While attention often shifts to cricket’s brightest stars, Anderson Phillip has spent years building his reputation the hard way, through discipline, consistency and results. Now, with Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on the brink of regional glory, the experienced seamer is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career.
There would be no greater reward for Phillip on May 20 than helping his native Trinidad & Tobago Red Force capture the West Indies Championship title against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles.
The 29-year-old enters the final as the tournament’s leading fast bowler with 21 wickets at an average of 17.95, including a five-wicket haul. Yet amid the excitement of spearheading a pace attack alongside Jayden Seales, Phillip credits simple principles and discipline for the transformation in his performances this season.
“I wouldn't say I did anything differently. It's just about maintaining my training and physical fitness as well. I have been bowling well for a long period of time so, it's just about continuing that and keep putting in the work and that's why the results are starting to show now.”
Rather than setting targets based on numbers, Phillip believes operating at an optimum level naturally increases his chances of success.
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft took place on Friday, with the seven teams confirming the West Indian players who will form part of their squads for the 2026 tournament, which runs from 7 August to 20 September.
The Barbados Tridents have selected Gudakesh Motie, who leaves the Guyana Amazon Warriors after five years with his home franchise. The Tridents also re-drafted fellow Guyanese player Sherfane Rutherford, who was part of the Barbados squad in 2025. Barbados used their Right to Match Options (RMOs) to re-sign Brandon King, Kadeem Alleyne, Rivaldo Clarke, Johann Layne and Kofi James. Zishan Motara also returns to the Tridents for 2026
The Trinbago Knight Riders have used their RMOs to re-sign Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein and Terrance Hinds. That hugely experienced core will be vital as the Knight Riders look to defend the title they secured in 2025. There are also some new faces in the squad, with Barbadians Justin Greaves and Dominic Drakes joining the Trinidad & Tobago franchise for the first time. Jyd Goolie will represent his home team for the first time, having played for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in 2025. He will be joined by newcomers Dexter Sween and Abdul Raheem-Toppin.
Jamaica’s under-19 wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes has been included in the West Indies 17-member contingent to participate in a high-performance camp ahead of their home ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.
A statement from CWI revealed that the training camp, to be held from May 21–31, is “a key part of the team’s wider strategy to strengthen performance in the format over the next 18 months,” leading up to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Pathway coach Nikita Miller has also been drafted in to continue his work with Lawes as well as to support the senior team’s spin-bowling programme.
Guyana get innings win over WI Academy in warm-up action
T&T 333 & 280 (Cooper 102, Khary Pierre 64; Bishop 6-87) defeat Pride 296 & 177 (Moseley 39, Springer 25; Pierre 5-54) by 140 runs
The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are through to the West Indies Championship final after defeating the Barbados Pride by 140 runs on a thrilling final day in their playoff contest at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda.
Needing 318 runs in just about two sessions for victory, the Pride recovered from the early loss of Kraigg Brathwaite, nicked off by Jayden Seales for 4, with an even 50-run second-wicket stand between Shayne Moseley (39) and Jonathan Drakes (14).
They would then, however, lose five wickets for 76 runs, as Khary Pierre and Bryan Charles spun through the middle and lower order.
A 37-run seventh-wicket partnership between Shamar Springer (25) and Leniko Boucher (20) provided a glimmer of hope for the Pride before Pierre (5/54) and Charles (4/62) completed the win for the Red Force, accounting for nine wickets between them.
T&T earlier added 71 runs to their overnight total to begin the day, losing their three remaining wickets to be dismissed for 280 in 97.4 overs. Khary Pierre, who resumed batting on nine, notched a half-century (64) and shared a crucial 61-run tenth-wicket stand with Seales (9*).
Centurion Cephas Cooper (102) added just one to his overnight score, while Joshua Bishop completed his five-wicket haul, claiming 6 for 87. Roston Chase grabbed 3 for 67.
In a major announcement today, The Government of Barbados and the Royals Sports Group (RSG) revealed that the iconic “Barbados Tridents” franchise will be making a return to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as part of an ambitious One Barbados initiative.
This historic three-year partnership is intended to be part of a much larger national movement, where the newly-relaunched Barbados Tridents will serve as a beacon of national pride, reaffirming the franchise as a year-round national asset and introducing what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind public–private partnership in elite franchise cricket.
After five years as the Barbados Royals, the franchise will return to its national colours in a brand-new redesigned matchday jersey.
Speaking on the historic announcement, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley pointed to the significance of the One Barbados partnership as the island prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence.
“As Barbados marks its 60th year of Independence, the One Barbados partnership encapsulates everything that we, as a young nation have accomplished thus far,” stated Mottley.
“The return to the Barbados Tridents reflects our confidence, our pride and our ambition as a nation, as we begin to chart the path towards our next 60 years. Cricket has long been a core pillar of our national identity and self-determination. As such, it is incredibly fitting that through this partnership, we will see ourselves represented, in our national colours, with a name that speaks to who we are.”
