The Breakout Tournament is feeding the fatted calf, not the future

By Joseph “Reds” Perriera

The second Cricket West Indies Breakout Tournament is scheduled to commence in the third week of January 2026 in Trinidad and Tobago, sources close to one of the CWI affiliates told me. 

Up to the time of publication, there have been no official press releases on the second Breakout Tournament, which I am told costs CWI US$1 million. 

However, a detailed check will show that only 12 young players were really outstanding when the inaugural event was held in April and May 2024 at Trinidad and Tobago’s Brian Lara Cricket Academy. 

The players named below are based on available information: 

Among the highlights, Jeremiah scored a blistering 97 off 50 balls against Jamaica, whilst Pooran enjoyed an innings of 73 from 44 balls in the final against Leeward Islands. Left-arm spinners Mahase and Edward took 10 and nine wickets, respectively.

In presenting this view, I assume that cricket followers in the Caribbean would have remembered the young outstanding performers, and to distinguish the last four players referenced, I have added some individual performances. 

From what I was told, the format will be the same as in 2024, where close to 80% of the players chosen had, just two weeks prior, participated in the CWI First Class Competition. This policy is no doubt very counterproductive, because it exposes players who had already established themselves in the four-day game, thus minimising new talent. 

It is felt that the real Breakout Tournament should be for players under the age of 23, and can include, for example, all the players who recently represented the West Indies at the U-19 level against England in Grenada, along with all the up-and-comers well documented in recent matches. 

When I enquired if there is time still for CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe to make any adjustments, I was informed by my source that the format will be the same and uniforms and playing kits have already been ordered.

Let’s hope a lower age limit of Under-23 players will be considered for the 2027 event, instead of mostly First Class players, as part of a white-ball format, instead of continuing to feed the fatted calf, so we can discover younger talent in the Breakout Tournament. 

It is expected that the tournament will again be streamed to the Caribbean and the world on CWI’s YouTube Channel. I hope those responsible for the broadcast team may consider including some new, young voices from the region, namely Claudius Emmanuel and Dwight Thomas of Saint Lucia, who are well recognised in the Eastern Caribbean. It could be an opportunity to further explore one of the most promising voices – Mali Richards of Antigua and Barbuda. 

I would also suggest to Bascombe that a one-day workshop for young commentators be organised prior to the start of the event. 

I need to credit former Windward Islands and Combined Islands opening batsman Lockhart Sebastien and former Antigua and Barbuda and Leeward Islands middle order batsman Mali Richards, who assisted with the information about last year’s event.