A major irony is that, despite the considerable success of the national cricket team over recent years, the internal structures of Jamaica’s cricket have been, at best, shambolic.

The parish and club competitions are abbreviated, and largely unsponsored, and several of the famous clubs which have fed the West Indies cricket team for decades are so impoverished, they are virtually at death’s door.

It is reflective of the state of the game in Jamaica that Sabina Park, one of the world’s most famous and historic cricket venues, is now the only leading ground in the Caribbean without lights to facilitate night play.

It is against that background that Mr Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, chief executive officer of the CHASE Fund, was elected late Thursday to head the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) for the next two years.

His massive 71-25 victory over former first vice-president Mr Milton Henry — the latter wittingly or otherwise a symbol of the old guard — demonstrates the desire for rapid change among those closest to the development of Jamaica’s cricket.

His comments immediately after being declared the winner confirmed Mr Heaven’s recognition of the job ahead of him. “Cricket needs a change,” he said. “New faces… new approach… new team…”

Further, he tells us that high on the agenda will be an effort to bring lights to Sabina Park. We wish Mr Heaven well as he moves to implement this and many other necessary projects for the furtherance of Jamaica, and ultimately West Indies cricket.

However, from this distance, this newspaper would urge him and his team to avoid undue haste, and to always exercise care as they move forward.

He will do well to learn from the mistakes of his predecessor, Mr Lyndel Wright. Readers will recall that the latter’s precipitous and ill-considered approach to the naming of stands at Sabina Park, two years ago, seriously undermined his leadership of Jamaica’s cricket.

We trust that Mr Heaven and his executive will soundly set about the transformation of Jamaica’s cricket.