The 1998 Nortel West Indies Under-19 championships bowl off this morning with matches at four venues in Trinidad and Tobago.
Some US$190,000 have been invested in this year's tournament. But it is their investment in last year's talent that the locals are hoping will pay off.
T&T, joint second with the Leeward Islands in last year's competition, open their campaign against the Windward Islands at Inshan Ali Park. Six-time defending champs Guyana take on a strong Jamaica batting team at Presentation College Chaguanas, while guest teams, Canada and the Nortel Development squad will clash with Barbados and the Leeward Islands respectively.
While all eyes will be on the cricket, more than a few will be on the skies as well.
The extent to which rain could affect the championship was a clear concern of the organisers at yesterday's tournament launch. President of the hosting Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, Alloy Lequay, said an effort had been made to hold the competition in April/May.
But Lequay told the media, ``We couldn't avoid this period because territorial boards were not prepared to have teams ready to participate during the months of April and May because of CXC and A-Level examinations.''
The weather was also a worry for the national coach, Aneil Rajah. His team, led by 1997 captain Daren Ganga, were unable to get in a full practice session.
Rajah had something else on his mind.
``I'm concerned that we might not get in enough cricket. We will have to see how the grounds will hold up.''
T&T will not play any of their three group ``A'' matches at the Test match venue Queen's Park Oval.
And Rajah noted that today's Inshan Ali Park venue had a tendency to ``retain a lot of water.''
Concern about conditions aside, the locals are optimistic that last year's on-the-field mistakes will be corrected.
``They have come on a very long way, they are very experienced now and they know for a fact that they threw the tournament away last year, so they are very determined,'' Rajah said.
In particular, the coach noted that ``we spent a lot of time on the guys' mental preparation, that was the let-down last year, and we put a lot of emphasis on that.''
Hoping to put the record right will be eight of the '98 squad which includes West Indies youth team players Ganga, Asif Jan and Navin Chan. Former West Indies Under-15 skipper Zaheer Ali are back as is useful pacer and lower-order allrounder Ricardo Paty.
And while, the home team will be without prolific left-arm wrist spinner Avidesh Samaroo this year, they have a variety of spinners to call on.
And the coach feels that while practice is limited, form and talent will still win through.
``All the guys are just out of the local season, so they have had a lot of cricket,'' he said, ``and the little rest that they have had after that, I think it will work in our favour.''
Today, the quest to make good on talent unfulfilled begins ... if the weather permits.