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Curious, I know that Montserrat and BVI (and USVI for that matter) can have players move on to represent Windies, but why did they get this ability while TCI and Cayman didn't? Was it a matter of the individual countries either not applying for inclusion or not being invited?

In reply to Tryangle

It's a strange thing with no logic to it. It goes back about a century or so when all the territories were British dependencies. At first it was just Trinidad Barbados Jamaica and British Guyana. Then came the failed experiment with Federation. Then in the regional competition all the eastern Caribbean Islands played as the Combined Islands. That team embodied the Virgin Islands and montserrat and almost all of these Islands were dependencies. Cayman and the Turks and caicos were not a part of this Combined Islands group and so went their own way I believe.

I think that's how it went. Maybe someone can correct me.

In reply to mikesiva

Cayman opted to become an Associate Member of the ICC rather than join the WICB. They felt there were better opportunities for the development of their cricket that way. Could be the same for Bermuda

Can a player not of West Indies parentage play for the West Indies, if he was born in USVI or BVI?

In reply to openning

BVI is a member of the Leewards Islands Cricket Association. It it were not so then your good friend VOR would have no reason to terrorise us on this MB.

Good question you posed Tryangle. Mike gave it a good shot. Hope someone who knows or someone who is prepared to do the research provides the answer. This could be VOR's chance to prove his worth.

Leewards Cricket is sometimes played in St. Marten. Is St. Marten a member of the Leewards Islands Cricket Association?

In reply to mikesiva

Dere is nothing strange about TCI and Cayman not being part of WI cricket. When Jamaica became independent in 1962, those two territories who were administered from Jamaica chose to remain British Overseas Territories.

Cricket became a marginal sport played mainly by expatriates, and if you know the history of these territories, you will understand why the sport became marginalised.

In the mid nineties an effort was made to reintroduce cricket at the school level in the Cayman Islands and a Cayman U15 team played as a guest in the 1998 Windward Islands U15 T ornament

The following year they played host to the Windwards U15 Team on their way to the WI Tournament in Jamaica. The senior Team subsequently played in a WICB 50 over Tournament while they were evaluating their options of joining the WICB or becoming part of the ICC setup.

In the end they chose the ICC over the WICB

In reply to Maispwi

Appreciate the insight on Cayman cricket.

I'm now curious on the Bahamas and if they went through a similar history (ie was it an 'expat sport') or preferred to be an ICC Affiliate.

Bermuda was one of the first ICC Associate members and logistically speaking, joining up with the Windies would have been a darn nightmare. No direct flights, etc., it wouldn't have made sense the way it might have for say Cayman.

Bit of a shame, people said we produced one or two players in the past that would have made excellent Test players, but anyhow.

Wikipedia said that at one point Belize applied to be part of the WICB fold.

In reply to Tryangle

Location and historical affiliation. Geographically Montseratt and the BVI are part of the Leeward Islands. Historically in Colonial times the British Leeward Islands were under one central authority in Antigua.

TCI, Caymans and Bermuda will have to become part of the LICA and take part in their competitions so to be deemed eligible for selection to West Indies team but they are logistical issues because of their distance from the Leewards.

A better idea would to become a member of the WICB or an associate member of the ICC directly or based on their geographical location maybe they can try to become a member of the JCA and play in their club tournaments.

In reply to Headley

That is correct St.Maarten is a member of LICA (Leewards Islands Cricket Association). LICA members are all within the Leeward island chain. St. Maarten is an anomaly as they were never under British rule. The island is jointly owned by the Dutch ( St. Maarten) and the French ( St. Martin) but they have a large Caribbean expatriate population and due to their proximity to the other Islands it was logical to have them be part of LICA. Same can be said for US Virgin Islands.

LICA members:
Antigua, St.Kitts, Nevis(St. Kitts/Nevis although one nation field separate teams and boards), Anguilla, St. Maarten, Montserrat, BVI, USVI.

It is fascinating to think that a USVI player, as a dependent territory of the US, would have a pathway to represent Windies in international cricket. However if there was a talented youngster emerging from TCI, their best chance to play internationally would be to push to England.

Cayman is an Associate Member, TCI to my knowledge doesn't have any role, wonder if they are even active of late (they had a team in the Stanford competition but I haven't heard of them competing in the WCL).

Any Bahamas residents around? Would love to know if WICB was ever an option for that country.

In reply to Tryangle

Yes that is possible as they are a member of LICA and therefore members of the WICB.

In reply to Tryangle

Bahamians do not play cricket only baseball and basketball

[b]

I introduced cricket to a group of youngsters in USVI, they really enjoyed the game that it's similar to baseball but they had problem with the concept of LBW, lol anyway last time I watch Sarwan and Chanderpaul bat together was in USVI. Small cricket ground, Gayle would have a feast and they would be fishing balls from the sea all day! Landing on a flight into St Thomas is not for the weak heart as most of the airport runway is on the sea! LOL

In reply to voiceofreason

That was a good explanation. By the way, Dominica, was once part of Leeward Islands cricket. Perhaps you or someone else can explain why Dominica switched to Windward Islands cricket.

In reply to Slipfeeler

In reply to Slipfeeler

They don't know what they are missing in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, cricket is present in the English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking Caribbean!

In reply to Fivestar

Isn't that something. They're almost certainly the only UK or former UK colony in the region that has a greater baseball presence than cricket one, in that case. Guess being 50 miles or whatever from Florida will do that to ya?

I'm kind of curious on the Dominica Leewards/Windwards thing too - to me it seems a natural fit for Dominica to have been part of the Windwards but maybe others feel differently?