Ian Bishop was amongst the last of the great line of fast bowlers to emerge from the Caribbean. Making his debut in March 1989, the Trindadian, tall, brutally quick, and generating lovely out-swing with the new ball, went on to compile an impressive Test record. In 43 games he grabbed 161 wickets at 24.27 and with a strike rate 52.2. Following a career curtailed by back injuries, the incisive fast bowler grew into an incisive commentator. Sharp and thoughtful, you are unlikely to listen to his insights over any prolonged period and not come away with a greater appreciation of the nuances of the game.
And so with West Indies cricket not in the best of health, whose brain would be better for Cricbuzz to pick than the fast bowling great?
"How do you think the West Indies will do in the T20 World Cup? Which teams are the strongest contenders and which do you think have the best chance of winning?"
The West Indies enter the tournament ranked #2 in the world. That is a very good indicator as to how well they've performed in this format over time. However, I find it difficult to accurately predict the West Indies fortunes for this WT20 2016 with all the challenges of the last few months, culminating in the withdrawal of a few key players.
Three or four months ago I was highly expectant that the West Indies would be a strong probability to contend for the title. Now, I am not filled with the same confidence.
WEST INDIES Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Shimron Hetmyer put the Jamaica Scorpions bowlers to the sword with a masterful 107. his maiden First-Class century. Guyana Jaguars dominated the opening day of their final round of West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day game at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.Not many spectators watched the hosts finish the day on 297-4 with skipper Leon Johnson on 58 and night watchman Devendra Bishoo on one, set to resume on the second day. The 19-year-old Hetmyer was dropped on 30, but apart from that his innings was one of elegance and timing. He struck 15 fours and a six off 135 balls in 162 minutes at the crease. Test opener Rajendra Chandrika also fashioned a classy 76.
Action was against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Cricket Centre, Couva.
Deciding to bat first after winning the toss, the Red Force were dismissed for 211 with the 32-year-old Deonarine, the former Guyana and West Indies left-hander, offering major resistance to the steady Volcanoes bowling attack with a knock decorated with nine fours and three sixes off 182 deliveries.
Hurricanes vs Pride
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18 - (www.bcacricket.org) - Barbados Pride were 145 for four off 44 overs in reply to a first innings total of 119 all out in 51.2 overs by Leeward Islands Hurricanes at stumps on the opening day of their 10th and final round WICB PCL first-class match at Warner Park today.
The not out batsmen were Roston Chase on 22 and Shane Dowrich, 17.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Anxious. Nervous. Tense. These are just three of the adjectives that may grip the players from Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride, as they follow the progress of each other in the final round of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament, starting tomorrow. The race for the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy, symbol of regional first-class supremacy, has come down to a straight fight between these two franchises, following intriguing results in the previous round that left the Jaguars clinging to a seven-point lead over the Pride, as they seek to regain the title for the second straight year. The familiar surroundings of the Guyana National Stadium will provide the backdrop for the Jaguars’ final sprint to the title, when they face Jamaica Scorpions, at the same time that the Pride will meet a resurgent Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley still wishes the Indian Cricket Board’s (BCCI) US$42 million claim for damages had resulted in the bankruptcy of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Speaking here earlier this week, Rowley said in light of the board’s continued opposition to governance reform, bankruptcy would have forced the collapse of the institution and hopefully resulted in the birth of a new structure.
“I have said publicly before that I had become very excited when the management — the current board — had taken action that could have led to the bankruptcy of the board,” Rowley said.
“Because when they incurred that $42 million charge in India, I was hoping that the Indian board would press for their money and would have bankrupted West Indies cricket and we would have come out of that with a new arrangement, given the recalcitrance and the bombast that comes from the West Indies Cricket Board no
A small crowd turned up to watch West Indies Women take on Pakistan Women in an ICC Women's World Twenty20 2016 contest at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday (March 16), but they cheered Sana Mir's side on, backing them all the way even as Pakistan went down by four runs in a thrilling contest.
Asked to bat first, West Indies posted 103 for 8, and in response, Pakistan finished on 99 for 5 after a big scare when Javeria Khan, its opening batter, caught a Shamilia Connell bouncer flush on the grille of her helmet, collapsed, and had to be taken off the ground. Fortunately, she was in good shape afterwards, as confirmed by tournament officials.
West Indies had come into the match on the back of a 3-0 clean sweep in T20 Internationals and a 4-1 victory in the One-Day International series against the same opposition in the Caribbean, making it the clear favourite for the contest.
