Mon, Jun 4, '18
Australia stars Steve Smith and David Warner, who are banned from top-flight international cricket for 12 months, were drafted on Sunday for the Global T20 Canada event starting 28 June.
Former Australia captain Smith had already been announced as a marquee player for the inaugural edition of the event.
Smith and Warner were sacked after the third Test against South Africa in March, later accepting a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for their role in the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the sport.
Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
Warner was selected in the third round of the draft by the Winnipeg Hawks, who took West Indies' Dwayne Bravo and South African left-hander David Miller in the first and second rounds.
Smith was taken in the second round by the Toronto Nationals, where he'll play alongside West Indian star Darren Sammy and fellow West Indies all rounder Kieron Pollard.
Apart from the players, prominent coaches Tom Moody and Waqar Younis have been roped in to lead franchises in the inaugural Global T20 Canada League later this month.
read more at Yahoo Cricket
Mon, Jun 4, '18
Distinguished academic and cricket historian, Prof Sir Hilary Beckles, believes the “tide is turning” in West Indies cricket, and contends the excellence of the “Jason Holder generation” could lead to a revival of the former World champions.
Speaking during a public lecture series here titled Fire in Babylon: Cricket as Popular Culture, Sir Hilary pointed out that a new consciousness existed in the young generation of current Windies cricketers and as a result, they were now attempting to reconnect with previous high standards of excellence.
He also argued that the development of Caribbean society and West Indies success were intertwined and once societal issues in the region were addressed, he could foresee the emergence of a strong Windies side “in seven to eight years.”
“I believe we are now seeing our way out of this. I believe that the tide is turning. I don’t think it is empty optimism. I believe the tide is turning,” said Sir Hilary, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and former principal of UWI Cave Hill Campus.
“I believe that the current generation of young cricketers who are coming up—I call them the Jason Holder generation. I believe they are seeing the society differently.
“I’ve spoken to them, most of them are UWI students anyway. They come to the University, they are working class boys and we speak to them. All the young cricketers—Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite—these young men who are ready and willing to fight for us.”
Sun, Jun 3, '18
Courtney Browne said it would take a real sitting down with Evin and him showing he wants to be considered for Test match cricket © Getty
Chairman of the West Indies selectors Courtney Browne stated that giving the current Test team incumbents a chance prove themselves and the intention not to pigeonhole players, were the guiding principles behind picking the first West Indies Test squad for 2018 to face Sri Lanka next week in the Caribbean.
The decision to select or not include amongst the quintet of Denesh Ramdin, Evin Lewis, Jahmar Hamilton, Devon Smith and Jomel Warrican were the major talking points of the announced team.
After being controversially dropped for the 2016 Test home series against India, which led to former stalwarts Windies wicket-keepers Jeff Dujon, Deryck Murray and Jackie Hendricks telling Cricbuzz at the time how perplexed they were at Browne's decision, Ramdin in his first full opportunity to play first-class cricket since then responded brilliantly by finishing second behind Devon Smith on the scoring charts during the just concluded 2017/18 season. He made 799 runs in 10 matches for the Trinidad & Tobago at an average of 61.46, including three centuries and four 50s.
"We decided to stick with the incumbent (Shane Dorwich), who obviously had a decent A team series versus England Lions, and we felt that with building our young Test match squad we should stick with him, hence the reason Ramdin was not invited to the pre series camp training," Browne told Cricbuzz.
Considering that Hamilton was called up, Browne was asked to explain if Ramdin is seen only a T20 option 'keeper currently and if Dorwich fails, whether Hamilton is the keeper next in line for Tests.
"That depends on what is happening at the time. The selection panel, coach and captain will have to decide. I don't want to put it down to if Dorwich is not doing well, we just bring in Hamilton. Remember Hamilton is here primarily because of his A team performances and he has been in A team for a number of years and the good thing for us is that he also keeps wicket," Browne explained.
read more at cricbuzz
Sat, Jun 2, '18
Afridi retired from international cricket Thursday but not before he donated US$20,000 to the Windies hurricane relief effort.
Shahid Afridi has proven to be a man of his word when despite suffering from an injured knee, he showed up to represent the ICC World XI for the charity match against the Windies at Lord’s on Thursday.
The match was held to raise funds to repair and renovate cricket facilities in the Caribbean that were damaged during the passage of hurricanes through the region in 2017.
The former Pakistan captain took 1 for 34 off his four overs as the Windies, batting first, compiled 199 for 4 from 20 overs. He made only 11 in a losing cause as the Windies bowled the ICC XI for just 127 to win by 72 runs, but what Afridi did afterwards will endear him to cricket fans worldwide.
read more at SportsMax
Fri, Jun 1, '18
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – When WINDIES A goes to England this summer, it will be the third series in less than a year. Cricket West Indies is placing great emphasis on the A team programme to give players international experience and to ensure that “players have the best possible preparation along the pathway to becoming an elite athlete”.
Following a successful and a comprehensive series win over the England Lions earlier this year in the Caribbean, WINDIES A will participate in a Tri-Nation series with India and hosts, England.
The one-day series includes a double round robin with a final and will run from June 17 – July 2. Before that there will be two warm up matches.
The 14-man squad reads:
Jason Mohammed – captain
Sunil Ambris
Jermaine Blackwood
Rahkeem Cornwall
Dominic Drakes
Chandrapaul Hemraj
Chemar Holder
Andre McCarthy
Keemo Paul
Rovman Powell
Raymon Reifer
Devon Thomas
Oshane Thomas
Jomel Warrican
In commenting on the squad, Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne says, “as we look ahead to preparing for the 2019 ICC World Cup, the panel has included a mix of current ODI players (Jason Mohammed, Keemo Paul, and Rovman Powell) and also some exciting young fast bowlers that are part of the fast bowling camp currently ongoing in Antigua. Sunil Ambris is also returning from injury. The panel is looking forward to also identifying any talent that can be part of the 2019 ICC World Cup squad.”
The team is scheduled to arrive in the UK on Thursday, June 14 and they will be accompanied by the Team Management Unit:
Andrew Richardson –Team Manager
Floyd Reifer – Head Coach
Rayon Griffith – Asst Coach
Orlando Griffith – S&C
Vernon ‘Khevyn’ Williams – Physiotherapist
Dinesh Mahabir – Analyst
Richard Pybus will also travel in his capacity as High-Performance Director.