The other two rounds will be played in a combination of islands in the Leeward and Windwards. The actual venues are yet to be set.
It is a change from 2009 which featured return, home-and-away matches.
The 2010 fixtures show that Barbados will host two rounds – three and four. The opening round will be hosted by defending champions Jamaica, while in round two, Antigua will stage two games and St Kitts/Nevis the other.
Trinidad and Tobago will host round six from February 19-22, with the home team playing Windward Islands, Barbados taking on Jamaica and Guyana facing the Leeward Islands.
The tournament ends with Grenada the venue for two matches and St Lucia the other in the round seven.
Explaining the decision, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director and Trinidad & Tobago representative Allen Sammy said it was all about money and development. He estimated that the WICB would save US$1.4 million through the arrangement, savings that would be used to facilitate four West Indies ‘A’ team series, home and away.
“The prime consideration was trying to take the cream of the crop of the six teams and have them play in four A-team tours next year,” he said.
Sammy explained this was in an effort “to get a better level of competition among players and that is what drove a decision that required a rethinking of how best to make this happen.”
After the tournament, Sammy said the players would be assessed and the best of the lot will be selected to be part of a “large” ‘A’ team squad who will then play outside the region against various opponents.
“Instead of 78 or 80 players playing amongst themselves, we will have a team of the best players in the region to play four tours,” he added.
He explained that the idea is to have the ‘A’ team form the second tier of the Test team and give it exposure at a higher level of competition.
The 2010 schedule has some precedence, since prior to sponsored competition in 1966, inter-territorial matches often took place in the same country, going back to the late 1800s. (Trinidad Express)
THE ITINERARY
Round 1- January 8-11: JAMAICA
Barbados vs Leewards
Trinidad and Tobago vs CCC
Jamaica vs Windwards
Round 2-January 15-18: ANTIGUA
Barbados vs CCC
Jamaica vs Leewards
ST KITTS
Guyana vs Trinidad &Tobago
Round 3 – January 22-25: BARBADOS
Windwards vs CCC
Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago
Jamaica vs Guyana
Round 4 – January 29-February 1: BARBADOS
Trinidad & Tobago vs Leewards
Windwards vs Barbados
CCC vs Guyana
Round 5 – February 12-15: GUYANA
CCC vs Jamaica
Guyana vs Barbados
Leewards vs Windwards
Round 6 – February 19-22: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Barbados vs Jamaica
Trinidad &Tobago vs Windwards
Guyana vs Leewards
Round 7 -February 26-March 1:
ST LUCIA
Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica
GRENADA
CCC vs Leewards
Guyana vs Windwards.
