After Sabina Park’s staging of Australia’s tour of the West Indies, Jamaica Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett says they proved their doubters wrong and expects a continuous increase of international games in the next two years, including the visit of India.

The Kingston leg of the tour came to an end on Tuesday with the second of two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) at Sabina Park. The venue, which had upgraded lights and a new electronic scoreboard, also hosted the third Test, which became the second ever day-night Test in the region.

Though the Windies lost all three matches to Australia, the 20,000-seat Sabina Park was almost full for the T20s, along with a decent showing for the three days of the third Test.

While acknowledging certain challenges, including with ticketing, Bennett told the Sunday Observer that JCA executed the series well.

“I think we went against everybody’s expectations because there were a lot of doomsayers saying that the lights wouldn’t be ready, there were black areas on the field and all sort of things,” Bennett says. “But we always had the confidence that, come match time, we would have everything sorted out. We have to thank the Almighty too, because the only thing that could have prevented us from getting there was the weather, but it held up and we did what we needed to and we saw the results.”

Bennett says the Aussies were impressed with some of the changes made.

“The changing room that we gutted out and did over at great cost to us. with great help from Courts, was very well received by the players. As a matter of fact, both teams said it was the most comfortable and best they’ve encountered in the entire Caribbean, so we were very happy to hear that,” he says.

Former Jamaica batsman and West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) honorary secretary Wayne Lewis says the tour proved that there is a strong desire for international cricket in Jamaica.

“We had some concerns ourselves if [Sabina] would be ready in time, but in the end, it was fabulous.,” Lewis says. “The crowd turnout was fantastic, particularly those T20 games, but The Test match crowd was also encouraging.

“I’m a member of the Kingston Cricket Club, and I’m teased by so many persons when the Jamaica Premier League is played at the park with big crowds, and they ask me, ‘When are we going to see that in cricket?’ And the matches delivered, and I’m quite happy with the execution.”

Bennett says the JCA received high commendation from Cricket West Indies President Dr Kishore Shallow and is now confident that Jamaica will be a primary host for matches in the future.

“It’s the first time in a long time that we had that type of crowd, not just in numbers, but that electric atmosphere that was around the entire Park,” Bennett says. “That just put to bed those many people in Jamaica who were saying cricket was dead on the island. It’s far from being dead, and the crowd and the atmosphere proved that. What we do now is continue to bring international cricket so people can enjoy it, and we’re in the process of negotiating that right now.

“That is why I was gratified with the crowd turnout, because that strengthens my hand in negotiations, because a lot of these territories that have been getting international games, persons have not been turning out for them as you’ve seen on TV. So I think the patrons in Jamaica have put a major statement out there. So let’s see what happens down the road.”

Though exact venues and dates have not been confirmed, Bennett says Sabina Park will be chosen for the visits of India and Pakistan in the coming years.

“We already have a schedule where we’re supposed to have Pakistan next year, then in 2027 we have negotiated for the Indians to be here, and we’re working on some other tours as well,” he says. “So, certainly for the next two years, we’re guaranteed international cricket.”

Lewis, though, says the Government will need to play a greater role in ensuring more matches come to Jamaica.

“No longer can the JCA just get matches to come at Sabina Park and everything is hunky-dory,” he says. “They have to put up funds because it’s very expensive to host those games, and they’ll always need the support of the Government.

“It’s good to see the Government, belatedly I might add, coming on board and supporting and seeing the turnout. That tells you that had they been more proactive in supporting cricket in Jamaica, we’d have had a lot more crowd support like that and more games at Sabina Park.”

West Indies’ Shamar Joseph (second left) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Sam Konstas during the third Test at Sabina Park on Sunday, July 13. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

A view of the crowd in the North Stands at Sabina Park during the first T20 International between the West Indies and Australia on Sunday, July 20. (Photo: CWI)

LEWIS…no longer can the JCA just get matches to come at Sabina Park and everything is hunky dory…. they’ll always need the support of the Government

BENNETT…that just put to bed those many people in Jamaica who were saying cricket was dead on the island