HUTCHINSON, AUSTIN
(Responsible for the launch of the Red Stripe Cricket Tournament in New York)

When Austin Hutchinson left his native Jamaica in 1977 bound for the USA, he had a clear vision of the level of success that he wanted to achieve. An accomplished school teacher and Regional Director of the Social Development Commission for the parishes of Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth and Manchester, he was armed with the tools necessary to propel him towards his ultimate goals.
Hutchinson’s first stop was Baruch College where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Then driven by his quest to further enhance his knowledge, he enrolled at Pace University where he secured a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He went on to Stamford University where he completed his Master’s degree in Accounting and eventually obtained his Certified Public Accountant credentials. Armed with an impressive array of educational credentials, it was time to begin carving out a professional niche and secure financial stability for his family. Further, Hutchinson wanted to make a permanent contribution to some of his favorite sports, namely cricket and dominos.
An above average cricketer, Hutchinson represented All-Bauxite and Melbourne Cricket Club in the Senior Cup Competition in Jamaica. In 1977, his cricketing skills earned him recognition by the selectors of the Jamaican national team who invited him for trials. Unfortunately, he was unable to accept because he was migrating to the USA that same year. In 1978, Hutchinson joined the Metropolitan Cricket League (MCL), where he held several positions which included vice president, public relations officer, marketing manager and as a member of the planning committee. For many years Hutchinson represented MCL in the annual Inter-League competition.
In the mid-eighties when the MCL started playing in the Division One competition, Hutchinson became the first player to get out in the 90s. He made 99 runs off 15 overs against International Cricket Club with a broken finger. He sustained the injury in the second over of the match. Hutchinson is also the first player to score more than 400 runs and take more than 23 wickets in a season in the league. He holds the distinction of being the only captain to lead his team to a perfect record (the 1998 season), winning all 17 matches that they played. He holds a similar record in the Gary Sobers Masters tournament that is held in Barbados, his team completing their schedule of matches without losing a game.
Now in the twilight of his playing days, Hutchinson has turned his attention to the organizational aspect of the game. To this end, he embarked on several programs, including the New York Red Stripe Cup tournament. His first attempt in 1993 to get Red Stripe to sponsor the New York tournament was rejected. Undaunted he approached Red Stripe again in 1994 and this time the door opened and thus the New York competition was born. Hutchinson became chairman of the committee, a position that he held until 1998. The competition would be run under the same format as that used in the Caribbean. Further, the New York champions would travel to the Caribbean to play against local champion in exhibition games. In addition to his involvement with this competition, in 1996 Hutchinson was elected first vice-president and marketing manager of the United States Cricket Association. He put together the first Marketing Plan to start a regional tournament in the US.
In 2004, Hutchinson, Peter Jolly, Sam Belnavis, Victor Reeves, Wayne Lewis and Kim Vieira were instrumental in forming the New York Masters Cricket League — 45 years and over tournament. Since 2005, he led the New York Masters All Star team to participate in the Sir Gary Sobers Masters Tournament in Barbados. In 2008, he was appointed manager for the New York Regional Senior Team that won the Eastern Conference championship. A prominent businessman in New York, Hutchinson is a man with a mission, attempting to bring entertaining, high quality and first-class cricket to the Americas.