A brief history of West Indies domestic one-day cricket

Martin Williamson with a brief history of West Indies domestic one-day cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2006WinnersOne-day cricket has been a feature of West Indies cricket since 1972-73 when a knock-out tournament took place between Barbados (the winners), Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago took place. After a three-year hiatus, a more formal tournament – the Gillette Cup – was set up and the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands were added to the quartet. The format was two groups of three, and again Barbados won the final against Trinidada & Tobago, a result that was repeated in 1976-77. As happened around the world, sponsors for the one-day competitions came and went, although it was Jamaica who established dominance on the field. In the early 1990s, Leeward Islands took over, and in 1995-96 Canada and Bermuda were experimentally brought in – winless, both finished bottom of their groups. By then, the tournament was established as a curtain-raiser for the season, and in 2000-01 two more teams were added, with USA producing a major upset by defeating Barbados … they still finished bottom of their group. All four non first-class sides were jettisoned in 2001-02 and instead Leeward Islands were divided into Antigua and Barbuda and the Rest, while the Windward Islands were divided into a North and a South group. The temptation to tinker continued, and in 2002-03 Windwards were divided into Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Rest, a university XI was introduced, and Canada returned. In 2004-05 there was no sponsor, but KFC came on board in 2005-06.

<!–1977-78 Leeward Islands/Jamaica

1978-79 Trinidad and Tobago

1979-80 Guyana

1980-81 Trinidad and Tobago

1981-82 Leeward Islands

1982-83 Guyana

1983-84 Jamaica

1984-85 Guyana

1985-86 Jamaica

1986-87 Jamaica

1987-88 Barbados
–>

<!–1988-89 Windward Islands

1989-90 Trinidad and Tobago

1990-91 Jamaica

1991-92 Trinidad and Tobago

1992-93 Guyana/Leeward Islands

1993-94 Leeward Islands
–>