew vs St. James at Maxfield Park

St. Ann vs St. Mary at Kaiser