Regional Four Day Competition
Countries West Indies
AdministratorCricket West Indies (CWI)
FormatFirst-class (4-day)
First edition1965–66
Next edition2023–24
Tournament formatRound robin, semi-finals
Number of teams8
Current championGuyana[1]
Most successfulBarbados – 23 titles (plus 1 shared)[2]
Most runsDevon Smith (Windward Islands) - 11,321[3][4][5]
Most wicketsVeerasammy Permaul (Guyana) - 526[6][7]
2022–23

The Regional Four Day Competition,[8] formerly known as the Shell Shield, Red Stripe, Busta and Carib Beer Cup, is the West Indies's first-class cricket competition that's run by Cricket West Indies. In the 2013–2014 season the winner of the tournament was awarded the WICB President's Trophy while the winners of the knockout competition were awarded the George Headley/Everton Weekes trophy.[9] In a few previous seasons the winners of the tournament were awarded the Headley/Weekes trophy. On from the 2016–17 season, the Competition was sponsored by Digicel and was known as the Digicel Four Day Championship.[10] Since 2019–20, the competition has been renamed as the West Indies Championship.[11]

The competition is contested between seven Caribbean teams and, on occasion, touring sides from other countries. Of these sides four of them, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, come from solitary nations. While two other teams, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands, previously competed as the Combined Islands, now each being from a myriad of nations. Since the 2007–08 season a Combined Campuses and Colleges cricket team (CCC cricket team) were included in the competition. However, in July 2014 the WICB announced that the CCC cricket team was to be excluded from the upcoming 2014-15 Regional Four Day competition. This came as a series of changes adopted based on the recommendations made in a March 2014 report presented by Richard Pybus, WICB's then director of cricket.[12]

The current structure of the tournament, since the 2014–15 season is a double round-robin league system with the team earning the most points being declared the winner. Prior to this the tournament didn't comprise a knock out stage so teams could potentially both win the tournament. The competition later consisted of a single round-robin league followed by semi-finals and a final. The current champions are Guyana. Barbados have won the most titles with twenty-two outright (and one shared), while Jamaica and Guyana have won the most consecutive titles (five).

Competing teams

The following teams have competed in every tournament since the 2007–08 season:

The following teams have also made appearances in the competition:

Origins

First-class cricket has been played in the West Indies since 1865, when Barbados beat Demerara, later known as British Guiana and now Guyana, at the Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown.[23] During 1891 three teams, namely Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago, took part in the inaugural Inter-Colonial Tournament held at the Barbados' Bay Pasture, with Barbados eventually defeating British Guiana in the final by an innings and 55 runs.[24] All three teams won the tournament on more than five occasions. When Jamaica attained first-class status, they only played 22 games in their first 30 years as a cricketing side, usually playing touring teams from England. After the West Indies were awarded Test status in 1928, the number of games played by Jamaica increased.

During World War II, there was no official Inter-Colonial tournament, but matches were still played between the three teams who had competed for it, and this continued after the war, but now also including Jamaica. In 1956, British Guiana hosted a four-team knock-out tournament, which was repeated five years later but now with the Combined Islands joining in. The final unofficial tournament (which does not appear on records in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack or Cricinfo) was held in 1964, with Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica and Trinidad competing in a league, which British Guiana won.

History of the competition

The regular competition began in the 1965–66 season, named the Shell Shield (after sponsors Royal Dutch Shell), and the five teams that had contested the 1961 knock-out competed in a round-robin league, with two home matches and two away matches for each team.[25] This format and name remained until 1981–82, when the Combined Islands were split up into the Leeward and Windward Islands by the West Indies Cricket Board. This meant that the season was lengthened to five games per side. Barbados dominated from the outset, with nine titles won from 1965–66 to 1979–80. The Combined Islands won their first title in 1980–81 after four runners-up spots in the preceding six seasons – becoming the last of the five teams to win a title.

Barbados won three more titles before the tournament was modified in the 1986–87 season. Where instead of a round-robin league, there were now two round-robin groups, determined by geography. The league structure was though back into place for the next season. As well the contest was then and there renamed as the Red Stripe Cup with its main sponsor being the Jamaican beer Red Stripe.[25] Leeward Islands won their first ever title in 1989–90, winning all five games in the league, but Barbados were back on top for the following season. No team managed to win back to back titles for the next fourteen seasons, though the Leeward Islands and Barbados exchanged the trophy between 1993–94 and 1998–99. The WICB tinkered with the competition's formats during this period of time. Where in 1995–96 a final match was played, while the 1996–97 season saw a home-and-away round-robin format of ten matches in total. At this seasons' close, Red Stripe withdrew as a sponsor. The regional tournament was eventually renamed the President's Cup and reduced to five matches a team once again.[25] On from the 1998–99 season, Trinidadian soft drink Busta became the new title sponsor with the newly named Busta Cup, having a semi-final and a final appended after the round-robin stage.[25]

Barbados and Jamaica went on to both dominate the 2000s. Barbados in 2004 became the first team to successfully defend a first class title since Jamaica in 1989. These said sides have respectively won fourteen out of the first fifteen first class titles of the 21st century. The 2000s saw teams from other nations take part, as in England A, Bangladesh A, India A and Kenya. Along with that two scholastic sides, West Indies B and the Combined Campuses and Colleges also featured in the competition. In 2002 Carib Brewery became the title sponsor. So the competition became known as the Carib Beer Cup for the next six years until Carib's sponsorship ended in 2008/09.[26] The semi-finals were removed for the 2004–05 as was the West Indies B team with the tournament returning to a six-team league. This now consisted of ten home and away matches for each side with a final played between the top two teams. In the 2005–06 season, the league returned to one round-robin series where teams each play five games before the top two sides meet in the final.[25]

Since 2009 it has been entitled as the Regional Four Day Competition with the winning side lofting the Headley-Weekes Trophy, named after both George Headley and Everton Weekes.[27] Between 2008 and 2012, Jamaica won the competition for a record five times in a row. The only previous time a team had won the record five times in a row was between 1976 and 1980 when Barbados won the title; however, for that streak, the first title in 1976 was shared between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago whereas for Jamaica's 2008-2012 streak the title was never shared with any other team.[28][29]

In 2014, the WICB announced major structural changes to the first-class cricket competition starting with the exclusion of the Combined Campuses and Colleges team from the competition (in which it had participated since 2007–08). Additionally, it was announced that a franchise system was to be introduced for first-class cricket, similar to that of the Caribbean Premier League, with the six territorial teams being able to select players from all over the region and possibly from overseas. The new franchises would be owned by the territorial boards themselves and the teams would still retain their traditional territorial names. A draft system was also introduced, under which each of the territorial boards will be allowed to retain and contract 10 players, with the rest of the region's player pool going into a player draft for the teams to complete their 15-player squads.[30] The regional four-day competition itself was extended to a double round-robin format and also became part of the WICB's new Professional Cricket League, which also included the NAGICO Super50. The newly extended Regional Four Day Competition will be played on a home and away basis over ten rounds from 14 November 2014 to 23 March 2015.[31]

Structure

From the 2010–11 season until the start of the Professional Cricket League the teams have played each other once in a double round-robin format followed by semi-finals which are contested between the top four teams of the league stage.

Points were awarded as follows:

  • Outright win – 12
  • Loser if 1st Innings lead obtained – 4
  • Loser if tie on 1st Innings – 3
  • Loser if 1st Innings also lost – 0
  • Tie – 8

Incomplete Match

  • 1st Innings lead – 6
  • 1st Innings loss – 3
  • Tie on 1st innings – 4

Score Equal in a Drawn Match

  • Team batting on the 4th innings – 8
  • Team fielding on the 4th innings if that team has lead on 1st inning – 6
  • If scores tied on 1st innings – 4
  • If team has lost on 1st innings – 3

Abandoned Match

In the event of a match being abandoned without any play having taken place, or in the event of there being no 1st innings decision, three points each.[32]

Professional Cricket League era

Since the 2014–15 season when Professional Cricket League started the teams have played each other twice in a round-robin with the team having the most points at the end of the League being awarded the Championship and the Headley/Weekes Trophy.[33]

Points are now awarded similarly to the 2010/11-2014/15 era except that now the concept for points for first innings lead has been abandoned and replaced with bonus points for batting (1 point being awarded in intervals of 50 runs for total scores over 200 for the first 110 overs and up to a maximum of 5 points), bowling (1 point being awarded in intervals of 2 wickets for 3 wickets or more taken in a team's innings for the first 110 overs and up to a maximum of 3 points) and for pace bowling (0.2 points for each wicket taken by designated pace bowlers). Tied matches are now awarded 6 points instead of 8 points and the range of points awarded for drawn matches has been replaced by each team getting 3 points plus the bonus points. For abandoned matches, the points awarded to each team has been reduced from 3 to 1, except where a match is abandoned due to a dangerous pitch, in which case the visiting team are awarded 12 points (as would happen with an outright win).

Winners

SeasonTeam
1965–66Barbados
1966–67Barbados
1967–68No competition
1968–69Jamaica
1969–70Trinidad and Tobago
1970–71Trinidad and Tobago
1971–72Barbados
1972–73Guyana
1973–74Barbados
1974–75Guyana
1975–76Trinidad and Tobago shared with Barbados
1976–77Barbados
1977–78Barbados
1978–79Barbados
1979–80Barbados
1980–81Combined Islands
1981–82Barbados
1982–83Guyana
1983–84Barbados
1984–85Trinidad and Tobago
1985–86Barbados
1986–87Guyana
1987–88Jamaica
1988–89Jamaica
1989–90Leeward Islands
1990–91Barbados
1991–92Jamaica
1992–93Guyana
1993–94Leeward Islands
1994–95Barbados
1995–96Leeward Islands
1996–97Barbados
1997–98Leeward Islands shared with Guyana
1998–99Barbados
1999–2000Jamaica
2000–01Barbados
2001–02Jamaica
2002–03Barbados
2003–04Barbados
2004–05Jamaica
2005–06Trinidad and Tobago
2006–07Barbados
2007–08Jamaica
2008–09Jamaica
2009–10Jamaica
2010–11Jamaica
2011–12Jamaica
2012–13Barbados
2013–14Barbados
2014–15Guyana
2015–16Guyana
2016–17Guyana
2017–18Guyana
2018–19Guyana
2019–20Barbados
2021–22Barbados
2022–23Guyana

The above winners are of the league phase, since 2000/01 there has been a knock-out tournament (the Busta International Shield in 2000/01; the Busta International Shield/International Trophy in 2001/02; the Carib Beer International Trophy from 2002/03 to 2004/05; the Carib Beer International Challenge from 2005/06 to 2006/07 and the Carib Beer Challenge in 2007/08) with qualification based on league position. In 2000/01 four teams progressed to the knockout phase with Jamaica beating the league winner, Barbados in the first semi-final before going on to win the final against Guyana by first innings points in a drawn match. This form was reversed in the 2001/02 knockout competition when Guyana beat Jamaica in the final on first innings points in a drawn match. For the next three seasons (2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05) the league winners were also the winners of the knockout competitions, with Barbados beating Jamaica in the final by 7 wickets in 2002/03; Barbados beating Jamaica again in 2003/04 (by 84 runs) and Jamaica beating the Leeward Islands by 8 wickets in 2004/05. In 2004/05 however, only the top two teams from the league stage progressed to the knock-out competition. In 2005/06 four teams again progressed to the knock-out phase, where initial league winners Trinidad and Tobago won the final against Barbados. In 2006/07 only the top two teams qualified, Barbados (as league champions) and Trinidad and Tobago (as league runners-up). The league form was reversed as Trinidad and Tobago defended their title with a 49 run win. Trinidad and Tobago reached their third successive final in 2007/08, this time losing to Jamaica. In 2008/09 the knock-out Carib Beer Challenge was discontinued. In 2013/14 a knock-out tournament was reintroduced, with the top four teams from the league competition qualifying. Barbados' league form was reversed as Jamaica won the knock-out competition (and the Headley/Weekes trophy) against the Windward Islands in the final.[9]

Number of wins by team (since 1965–66)

Team Wins
Barbados[34]23 (plus 1 shared)
Jamaica12
Guyana11 (plus 1 shared)
Trinidad and Tobago4 (plus 1 shared)
Leeward Islands3 (plus 1 shared)
Combined Islands1

Most successful captains

Captain Wins
Leon Johnson[35][36] 6 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)
Tamar Lambert[37][38] 6 (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
David Holford[39][40] 5 (1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979)
Kraigg Brathwaite[39] 3 (2014, 2020, 2022)
Courtney Browne[39][41] 3 (1995, 2003, 2004)
Joey Carew[42] 2 (1970, 1971)
Roger Harper[41] 2 (1987, 1993)
Carl Hooper[41] 2 (1998, 2002)
Clive Lloyd[41] 2 (1975, 1983)
Viv Richards[41] 2 (1981, 1990)
Garfield Sobers[41] 2 (1966, 1967)
Marlon Tucker[43] 2 (1988, 1989)

References

  1. ↑ "Sinclair's career-best hands Johnson 6th title retirement gift". stabroeknews.com. Stabroek News. 2 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "More success for Barbados and Brathwaite". barbadostoday.bb. Barbados Today. 11 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "#WICHAMPS: DEVON SMITH CHURNING OUT RUNS LIKE A POPCORN MACHINE". sportsmax.tv. SportsMax. 26 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Devon Smith embraces new role". searchlight.vc. Searchlight. 29 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Devon Smith". windiescricket.com. Cricket West Indies.
  6. ↑ "Permaul becomes leading wicket-taker in regional first-class cricket". sportsmax.tv. SportsMax. 17 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Veerasammy Permaul". windiescricket.com. Cricket West Indies.
  8. ↑ "Regional Four Day Competition 2008/09". Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  9. 1 2 "WICB statement about the 2013-14 title winners".
  10. ↑ "Opportunity knocks says Adams ahead of Digicel 4-Day Tournament". Loop News. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "#WICHAMPS: WEST INDIES CHAMPIONSHIP BOWLS OFF ON THURSDAY 9TH JAN". windiescricket.com. Cricket West Indies. 8 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Combined Campuses and Colleges excluded from WI first-class". ESPNcricinfo.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Jamaica Franchise at home against Leeward Islands Hurricanes". Archived from the original on 7 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "GCB renames franchise to Guyana Harpy Eagles". Stabroek News. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Myers, Sanjay (28 February 2015). "Jamaica Scorpions is said to be name of cricket franchise". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  16. ↑ Seymour, Roger (15 May 2016). "Who won the 1975 Shell Shield?". Stabroek News. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "England Lions to tour West Indies next year". 17 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  18. ↑ Khan, Shahryar (9 March 2002). "Busta Cup boosts Mazharul". ESPN.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Miandad tipped to replace Chappell". DAWN.COM. 13 January 2002. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Laxman India A skipper for Busta Cup series". The Times of India. 1 February 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Kenya join Caribbean competition". BBC. 4 January 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "Combined Campuses and Colleges excluded from WI first-class". ESPNcricinfo. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "The jewel of the Caribbean". ESPNcricinfo. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Red Force' to face Barbados in final today for Clive Lloyd Trophy". Guyana Chronicle. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Kazi, Abid Ali (24 December 2015). "History of First Class Cricket |".
  26. ↑ "WICB to underwrite 2009 first-class season". Archived from the original on 2 January 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "WICB to fund 2009 Regional 4-Day competition". Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "A perfect record for Jamaica". jamaica-gleaner.com. 22 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "WIPA President hails Historic Jamaica Five-Peat - Firstlook - Go-Jamaica". go-jamaica.com.
  30. ↑ "WICB to shake up first-class structure". ESPNcricinfo.
  31. ↑ "Professional Cricket League Schedule".
  32. ↑ "Regional Four Day Competition, 2011/12 / Points table". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  33. ↑ "Jaguars, Pride renew long-standing rivalry".
  34. ↑ "More success for Barbados and Brathwaite". Barbados Today. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Leon Johnson: Outstanding leader, talented batsman, ambassador of the game". News Room Guyana. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  36. ↑ "Eagles snatch title". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  37. ↑ Jones, Ryon (19 April 2012). "TAMAR LAMBERT: Captain marvellous". jamaica-gleaner.com. Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  38. ↑ "'I will cherish this moment!'". wiplayers.com. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  39. 1 2 3 "More success for Barbados and Brathwaite". barbadostoday.bb. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  40. ↑ "David Holford was an outstanding captain". Barbados Today. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Devers, Sean (29 April 2017). "Johnson joins Tamar Lambert as only Captains with 3 Regional FC titles in a row". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  42. ↑ Cozier, Tony (16 January 2011). "Adieu Joey Carew". Stabroek News. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  43. ↑ Becca, Tony (25 February 2018). "Tony Becca | Remembering Marlon Tucker". wiplayers.com. Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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