The West Indies went into Saturday’s T20I against the best team in the world, in England, under immense pressure. This, following the Caribbean side’s defeat to Ireland in their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, a first-ever ODI series win for the Irish over the West Indies.
And it wouldn’t have helped the dread accompanying the approach of this series, that the last time the two teams met was when England embarrassed the West Indies to the tune of 55 all-out at the 2021 T20 World Cup. But the West Indies had other plans with the sun on its journey down, on Saturday evening in Barbados.
And Sheldon Cottrell delivered an opening over that would set the template for the innings after Kieron Pollard won the toss and threw him the new-ball.
Dot, dot, dot, dot. Smacked through mid-wicket for SIX! Then, BOOM! Cottrell swings it, Jason Roy misses it, and the stumps are disrupted.
The West Indies U-19s would have been eyeing a place in the Super League stages of the U-19 World Cup when Sri Lanka U-19s won the toss and chose to field on Friday in Basseterre. And the Caribbean opening pair was able to put on 20 for the first wicket before Matthew Nandu was trapped in front in the 6th over.
Shaqkere Parris then followed his fellow opener back to the pavilion just 14 runs later, bringing Kevin Wickham and Teddy Bishop together at the crease. And in a recovery effort, the two put on 68 runs for the 3rd wicket. One half-century partnership followed another, as Wickham (56) then teamed up with Jordan Johnson (47), this time for 58 runs.
And when the West Indies lost three wickets for eight runs, to slip from 194/4 to 202/7, Rivaldo Clarke and McKenny Clarke ensured the Caribbean side got to the 250-mark, upping the tempo with an 18-ball 46-run stand, which produced 4 sixes and 2 fours.
Former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler, Anthony ‘Tony’ Gray insists that while West Indies Head Coach, Phil Simmons, and white-ball captain, Kieron Pollard’s outputs should be assessed, they do not have the necessary tools at their disposal to lead the West Indies to success in International cricket.
“CWI must review the performance levels of Phil Simmons and also Kieron Pollard,” Gray said.
“[But] Pollard doesn’t have the tools to work with; he has a lot of young players, inexperienced players, coming into the one-day game.”
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - Cricket West Indies (CWI) today congratulated Anisa Mohammed and Hayley Matthews on being named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s One Day International (ODI) Team of the Year.
Experienced off-spinner Anisa Mohammed finished 2021 as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets with at an average of 18.00, being one of the most economical bowlers conceding at just 3.61 runs per over. Her best figures in 2021 came in the second CG Insurance ODI against Pakistan Women at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, where she took 4 wickets for 27 runs in her 9.4 overs bowled.
Rookie West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith will have some big shoes to fill for the West Indies T20 side when they take on England in the first of five matches in Barbados this weekend.
While Smith says he wants to put his stamp on the team and international cricket, the burly right-hander knows he will have his work cut out for him with tough assignments ahead.
“Andre Russell’s shoes are hard to fit in, but I am working on my game and, hopefully in the future, my reputation will be built up to a standard of his,” says Smith.
