By Samuel Peters
When 18-year-old legspinner Micah McKenzie reflects on his cricket breakthrough, he points to one spell at the 2023 Cool and Smooth T20 tournament where he “bamboozled the Liberta Blackhawks”.
“That was really the start,” McKenzie explained following his St Lucia Kings CPL selection. “That’s when I was really understanding the art of bowling, my bowling style as well.”
McKenzie’s journey exemplifies the former Antigua and Barbuda’s premier T20 competition, which had quietly become the Caribbean’s most influential talent pipeline. The tournament has seen over 30 international cricketers, transforming local heroes into global stars.
The West Indies contingent reads like contemporary Caribbean cricket royalty: explosive all-rounder Kyle Mayers, celebrated fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell, destructive opener Kennar Lewis, and rising stars Mikyle Louis and Amir Jangoo. The competition has nurtured talents including Keacy Carty, Keon Harding, Shayne Moseley, Leonardo Julien, Krishmar Santokie, Jahmar Hamilton, Nathan Edward, Kerron Cottoy, Shalome Parnell, Dennis Bulli, Shamar Springer, Noshtush Kenjige, Darron Cruickshank,, and numerous others.
The tournament’s influence extends internationally, contributing to Scottish cricketers George Munsey, Richard Berrington, Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Hamza Tahir, Oliver Davidson, and Liam Naylor.
The tournament created an environment where emerging talents gained crucial exposure to selectors. McKenzie’s performances caught West Indies head coach Darren Sammy’s attention at the CWI Breakout League.
“I really just wanted to make my name larger across the Caribbean,” McKenzie explained. “Since the head coach was impressed, more attention will be turned to me.”
As McKenzie prepares for his CPL debut, his story joins an impressive legacy. From Kyle Mayers smashing Test records to Sheldon Cottrell taking World Cup wickets, Cool and Smooth graduates consistently demonstrate that local competitions can have global impact.
Although the tournament has cut ties with home nation for the moment, its track record speaks volumes. Each success story reinforces its reputation as Caribbean cricket’s crucial stepping stone, consistently turning promising youngsters into international stars.
For McKenzie, the journey from bamboozling batsmen in Antigua to CPL action represents the tournament’s transformative power. His goals reflect the ambition Cool and Smooth T20 nurtures: “I look forward to being around the professional setup more often and continue to grow.”
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