Cricket in theCayman Islands is an established sport. The Cayman Islands playing season runs from January to July. There are 20 cricket clubs in the Cayman Islands.[1]
Being aBritish overseas territory for many centuries, it can be assumed thatcricket was played in the early 1800s, as it was in theWest Indies. It first became organised in the Cayman Islands from 1940 and was contested between the districts ofWest Bay andGeorge Town. By 1970, the game became structured and more organised, starting with 5 teams and the construction of the Smith Road Oval. The rapid growth of theeconomy of the Cayman Islands saw many expatriates move to the islands, with them came many people from cricketing nations who helped to fuel a growth in the sport on the islands.[1]
In 1997, the Cayman Islands were admitted to theInternational Cricket Council as an Affiliate member. In 2000 they made their debut ininternational cricket in theAmericas Cricket Cup, where they finished 4th and gained their first international victory overArgentina. In the same year the Cayman Islands became the first Affiliate to playList A cricket when they took part in the2000/01 Red Strip Bowl competition. In 2002, they gained Associate membership of the International Cricket Council. By 2005, they were taking part in theICC Intercontinental Cup, where the Cayman Islands made their debut infirst-class cricket againstBermuda and later againstCanada. The team lost both matches heavily and has not appeared in first-class cricket since.
Since then the Cayman Islands have dropped rapidly down the cricketing pyramid of theWorld Cricket League and will now take part in the2012 ICC World Cricket League Division Five.
Cayman Islands Cricket Association is the officialgoverning body of cricket in the Cayman Islands. Its current headquarters is inGrand Cayman. Cayman Islands Cricket Association is the Cayman Islands representative at the International Cricket Council.
Men's domestic cricket in the Cayman Islands is split into 2 divisions: Clico Cayman Division 1 and Clico Cayman Division 2. Matches are played inone-day andTwenty20 formats. The islands also have 3 women's cricket clubs.
Listed below are the current 7 most senior men'scricket clubs that make up the Clico Cayman Division 1, the highest level of domestic cricket in the Cayman Islands:[2]
There are currently plans to develop four further cricket grounds in the Cayman Islands. By the end of 2009 a newpavilion had been constructed at the Jimmy Powell Oval.[1]
TheCayman Islands national cricket team formed in 2000.[1] They have played atfirst-class (in the2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup)List A (in the2000–01 Red Stripe Bowl), andTwenty20 level (in theStanford 20/20), as well as in theWorld Cricket League.A national women's team also exists, but has played only one international tournament (in 2012).