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DISCOVERY BAY – Even amidst the euphoria of winning the Red Stripe Bowl, the top brass of the Barbados team was dishing out suggestions towards ensuring that the island builds on its first regional limited-overs title in 14 years. Among them was a call by captain Courtney Browne and coach Hendy Springer for coloured clothing, white balls and black sightscreens to be introduced at domestic level.

Another was for better preparation of the team and the desire to see the younger players coming under the wings of seasoned players.

"We need to maintain these standards," Springer told NATIONSPORT after Barbados defeated Jamaica by 33 runs in an absorbing final at the Kaiser Sports Club on Sunday.

"I hope that the guys go back to Barbados and fit into their respective teams and give them some good stories and some things to think about as far as general development of cricketers and cricket is concerned.

"Winning a title is not all. If you get one or two younger players coming through, I think you have done your job. This will serve in good stead. We've won and we've got to maintain and build."

It was Barbados' first capture of the crystal Bowl and their first success in a Caribbean limited-overs championship since Malcolm Marshall's team beat Jamaica at Sabina Park in 1988 when Springer was a player.

Apart from calling for better preparation of the team in light of this season's last-minute build-up, skipper Browne wants to see more encouragement for younger players to rub shoulders with seasoned campaigners.

"I know there has been a lot of talk about playing the youngsters, but at the end of the day young players will only learn quicker if they are playing with the old boys," Browne said.

The suggestion for the facelift in Barbados' club limited-overs matches was first mooted by Springer and supported by Browne.

"We've been playing one-day cricket in Barbados long enough and we don't play anything that is remotely related to what happens at the international level. Yet we are expecting our guys to go to the international level and play and perform," Springer said.

"We should get out black sightscreens, white balls, coloured clothing, coloured pads, if we can afford it, or come as close to it as possible.

"We need to familiarise those guys at that lower level with what is happening at this level.

"The white ball does a lot more and it deteriorates a lot quicker than the red ball does," Springer added.

"If you play with it a couple of seasons, you get accustomed to it and when you get to this level and beyond, you know what to expect."

Browne saw no reason why the recent changes to Barbados' club season couldn't be taken a step further.

"It might be a little difficult in the first year, but all the players will get accustomed to it," he said.

© The Barbados Nation