St. John’s, ANTIGUA – Following a recent announcement by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Gaston Browne, that it will partner with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on the acquisition of the Sticky Wicket facility, there is more support for cricket.
Sport Minister, E.P. Chet Greene in a media briefing this morning (July 5) pledged his government’s support for the hosting of the 4th Annual WICB/WIPA Awards ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, July 19 in St. John’s, Antigua. The Minister sees the awards as an additional event in promoting the island as a sport tourism destination.
The Minister was fresh from his trip where he and a team, including Sir Vivian Richards toured sections of the USA to promote Antigua’s hosting of the first test between West Indies and India (July 21 – 25).
CEO of WICB, Michael Muirhead, says “the three winning teams will be celebrated at this event, the under 19 men; women’s and men’s Twenty20 along with the top regional performers.” Additionally, the CEO hailed the partnership with the government as “timely” as the Board prepares for a much longer-term relationship with the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda.
Patterson Thompson, WIPA Executive thinks “hosting the awards in Antigua is an opportunity for businesses in Antigua to get more involved in the sport.”
The awards ceremony is just two days before the start of the first of four tests in a series with West Indies vs India. The event will have live and delayed television broadcast and those details will be announced shortly.
Chris Gayle was back to his murderous form as Jamaica Tallawahs rode his 18th T20 century to rout Trinbago Knight Riders by seven wickets in a Caribbean Premier League match on Monday.
Chasing Trinbago Knight Riders 191 for four, Gayle scored an unbeaten 108 to help Jamaica win with 10 balls to spare. Gayle proved that he remained the "boss" of instant cricket by scoring his world record 18th T20 century off just 54 balls.Gayle made a slow start but picked up pace. He slammed six fours and 11 sixes in a whirlwind knock that left Knight Riders stunned. It was Jamaica's second win that took them to the top of the table. Knight Riders crashed to their third defeat in four games.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board announced today, a 12-member squad for the two-day, Tour Match between the WICB President’s XI and India, starting this coming Saturday at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
SQUAD
Leon Johnson (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika
Roston Chase, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich
Shai Hope, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph
Marquino Mindley,Vishaul Singh, Jomel Warrican
Team Management Unit
Rayon Griffith (Manager/Coach)
Henderson Springer (Coach)
Ariane Mangar (Physiotherapist)
Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator)
NOTES
Johnson, Blackwood, Chandrika, Dowrich, Hope and Warrican have all appeared for West Indies in Tests in the previous two years.
Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Board has decided to submit an application for a women’s cricket event to be included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban. As well as creating an opportunity to showcase the remarkable progress of female cricket on a global stage, this will provide top female cricketers with an opportunity to feature in an additional high profile competition.
The ICC will now work closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to ensure cricket’s inclusion on the program and to determine the specific tournament structure and qualification process that will be applied.
Mr Manohar said: “The Board has taken a strategic decision to support the inclusion of women’s cricket in the 2022 Commonwealth Games as it will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers, as well as opportunities to engage with the Commonwealth Games on important social justice issues and initiatives.”
There will be further discussions on cricket’s potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee later in the year.
A stampeding Powerplay by Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons set up an insurmountable total from St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, who defeated St Lucia Zouks by 58 runs on Sunday afternoon at Warner Park. The pair propelled the hosts to 69 for 0 in six overs after being sent in as Lewis kicked on for a top score of 73 in the Patriots total of 203 for 7.
The Patriots had only advanced to 22 after three overs, but Simmons doubled that total in the fourth when he targeted Canada allrounder Nitish Kumar's offspin for three sixes and a four. That spurred Lewis to take on Darren Sammy in the fifth as the left-hander smashed the Zouks' captain for four consecutive boundaries through the off side.
The stand was broken two balls into the seventh by Derone Davis as Simmons skewed the left-arm spinner to Watson at short third man for 30, but Lewis had no intention of slowing down and brought up his fifty in 28 balls off Davis in the ninth before continuing his onslought with three sixes in four balls against Kristopher Ramsaran in the tenth.
