The recent announcement by the government of Barbados to invest BDS$1 million in the Barbados Cricket Association is being questioned at a time when other struggling sporting associations and federations are in dire need of funding.
National coach Alwyn Babb who has had a vested interest in Barbados’ sport for over 40-years, is querying if the recent announcement of the significant sum being injected into cricket is an olive branch being extended to the BCA for comments made by a former Barbados Labour Party member of parliament.
Babb said he was trying to wrap his brain around Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s reasoning for the investment into cricket at a time when the National Stadium badly needs to be fixed and athletes have been deprived of that facility for quite a while.
“I don’t know if it is an olive branch to a sport where it was said any idiot can play cricket. . . I am not envying cricket for getting a million dollars but other sports are making a significant contribution to Barbados at the Olympic level, that if cricket needs a million dollars, then the other sports need access to two or three million dollars more.
AFTER a six-year hiatus Ravi Rampaul still has the passion and desire to represent West Indies just as he did when he made his senior debut way back in 2003, saying he has unfinished business to take care of.
Rampaul, who turns 37 in October, ended the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets in his debut season for the Trinbago Knight Riders.
Last week, Rampaul was announced as a member of the West Indies team for the T20 World Cup which bowls off next month in United Arab Emirates and Oman.
On making his return to the West Indies team, Rampaul told Newsday, “It feels like having a second dream come true, but this time I knew how hard I needed to work to get back into the West Indies team just by putting in performances and hopefully getting selected…I was very happy that I actually got a chance to represent the West Indies. I really had unfinished business and hopefully, I can perform well in this T20 tournament.”
ST JOHN’S, Antigua– The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel has announced the West Indies Women’s 13-member squad for the fourth CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa Women. The match will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (SVRCG) on Thursday, September 16. First ball is 10am local time (9am Jamaica Time).
Left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph had been rested along with experienced middle-order batter Chedean Nation and off-spinning all-rounder Karishma Ramharack. Wicket-keeper Reniece Boyce and all-rounder Sheneta Grimmond have been added, while another all-rounder Chinelle Henry makes a return to the 13-member squad.
Lead Selector for Women’s cricket, Ann Browne-John said: “The fourth and fifth ODIs will give the selectors an opportunity to have a look at some of the young players who have been on the bench and this would give a better assessment of the depth of the team. Qiana Joseph, who has been quite impressive with her left arm orthodox bowling and has played all six T20 and ODI matches so far, has been rested for this match. She has definitely been a find for the team. Rashada Williams also competently fitted into the opening batter position. As we prepare for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, the players have these two final matches to dig deep and get some scores and fine-tune their bowling.”
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots claimed their first-ever Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title as they defeated the Saint Lucia Kings by three wickets in a closely contested encounter at Warner Park.
The Saint Lucia Kings won the toss and chose to bat, as they did in their semi-final match. Despite losing wickets at key stages of the game, they built a total around the batting of Roston Chase, who stabilized the innings, allowing the likes of Rahkeem Cornwall and Keemo Paul to play with attacking intent and guide them to 159/7.
In what was a dramatic final, the Patriots managed to successfully chase their target with Dominic Drakes the hero with the bat, scoring 48 off 24 balls and securing a remarkable victory with the last ball of the match.
Michael Holding is set to bring to a close one of the most distinguished modern broadcasting careers when he hangs up his mic at the end of this season. Holding has been part of Sky Sports commentary team for over two decades now, a role he has fulfilled with at least as much distinction as his playing career. Holding is widely regarded as one of the game's greatest pace bowlers, playing 60 Tests and 102 ODIs for West Indies from 1975 to 1987, and becoming an integral part of the all-conquering West Indies' sides of the era.
He began his commentary career in 1988 in the Caribbean, and quickly brought the same grace to the commentary box as his run-up during his playing days, an approach so smooth it earned him the nickname of 'Whispering Death'. But Holding, 66, never held back from expressing some forthright opinions on the game, not least that he wouldn't commentate in domestic T20 leagues because he thought it wasn't cricket.
