ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Tickets for the India Tour of the West Indies 2019 – sponsored by MyTeam11 and co-powered by Skoda – will go on sale to the public from midnight tonight (East Caribbean Time), coinciding with 40 days to go until the start of the action between the two teams.
Fans can get their tickets to all eight matches for the Tour, including the two MyTeam11 Tests which jump start the two teams’ participation in the ICC World Test Championship and two MyTeam11 Twenty20 Internationals in the United States, via the “Buy Tickets” button on the West Indies website, www.windiescricket.com.
“West Indies fans across the region have a wonderful opportunity to come out and get behind this talented, exciting West Indies side. The fans can really make the difference in creating the carnival atmosphere that the players love and which fans all over the world love watching on TV. We’re giving fans affordable tickets and promotional discounted ticket bundles. And with the start of the World Test Championship, there’s added competition in every form of the game,” said CWI Commercial Director, Dominic Warne.
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has been sidelined from the remainder of the World Cup with a knee injury. Top-order batsman Sunil Ambris, who hit a career-best 148 in the tri-series in Ireland last month, has been approved by the ICC as Russell's replacement.
Russell has had a history of knee issues, and was seen limping heavily during his 2 for 4 against Pakistan in what was only his second ODI since the 2015 World Cup. Although he returned for the game against Australia, his knees didn't make it through his second spell. He bowled only two overs against England and then six overs against Bangladesh. His wonky knees then ruled him out of the game against New Zealand in Manchester, where Carlos Brathwaite replaced him and nearly powered West Indies home with a stunning century.
Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were among like-for-like replacements for Russell in West Indies' reserves, but they have opted for a possible opener in Ambris, who was the second-highest scorer in the tri-series against Bangladesh and Ireland, with 278 runs in four innings at an average of 92.66 and strike rate of 101.83.
Carlos Brathwaite scored a stunning first century for West Indies but was left devastated when he holed out right at the death to hand New Zealand a dramatic five-run victory in the Cricket World Cup at Old Trafford.
The man who broke England's hearts by clubbing four successive sixes off Ben Stokes in the last over of the 2016 World T20 final was at it again in Manchester, but the terminal shot in his 101 will haunt Brathwaite like his own name will always give Stokes nightmares.
With one wicket to spare, West Indies needed six runs from seven deliveries for an improbable victory on Saturday, and Brathwaite - who had creamed 25 off the bowling of Matt Henry in the previous over - caught hold of a short delivery from James Neesham that was begging to be hit.
MANCHESTER: Clive Lloyd says the West Indies should learn the art of adaptability from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson as they fight to avoid World Cup elimination.
Jason Holder´s side have managed only one win from five matches ahead of Friday´s game against New Zealand in Manchester.
The Black Caps, unbeaten in the round-robin competition so far, are fresh from their four-wicket win over South Africa on Wednesday when Williamson made an unbeaten 106 to anchor a tense chase at Edgbaston.
Following their hard work, the West Indies received their reward; having successfully backed themselves into a corner, now needing near-miracles in order to advance to the semi finals of the World Cup. As fans of West Indies Cricket, we have seen a lot, but the 7-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on Monday was bitter. There is a saying that goes: there is a way to lose; one which, apparently, has never been uttered in the WINDIES dressing room. The manner in which the West Indian fielders responded to the challenge the Bangladeshis laid down by going after those 322 runs was an absolute disgrace.
The fact that this team remains adamant in pursuing wickets solely by dropping the ball halfway down the wicket, regardless of the stage of the game, the fact that an unfit Andre Russell was selected as a fifth bowler (expected to bowl ten overs) and Jason Holder’s perceived lack of ingenuity as a One-Day International captain, means that the only thing that remains between WINDIES fans and WINDIES decision-makers is distrust.
If we are to be honest; even if the result tomorrow is not positive, we will be up at 4:30 AM on Thursday for the game against India. So the fans are not going anywhere, but… will this team continue to provoke us to criticize them on the basis which the rest of the cricketing world does–questioning their common sense and making inquiry of their ‘brains‘? As those are the types of rash commentary these performances warrant.
