Tue, Mar 8, '22
Tuesday marks the start of the three-Test Apex series between the West Indies and England. The visitors have not won a Test series in the Caribbean since their3-0 triumph in 2004, the same series in which Brian Lara scored a world record 400 not out in the fourth Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
In 2019, when the teams last met in the Caribbean, the hosts secured a 2-1 series win and West Indies head coach Phil Simmons wants his team to keep the trend alive.
“We’re looking to play the cricket that we know will put us in a position to win the series. We’re trying to make sure we’re ready for everything England can throw at us,” the Trinidadian head coach said during a pre-match press conference on Monday while indicating that it will critical for the hosts to build strong opening partnerships when they bat.
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Tue, Mar 8, '22
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has today announced FanCraze and their Crictos.com digital collectibles programme as new partners of the West Indies Test team and of CWI. The Crictos.com branding will appear on the playing shirts of the West Indies Men’s Team throughout the Apex Test Series between the West Indies and England which starts today, Tuesday March 8, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
CWI and FanCraze have signed a multi-year partnership to develop an NFT programme and metaverse products featuring the West Indies players and archive. Crictos launched in 2021 as the digital collectibles programme partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The partnership signifies the start of developing the official digital collectibles for the West Indies teams featuring current players and key archive moments. This will give West Indies fans all around the world the chance to own pieces of West Indies cricketing history through innovative blockchain technology, which will also provide more opportunities for digital trading cards, games and experiences based on the West Indies men’s and women’s players.
Mon, Mar 7, '22
Hayley Matthews says her hundred against New Zealand in Friday’s opening game of the ICC Women’s World Cup has provided her with a confidence booster for the coming matches.
The 23-year-old struck a career-best 119 – her third One-Day International century – as the Caribbean side defeated the hosts by three runs in a sensation finish at Bay Oval.
A late choice to open the innings following injury to Rashada Williams, the right-hander said she overcame nerves before finding her stride.
“[It has] definitely given me a lot of confidence, I guess, [to] go out there and bat my skills,” Matthews told reporters.
Read more at Jamaica Gleaner
Mon, Mar 7, '22
Marquee seamer Kemar Roach said on Saturday that the surprise omission of icons Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad had given West Indies an important boost ahead of their upcoming three-Test series against England, but warned that the tourists still carried a massive threat.
Anderson and Broad, the most decorated seamers in England history with 1,177 Test wickets between them, were both snubbed for the March 8-28 tour as England selectors revamped the squad following the recent Ashes disaster.
While Roach said their absence would leave “a hole” in the England attack, he underscored the danger still posed by the fast-bowling trio of Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.
“[Their omission was] quite surprising. I thought, definitely, both of them would be still involved, but the decisions have been made from that end,” Roach told a media conference on Saturday, ahead of tomorrow’s start of the opening Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Read more at Jamaica Gleaner
Mon, Mar 7, '22
West Indies middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner insists the approach toward England will be the same despite the visitors missing two of their most experienced fast bowlers in Stuart Broad and James Anderson.
The duo was unexpectedly dropped for the tour of the Caribbean, albeit being England’s leading wicket-takers. Since 2004, Anderson has played 22 matches against the West Indies and taken 87 wickets, the most by any England player, 36 of those wickets have come in 10 matches in the Caribbean. His best figures of 7 for 49 also came against the West Indies in 2017.
“It’s a Test match nevertheless, whether Anderson or Broad are playing. Obviously, they still have quality bowlers and the same application is required,” Bonner told members of the media on Saturday.
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