TCA Sports Tours' unrivalled offering blends competitive international youth cricket with unforgettable experiences
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For years, when schools planned overseas cricket tours, the same destinations tended to dominate the conversation: Dubai, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
They offered reliable weather, good facilities and, importantly, a structure that made tours relatively easy to organise.
But a growing number of schools are now looking again at another iconic cricketing region – the Caribbean – and it’s more accessible and affordable than you might think.
Thanks to new partnerships between host governments, tourism boards and tournament organisers, touring the Caribbean is becoming far more accessible than many schools might expect. By supporting international youth tournaments and helping reduce the cost for visiting teams, several Caribbean destinations are positioning themselves as a genuine alternative in the global school touring market.
At the centre of that shift is The Global Cricket Series, a collection of international youth tournaments hosted across several Caribbean destinations and organised by UK tour operator TCA Sports Tours.
The concept is simple: bring together school and academy teams from around the world to compete in professionally organised tournaments, while working closely with host destinations to make the experience financially viable for visiting teams.
“For years the Caribbean has been seen as a dream tour - but often an expensive one,” says TCA founder Chris Berry.
“What we’ve been able to do through our partnerships with tourism boards is change that equation. By hosting structured tournaments and working directly with governments, we can bring the overall cost down and make these tours far more accessible to schools.”
That support has helped tournaments such as the Tobago Trophy (U16), the St Lucia League (U15) and the Windward Cup (U19) welcome teams from the UK, the Caribbean and the United States.
Rather than a traditional touring model with a series of arranged fixtures, teams arrive knowing they will compete in a structured international tournament with strong opposition and a clear schedule.
Former Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex fast bowler Franklyn Stephenson, whose academy in Barbados has entered teams into the series, believes the concept offers something unique.
“We’ve had a relationship with TCA for a few years now and they’re doing a really good job here in the Caribbean,” says Stephenson.
“We took a team to Tobago last year and the tournament had sides from England, Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados. That kind of international mix is fantastic for young players.”
Alongside the cricket, the experience focuses on the culture and spirit that have always defined the Caribbean game. Players compete on island grounds where cricket sits at the heart of local communities, while also taking part in coaching sessions with local schools and exploring the host island.
A key aim of The Global Cricket Series is also to make overseas touring more accessible to state schools and players who may not traditionally have the opportunity.
International tours can often feel out of reach for many students, but the way these tournaments are structured means more young cricketers are able to experience playing overseas and competing against international opposition.
Programmes such as Surrey’s Academic Cricket Scholars (SACS) are already involved and will take part in a Global Cricket Series tournament to be held at Oakham School this summer.
“It has been incredible to work with TCA and be able to offer state school players these kinds of opportunities,” says SACS programme lead Judy Wallis.
As the series continues to grow, organisers believe the combination of competitive cricket, cultural experience and improved affordability could see the Caribbean re-emerge as one of the most exciting destinations in youth cricket.
Because while Dubai and Sri Lanka may currently dominate the touring market, the Caribbean offers something few places can match — a chance to experience cricket in the region that helped shape the game’s global identity.
Click here for more information about The Global Cricket Series and upcoming tournaments.
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