The transformation of CMW New Winthorpes Lions cricket club under coach Abdiel Hughes reads like a sporting fairy tale. After being “blown out of the water” by the Liberta Blackhawks in last year’s ABCA Super 40 Finals, the Lions have roared back to claim not one, but two championships in the 2025 ABCA Cricket Season, cementing their place as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s premier cricket clubs.
Hughes, widely regarded as one of the country’s top cricket coaches, has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround that speaks volumes about preparation, unity, and tactical excellence. The club’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed by spectators, who consistently comment that “New Winthorpes Lions look apart” from other teams.
“It was a good feeling, really good feeling,” Hughes reflected on winning the one-day championship after years of near misses. “To come back and win that said competition shows the progress of the team. It gives me a good feeling to know that we could have come back from that and win.”
The 2025 season delivered two major trophies to the New Winthorpes cabinet. First came the joint Championship title of the inaugural Antigua and Barbuda T20 Premier League alongside the Blackhawks followed by the ABCA Super 40 Championship with the finals plagued with controversy. They also reached the Antigua Parish League Thursday League finals but were overcome by the Jennings Tigers.
Ask Hughes about the secret to his team’s success, and one phrase dominates his response: “Unity is strength.” This mantra has become the foundation upon which the Lions’ championship season was built.
“The plan and the program that I have put there, the players have to buy into the program for it to work, which they executed,” he emphasized. “So it’s teamwork from the coach down to the players. And they put in the work, I’m telling you—the work, the preparation, the pre-season and everything rolls into the cricket.”
While Hughes preaches team unity, the 2025 season saw several Lions players achieve remarkable individual milestones. BJ Henry exemplifies the team’s growth, having never scored a century before this season, then exploding with three centuries—two in the ABCA two-day competition and one in the one-day format. He finished as the competition’s leading run-scorer with approximately 300 runs.
Ishmael Peters’ performances earned him selection to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes team and a call-up to the Combined Colleges and Campuses setup for the latter part of the four-day competition, validation of both his talent and Hughes’ coaching methods. Spin bowler Orandel “Bling” Boston emerged as the competition’s leading wicket-taker, though Hughes expresses disappointment that Boston was overlooked for tournament trials despite his dominant performances.
The Club recognizes that success requires community support, and the club has organized several events to engage with fans and raise crucial funds. On December 27th, the club will host a car wash at New Winthorpes Park, providing the public an opportunity to support their local champions. “We’re asking the public to come and support the club,” Hughes appealed.
The following day, December 28th, the Lions will hold their official presentation ceremony for the ABCA tournament, recognizing players’ achievements and celebrating what they’ve accomplished for the community. “Making the community proud,” as Hughes puts it, is central to the club’s identity.
The highlight of the fundraising calendar is the Six-A-Side competition scheduled for January 10th and 11th. This knockout tournament promises high-octane cricket and substantial prizes, with 16 teams expected to compete. The format features six-a-side matches with a $20 entry fee per player. Man of the Match winners in group stages receive $50 and a trophy, semifinalists get $100 and a larger trophy, while the champions take home $1,000 and runners-up claim $500.
“Someone will walk away $1,000 richer than when they came,” Hughes promised. The event serves dual purposes: raising funds for the Lions’ operations while providing competitive cricket opportunities for players across the island.
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