Guyana has been chosen to host two one-day internationals
between the West Indies and Zimbabwe when the revamped home series
starts on April 29, according to a copy of the itinerary seen by
CaribbeanCricket.com.
The Zimbabwe side was originally scheduled to two Tests and five
ODIs but after the authorities suspended the team from Test
cricket, the schedule had to be changed to add two extra ODIs. Both
will be played at the GCC Ground, Bourda on April 29 and April
30.
That's essentially what the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA)
with the support of its enlightened sponsors, Supreme Ventures, is
saying as it begins the long road towards "professionalising"
Jamaica's club and parish cricket.
For years, the cricketers from the tiny island of Montserrat
have had to sit back and watch the Soufriere volcano spill lava and
ash all over their playing fields, melting their dreams and the
possibility of producing another Jim Allen, the formidable
Montserratian batsman who represented the West Indies in the Kerry
Packer Cricket World Series in 1978 through 1979.
However, the players have been given a reprieve thanks to
Antiguan financier Allen Stanford and his US$280,000 capital
investment in Montserrat cricket, and now these same players are
poised to be the "wonder" team of the inaugural Stanford 20/20
Cricket Tournament which will take place in Antigua in July.
West Indies great Lawrence Rowe and the Mayor of Lauderhill were
on hand last weekend at CaribbeanCricket.com's "Curry Goat
Challenge". The event, which brings together members of the site's
message board and local cricket fans to play friendly cricket, was
judged a great success by those who attended.
"What we are hoping to do is promote cricket as an expression of
West Indian culture, " said event organiser, Sean Mitchell. "We
have a large community of cricket fans, and this is a way to bring
them together beyond just typing on a chat board".
Antiguan batsman Sylvester Joseph has been appointed captain of
the West Indies 'A' team to play two unofficial 'Tests' and five
one-day games against a visiting England 'A' side.
Joseph will lead a team that includes 8 players with experience
at the senior (Test) level and 3 'A' team newcomers.
