Western Stars hard-hitting opening batsman Jermaine Postlethwaite is not a happy man. And the talented player has good reason to be disgruntled.

Nearly a year has now elapsed since Stars defeated Southampton Rangers in the inaugural final of the Combined KO Cup - and they still haven't been awarded a trophy for their efforts!

Stars captured the prize after handing Rangers a three-wicket loss at Somerset Cricket Club last July. All-rounder Saleem Mukuddem cracked 101, Postlethwaite 77 and Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock weighed in by grabbing four for 30 in Stars' marginal triumph.

Postlethwaite, like many of team-mates, now feel the spoils are long overdue.

"It's really disappointing. To my knowledge we haven't received any silverware thus far and I haven't heard any word from any of the executives (BCB) in terms of whether or not it's forthcoming or anything else," said Postlethwaite.

"It was just a real anti-climatic finish to a really good cup final. There was a lot of runs scored and both teams had a few good performances."

Batting first, Rangers scored 235 runs from their allotted overs with Stevie Lightbourne leading the way with a blistering knock of 89 from only 57 deliveries. Stars in reply, compiled 237 for seven wickets with Mukuddem and Postlethwaite paving the way for the memorable win.

But after sweating it out on the pitch, Stars have nothing to show for their fine efforts.

"At the end of the day nothing was highlighted or any attention given to the matter," added Postlethwaite. "So it was disheartening that there was no presentation and no acknowledgement. It just seemed like a regular Sunday league match. It certainly was a low point for me and I'm sure my team-mates felt the same way."

Postlethwaite said the BCB went to great lengths to market the new competition, but the end result left much to be desired.

"I would've expected much more in terms of some sort of organisation and acknowledgement of a new KO Cup. I think that the marketing was there somewhat in terms of letting the public know that there would be an additional KO competition but I think that end result of it just fizzled out," he added.

The veteran player also suggested that the BCB adopt the the stance taken by the Bermuda Football Association, across the hallway at Cedar Avenue.

"You can see that the BFA have plans. You can see that they have a seven year plan. You can see that they have hired someone for youth development (Kenny Thompson). And you can also see progress and development in terms of guys up at the National Sports Centre training all year round," said Postlethwaite.

The former Cleveland County player said players sacrifice their spare time to play cricket week in and week out, yet come season's end, their efforts went by largely unnoticed.

"I've never seen the BCB hold a prize presentation since I've played cricket," he said. "I think that they used to hold them back in the 80s but they haven't had one for a significant period of time now. It's just simple things like acknowledging your players that gives other's incentives to come out to play.

"You don't have to start big. It's just little incentives like an award for the most catches, most runs and most wickets. It's just acknowledging the guys for the time that they put in. It sends a positive message and puts out a carrot and validates another generation.

"Right now you have players around 19-years-old asking: `What for?' `Why am I doing this?' And they are not as tolerant as guys my age."

When contacted yesterday, BCB President Reggie Pearman revealed that the board was looking into the possibility of staging an annual awards ceremony. The long-serving board executive cited financial restraints and an overall lack of interest in previous awards ceremonies as primary reasons why the board decided to scrap the post-season presentation.

And as far as the Combined KO Cup is concerned? Pearman said to his knowledge there was a trophy in existence. Where it is seems to be a different matter.

Stars, meanwhile, begin the defence of their phantom crown on June 7 against Somerset Cricket Club at St.John's Field.