by Ezra Stuart

ADJUDICATION OF AWARDS is not an easy task. Hence, careful analysis by people charged with such responsibility is necessary to ensure the awardees merit their accolades.

A criterion, based on performance and accomplishments in selected competitions, must be established from the outset and selections should be an accurate reflection of what transpired during the season.

In cricket, for instance, every effort must be made to reward the players achieving the most runs, wickets
or catches. It is necessary to make constructive observations on the recent 2007 Barbados Cricket Association's Awards Presentation.

CGI Maple's duo Khalid Springer (407 runs, average 41.70 and 27 wickets, ave: 13.56) and Kemar Roach (55 wickets, ave: 11.56; 203 runs, ave: 20.43) were unlucky not to be chosen among the Five Cricketers Of The Year.

Springer, who featured in both the top ten batting and bowling averages, and Roach, the lone fast bowler with more than 50 wickets on batsman-friendly covered pitches, were key cogs in Maple's reaching the final. With regards to Roach, whose strike-rate was superior to almost everyone else's, a Most Improved Player award hardly suffices.

It was also shocking that neither West Indies Under-19 cricket captain Shamarh Brooks nor teammate Kyle Corbin was recognised at the ceremony.

Corbin's not receiving a single award is an affront to cricketing excellence after The Lodge School batsman scored
two double centuries in consecutive Intermediate matches against clubs Malvern and Wibix, a feat not achieved
in local cricket for decades.

His selection on the regional Under-19 team after failing to make the Barbados starting line-up for the first three matches of the TCL West Indies Tournament in St Kitts was a feather in his cap. But lo and behold, his remarkable feats, including a 100-run Intermediate average and a Sagicor Super Cup century, were forgotten.

Why was Lester Vaughan's Kemal Smith, whose double century (224) in the first series was highlighted on the BCA's website, bypassed for the batsman with the highest score award in the Goddards Schools Division?

Why wasn't St Leonard's outstanding all-rounder Renaldo Layne, who won Player Of The Series awards in Rounds 2, 3 and 5 of Zone A, not hailed
for his accomplishments?

We need always to have a correlation between performances and awards.