We are heartened that after all the unseemly wrangling and even an alleged physical “assault” the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has managed to settle on a new executive at the recent annual general meeting.

As it turned out, new president Mr Lyndel Wright defeated the former president Mr Paul Campbell by the relatively comfortable margin of 19 delegate votes.

The result was hardly unexpected, given the rumours and allegations — muted and otherwise — surrounding the administration led by Mr Campbell over the last several months.

Mr Wright, who had served as Mr Campbell’s vice-president, has a tough task ahead of him.

As we pointed out in this space a month ago, the persistent allegations of wastefulness, as well as inadequate accountability and transparency which haunted the previous administration had thrown a damper on Jamaica’s cricket. This was despite the success of the Jamaica team on the field having won the four-day regional tournament for a record-equalling fourth year straight.

Mr Wright, a former Jamaica cricketer and successful cricket manager, has a very solid reputation. He is certain to enjoy plenty of goodwill as he and his team move to convince corporate Jamaica that the various cricket programmes of the JCA are deserving of their support.

Obviously private sector companies will have to be shown that cricket is being run with the required probity, financial accountability and transparency.

That done, Mr Wright and his team will be well advised to pay priority attention to the health of the traditional cricket clubs and parish associations. Once great clubs such as Lucas in east Kingston, which nurtured the talent of the legendary Mr George Headley, the JK Holts (father and son), and Mr Christopher Gayle, are literally at death’s door. Indeed, Mr Wright’s club, the revered Boys’ Town, nursery for his famous older brother, the late Collie Smith, long ago put cricket on the back burner.

It’s not too late for such clubs to be harnessed in partnership with business, government, civic organisations and schools, for the greater good, not just of cricket, but community and youth development.

Mr Wright has signalled his administration’s intention to lengthen the club season and to establish a proper and sustainable niche for the twenty-20 version which is now cricket’s money-spinner globally.

Crucially, Mr Wright and his team will have to ensure that a way is found for our cricketers to be sustained economically while playing the game. He need only look at the large number of talented cricketers who walk away from the game within a few years of leaving school — many migrating — to recognise the magnitude of the problem.

Again, the administrators of our cricket should seek to partner with the business community.

Mr Wright would do well, for example, to consider a remark made by GraceKennedy’s chief operating officer, Mr Don Wehby, at the JCA’s Awards Dinner in January.

Back then Mr Wehby said: “Let me make a suggestion. Why doesn’t the Jamaica Cricket Association have a programme where members of the private sector can adopt players?”

This newspaper believes Mr Wehby’s suggestion reflects the high esteem with which cricket is still held in powerful circles of the business community despite the problems — including those afflicting the West Indies team — over recent years

Mr Wright and his team will have made a great start should they be able to translate Mr Wehby’s recommendation into something very solid.