Subsequent to the Caribbean Premier League 2018 edition, this ‘All-Star’ team was named; Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Ali Khan, Imran Tahir, Oshane Thomas and Fawad Ahmed. For the T20I series immediately following CPL18, a squad was named which included all six of the West Indian players named in that squad, along with some of the other top (local) performers from the tournament. It is good to see that the Caribbean Premier League is not a façade, but another avenue by which the young talents within our region can ascend to the international stage.
Triumphing in two of the previous three ICC World Twenty20 tournaments ensures history will rightfully record West Indies as what it really was–the best twenty20 team during that period. Currently, there are several rising stars within the West Indies, but we must remember that along with talent, what helped in moulding the likes of Sammy, Narine, DJ Bravo, Simmons, Pollard, Russell and Gayle into masters of the shortest format, was partaking in elite franchise T20 leagues around the world.
A process that, in time, strained the relationship between Cricket West Indies and its players; as this route meant that international duties, in the other formats, were neglected. How then does CWI approach the elephant in the room? That is, if these young players will—and it is a very realistic possibility that they might—take the same approach? It is not too soon to be concern, nor is this concern over mediocrity if we just imagine what Thomas, Hetmyer, McCoy, Pooran, Paul, Allen and Rutherford can become.
We have all failed to restrain our excitement, allowing our imagination to run wild with what the future might hold for Windies with these bright sparks in our midst. We might even be anticipating Oshane Thomas with a red ball in hand, but also want Windies to continue to dominate the shortest format. However, if CWI fails to strike a balance there will be disappointment either way for Caribbean fans. We can only wallow in naivitey in the hope that the cream of this young crop has ambitions of pursuing all three formats, while accepting not all will have the appetite.
ICC Press Release: Who will win? The beauty of the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 starting 9 November in the Caribbean is that there are no clear favourites. Highly competitive matches in the offing as top stars fight it out in path-breaking ICC Women’s World T20 2018
Who will win? The beauty of the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 starting 9 November in the Caribbean is that there are no clear favourites.
Sure, Australia have three titles to their name and are generally acknowledged as the biggest threat, but they have not won a world title in any format since 2014. England are the ICC Cricket World Cup 2017 champions, but have not dominated world cricket since their giddy highs in 2009. New Zealand have worn the favourites tag in previous tournaments, but have not worn a crown since 2000. The Windies are the defending champions, but can the support of the home crowd take them to the summit again?
There are so many questions going into the tournament, but few answers. And yet there are certainties: the tournament will make history, becoming the first ever stand-alone Women’s World T20, marking the true departure of women’s cricket from the shadow of the men’s game.
It will also be the first in which every single game is televised, ensuring that the world can watch the best cricketers at work from the comfort of their homes. And it will be the first time the DRS is used in all matches of a global women’s tournament, ensuring that the women’s game moves forward aided by the best technology.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — West Indies were given a warm reception when they arrived here Monday evening to complete their final preparation for the Women's Twenty20 World Cup which bowls off at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday.
The reigning World champions were hosted in a cocktail reception at the cultural Umana Yana venue which was attended by Guyana Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Director of Sport Christopher Jones, along with several other government officials.
West Indies face New Zealand in their final official ICC warm-up on Wednesday night before clashing with Bangladesh in their opening preliminary match two days later.
Dancers perform one of their cultural routines during the cocktail reception for West Indies Women.
The fixture will be one of 11 preliminary matches being staged at the National Stadium here and Nagamootoo said Guyana's hosting of the tournament – the first ICC stand-alone women's event – was a major turning point in sports for the country.
“When we talk about the glass ceiling, Guyana has not only touched it, we have in fact smashed it and I think that the T20 competition in Guyana featuring women's teams would be amazing to all of us who would like to see the full empowerment of our women, not only in the arena of politics and administration but in the arena of sports and the arena of culture,” said Nagamootoo.
LUCKNOW, India – THE WINDIES lost the 2nd T20 International to India by 71 runs at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. India made 195/2 in 20 overs, the WINDIES finished on 124/9 from their 20 overs.
WINDIES won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first international match played in Lucknow in twenty-four years. The hosts went hard at the WINDIES bowlers from the onset unlike the first match in Kolkata. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan used the pace of Oshane Thomas and Keemo Paul to maximize the boundaries and sixes in the powerplay overs.
This big hitting continued for the next 8 overs as the Indians also picked up quick singles and twos in the huge outfield. The partnership produced a 123-run opening stand before Fabian Allen broke the pair. He got Shikhar Dhawan to send one in the deep, which Nicholas Pooran took a brilliant running catch to his left. Rishabh Pant then joined Rohit and the pair looked to continue the quick scoring, but Khary Pierre had Pant caught by Shimron Hetmyer at deep-midwicket for 5. India now 133
Next came KL Rahul, he and Rohit exploded with the bat, swinging their arms freely and making perfect contact with the ball. They accelerated so quickly that Rohit brought up his fourth T20 International century and Rahul raced to 26 off 14 balls. India scored 62 runs from the last 28 balls of their innings. Rohit finished on 111 not out while Rahul was on 26 not ou
The WINDIES were a bit haphazard in the field, putting down catches and mis-fielding. But the biggest worry was the extras given, which included 8-wides and 2-no balls. Fabian Allen was the best bowler for the WINDIES taking 1/33 from his 4 overs, while Khary Pierre was next best, with 1/49 from his four.
The WINDIES went after the 196 target, with the opening pair of Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. But the batting woes continued as Hope was the first to depart for 6. Hetmyer was joined by Darren Bravo, the pair added 26 together before Hetmyer looking for a six at long-off was caught on the boundary for 15. Bravo departed shortly after with an innings top-score of 23 when Kuldeep had caught at first slip. Kuldeep then removed Nicholas Pooran for 4 in the last ball of the same over. The rest of the WINDIES wickets tumbled easily, Captain Carlos Brathwaite stood like a wall to brace the slide, remaining not out on 15, with a 2-run contribution from Keemo Paul. Oshane Thomas was 8 not out with Brathwaite when the WINDIES overs finished.
Bhuneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav all took 2 wickets each for India. India now take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, in the 3-match series. Rohit Sharma was man of the match.
Oshane Thomas has a habit. The habit of turning heads with his fierce pace. It has already hooked Chris Gayle, who picked him for Jamaica Tallawahs when he was 19, and Tom Moody, who has signed him up for his BPL team Rangpur Riders. On Sunday, it made a big impression on India's stand-in T20I captain Rohit Sharma, who was stunned by a 147kph inswinger.
On a sticky Kolkata evening, India seemed assured of victory, set a target of just 110. But on an Eden Gardens pitch where dew made the ball skid on much more than usual, Thomas cleaned up India's openers. He forced Rohit to inside-edge to the keeper before flattening the middle stump of Shikhar Dhawan, his bunny on this tour, as he left a gap between bat and pad while looking to drive one that swung back into him.
Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya repaired the early damage, but Thomas had done enough to earn Rohit's praise. "Oshane is a really exciting talent without doubt," Rohit said at the post-match presentation. "He's got good height, plus that jump he takes, if he bowls in the right areas, it won't be easy for any batsman in the world to counter that. He's really talented, and he also has the advantage of height which gives him the extra edge. I wish him the best in the future."
At 21, Thomas is the youngest fast bowler in the West Indies squad. He has had a very short career so far. But within that time, he has shown plenty of promise. He got into the West Indies team after finishing CPL 2018 as the tournament's highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers, and second-highest overall behind the legspinner Fawad Ahmed.
