The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board’s Selection Panel today announced the 13-man squad for the upcoming One-Day International Series against England.
West Indies Squad
Jason Holder (Captain)
Devendra Bishoo
Carlos Brathwaite
Kraigg Brathwaite
Jonathan Carter
Shannon Gabriel
Shai Hope
Alzarri Joseph
Evin Lewis
Jason Mohammed
Ashley Nurse
Kieran Powell
Rovman Powell
To the chagrin of those who still support West Indies cricket, the regional team will not be part of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament this summer in England.
The champions of 2004 were not good enough in One Day International (ODI) cricket to make the eight-team cut under the ICC’s points ranking system.
Currently ninth in the ODI rankings, West Indies are also in danger of not qualifying automatically for the ODI World Cup in England and Wales in 2019. Should the West Indies be out of the eight-team frame come the cut-off date later this year, they will have to compete with traditional lesser nations for a place in the 10-team tournament.
So, West Indies will have to purposefully set about winning ODI games over the next few months in order to be sure of a spot at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. For that reason, the three-match ODI series starting this week against England in the Caribbean is of great importance.
Former West Indies fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts disagrees with the widespread conclusion that there was an improved level of play during the just ended West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super50, in comparison to previous tournaments.
On the contrary, the Antiguan believes that in some instances, the level of play has even declined with batsmen getting out in similar fashion to previous dismissals throughout the tournament.
“Our players do not work hard enough at harnessing their talent, and until they do they will never improve. All of us have faults and we all have strong points and weak points, and your strong points you would continue to have because it comes natural to you, but your weak points are the ones you have to try and eliminate,” he said.
“[As a batsman] you may not be able to score much runs, but you should not get out in the same area, innings after innings and that is what is happening,” he added.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) today announced a special ticket offer for local cricket fans ahead of the upcoming One-Day International Series between West Indies and England.
The matches are just days away – with the opening match at the picturesque Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Friday, March 3. The second match will be at the same venue on Sunday, March 5 with the final game at the historic Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, March 9.
First ball is 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time/1:30pm GMT).
The WICB has set aside an additional 3,000 ground tickets for the local patrons in Antigua a cost of just EC$50 (approximately US$18.50) – half the original price.
At Kensington Oval, the first 1,000 tickets sold in the Greenidge & Haynes lower stand will cost just BDS$75 (approximately US$37.50) – half the original price.
Adults can also purchase children’s ticket (12 years and under) for all three games at an additional 50 percent off the new price.
Fans looking to take advantage of this special offer will need to provide a national ID and there is a limit of two tickets per person and these MUST be purchased at the ticket offices – to the east of the Antigua Recreational Ground and at Kensington Oval.
“With a large number of travelling England fans attending the series, we expect all three matches to be sold out,” said Johnny Grave, Chief Executive Officer of WICB.
“We are keen to have as many West Indian fans as possible in attendance, so we have set aside these tickets for local fans at special discounted prices. We want to urge them to come out, throw their full support behind our players and ensure that each match has a real Caribbean atmosphere.”
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Captain Chadwick Walton struck his second List A hundred three in three outings but it was not enough to prevent the UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI from crashing to a 117-run defeat to England here Saturday.
The 31-year-old, who gathered a career-best 117 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force just ten days ago during the Regional Super50, improved on that effort with a stroke-filled 121 off 109 deliveries as the Vice Chancellor’s XI were bowled out for 262 in the 40th over.
Youth World Cup hero, Shimron Hetmyer, stroked 40 and Cassius Burton, 25, but Walton lacked real support and the innings collapsed late on.