West Indies move up one place in T20 rankings

LONDON, England (CMC) – Reigning Twenty20 (T20) world champions West Indies have moved up to ninth in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rankings, gaining one place after languishing in 10th for several months.

Though there has been a cessation of all cricket globally due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ICC revised the rankings to eliminate results from the 2016-17 period.

As a result, West Indies gained three points from the ICC update to move to 229 points, while Afghanistan dropped five points to slip to 228 points and down to 10th in the rankings.

After a run of poor results, West Indies found their best form last March, crushing Sri Lanka 2-0 in a two-match series in Pallekele.

However, the series win was only the Caribbean side's second in 10 outings, a run of form which had led to their steady slide down the rankings.

Read more at Jamaica Observer

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS ANNOUNCE LOCAL PLAYER RETENTIONS

Former Windies batting coach urges regional batsmen to be more like Shiv

Sheldon Cottrell talks IPL and almost quitting the game

He is one of the most recognizable figures in world cricket at present. Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell and his iconic wicket-taking salute have taken their place in cricket culture and he has brought along his fair share of adoring young and old fans from his homeland in Jamaica to as far as the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan and Australia.

To say that the last couple of months have been great for the left-arm quick would be an understatement, as the former Jamaica Defence Force soldier was snapped up by the Kings XI Punjab for US$1.2 million, to play in this year’s India Premier League (IPL).

“I was really gearing up to put out 110 percent for my franchise in India but, as my famous slogan goes, ‘Health over Wealth’ any day. It’s a pandemic we are facing and it’s a worldwide thing. So I can’t be selfish. I am not going to look at the money. I have to put my health before anything else and I have to also feel sorry for those who are affected,” said Cottrell.

Read more at the Jamaica Gleaner

Sir Viv never chased Gabriel off the field

Legendary former West Indies captain Sir Vivian "Viv" Richards says he never chased former T&T opening batsman Richard Gabriel off the field during a Benson and Hedges Limited Overs match in Australia in 1984.

The "Master Blaster" has been maligned, cursed and abused by local cricket fans who saw the incident as an attack on their own.

The episode occurred at Perth in a tied encounter between West Indies and Australia. Clive Lloyd was the captain but Richards was holding on for him when the incident occurred.

Larry Gomes, the Trinidadian part-time off-spinner, was operating at the time and bowled a short delivery outside off-stump to Kepler Wessels who was cut down to deep point. Gabriel gingerly running around close to the boundary failed to pick up the ball and it cannoned into the fence.

"I never sent Gabriel off the field because I wanted to discipline him as the commentators said at the point in time," recalls Richards.

Read more at T&T Guardian