India. It's where the West Indies' Player of the Year, Marlon Samuels, scored his first century; an innings of 104 runs in 2002, which helped the Windies to a draw in their third Test against India in Kokata.
The Caribbean team is coming off six consecutive Test wins and the 32-year-old Jamaican, who has had a strong return to the sport since 2010, is looking to not only confirm his consistency, but also help the team to prove that the recent upturn in results is not a fluke.
"It was another wonderful year. for me to get Cricketer of the Year. It shows that I am consistent and that's how I want it to remain, it's a great achievement," Samuels told The Gleaner from the team's Miami/Orlando-based training and team-building camp ahead of their two-Test and three one-day international series against India, which gets under way on October 31 with a three-day match against Uttar Pradesh in Cuttack.
The so-called 'bible' of cricket, Wisden, has put out an all-time Test 11 that is highly questionable. For those yet to see it, the 11, in batting order, are: Jack Hobbs, W.G. Grace, Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Garry Sobers, Alan Knott, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, and Sydney Barnes.
I won't argue with Jack Hobbs at the top of the order. The man averaged 56.95 after 61 tests with 15 hundreds and is statistically among the top openers of all time. Why, however, is W.G. Grace on this team? W.G.'s importance to the game cannot be questioned, and he, probably more than anybody else, helped to develop cricket as both an art form and a spectator sport. There may well be a case that he could be the most important cricketer of all time, but the man averaged a mere 32 in Test cricket, for God's sake! Surely, his actual record in Test cricket doesn't warrant him a place here.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – West Indies defeated England in a super over after scores were tied in the final preliminary match of the Women’s T20 International Tri-Series at Kensington Oval, on Thursday night.
Deandra Dottin blasted two fours in consecutive balls as West Indies scored nine without loss after England posted six for one wicket in the super over as a result of both teams scoring 118 for 7 in a thrilling precursor to Saturday’s final.
The match swung back and forth and transformed into a tense and nerve racking tussle as West Indies recovered from a poor start and England, who also faltered, crawled back into the game and well within sight of victory.
Stand-in captain Stafanie Taylor, the player of the match who top scored with 40, was also the leading wicket taker with three scalps, including two in consecutive balls, to extend the early damage already done by Anisa Mohammed.
St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board today announced that Richard Pybus has been appointed Director of Cricket. Pybus has been appointed on a three year contract which will commence on November 1.
Pybus, an Englishman, is the former Pakistan Head Coach and worked extensively in South Africa where he served in the capacities of Head Coach, Professional Cricket Manager and Consultant Coach with award winning sides Titans, Border, Cape Cobras and Nashua Dolphins.
The outfield was a little bumpy and the pitch was less than perfect as well, but what the patch of green located on the property of the Poinciana Community Complex offered for the West Indies senior men's team was a chance to reach out to the Caribbean community here, as they continue their own bonding ahead of a tough assignment.
Situated some 36 miles south of Downtown Orlando, the complex was a kaleidoscope of Caribbean culture on Tuesday, as the West Indies Elite Tour - a team-building exercise ahead of the upcoming India tour, continued with the team going through a two-hour training session in front of eager, cricket-loving immigrants from the region.
