The upcoming West Indies Breakout League is an excellent addition to the regional cricket calendar and one that will give the region’s younger players an opportunity to display their skills on a big stage, ultimately benefitting both regional territories as well as the various West Indies teams.

Action gets underway with the Guyana Rainforest Rangers facing the Windward Islands Infernos at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on April 25 before, a day later, the Leeward Islands Thunder will tackle the Jamaica Titans.

West Indies Test opener Mikyle Louis is a member of the Thunder and is keen to use this competition as a vehicle to enhance his skillset in the shortest format.

“Initially, when I heard rumors about the West Indies Breakout League, I thought it was one of the best initiatives in a long while in West Indies cricket, because I just felt like there are many youngsters around the Caribbean who have the ambition to play cricket, but because we don’t have many avenues, we don’t get the opportunity to play,” said the 24-year-old.

“I believe this Breakout League is a great initiative for the younger ones in the Caribbean to get an opportunity to show people that they have what it takes to actually play cricket at an elite and professional level,” added Louis who made his Test debut against England at Lord’s last year.

There is palpable excitement across the region among up-and-coming cricketers about this tournament and the opportunities it brings to showcase their talents at the highest level.

“A well-structured tournament creates a feeder system for franchises. Players get noticed earlier in their careers, with performance statistics to back them,” Louis added.

“I’ve had a few conversations with players from around the league who, to this day, haven’t been able to play any professional-level cricket and the conversation is basically the same. Everybody’s eager to show the Caribbean that they are good enough.”

For Louis, the tournament creates an avenue for Caribbean fans to connect with the new and emerging generation of West Indian players who will carry on the legacy of the brand.

“Young players bring excitement, swagger, and a familiar connection with the next generation of fans. This could, in turn, help to revive the passion for the game, with familiar faces promoting cricket to their individual fan bases on ever-growing social media platforms.”

Having tasted the game at the international level, the Kittitian still has an appetite to represent the region across all formats.

“I would love to represent the West Indies in all formats. So, I think this is a good opportunity for me because I’ll be given more responsibility—unlike the CPL, where I don’t have much, and it’s more on the senior players. In this Breakout League, we’re going to share that responsibility.”

The tournament runs from April 25-May 10.