SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Former West Indies fast bowler Daren Powell was elected president of the St Elizabeth Cricket Association at a general meeting in Ballards Valley on Friday.

Subject to ratification by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Powell will head an executive of 11 — taking over from an “interim committee” which for several years has struggled to manage St Elizabeth cricket.

Powell, who has led the parish team over recent seasons, told the Observer yesterday that chief among his short term aims will be to build “unity” in St Elizabeth cricket and “encourage discipline at senior, junior and minor” levels.

Powell said he and his executive would be involved in consultations with “stakeholders” in cricket at all levels in St Elizabeth in order to build “over time” an over-arching cricket competition that embraces the parish.

St Elizabeth has long been among the major providers of talent for Jamaica and West Indies cricket, but for years the administration of the game in the parish has been shambolic.

Blessed with a big away swinger at high pace, Powell made his Test match debut for the West Indies in 2002 after impressive performances for Jamaica.

At the highest level he struggled for consistency, ending his Test career in 2009 after 37 Tests with 85 wickets at 47.85 each. He also played 55 One Day Internationals and five Twenty/20 games for the West Indies.

As head of St Elizabeth cricket, Powell will be supported by Manley Horne (first vice-president), Richard Walters (second vice-president), Roger Roye (treasurer), Ian Spence (assistant treasurer), Amanda Baker (secretary), and Deon Holness (asstistant secretary). Other executive members are Junior Bennett, Wayne Billings, Victor Stewart and Kathan Spence.