Cricket West Indies (CWI) is pleased to announce the West Indies Men's Under 19 team that will host their Sri Lankan counterparts in a seven-match Youth ODI series from 25 August to 16 September, in Antigua.
The highly anticipated series will showcase the Caribbean's most promising cricket talent as Barbadian Joshua Dorne leads the squad against Sri Lanka at two of the island’s premier venues.
The opening four matches will take place at Coolidge Cricket Ground and the series will conclude at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Dorne, a dynamic batsman, recently led his countrymen to the Rising Stars Under-19 title while earning MVP honours along the way with a tournament-high 328 runs.
He leads a well-balanced squad featuring a unique blend of batting firepower and bowling skill, comprised of the best performers from the recently concluded regional Under-19 tournament.
The phenomenal rise of Barbadian cricketer Jacob Bethell in the ranks of the England team has been met with tremendous approval, as he is seen as a major player in the game.
On Friday, the England and Wales Board for Cricket (ECB) announced Bethell, the grandson of former Barbados player Arthur Bethell, would lead the team on a white ball tour to Ireland in late September.
Roland Butcher, the first Barbadian to play for England, said it was a “bold statement” by England as demonstrated Bethell’s excellence at his youthful age. He also indicated that the former Harrison College student will have to prove his mettle.
“England’s appointment of Jacob Bethell as their youngest-ever cricket captain is a bold statement of faith in his talent and leadership. Born in Barbados and nurtured at the Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence, Bethell has long been earmarked for greatness, combining flair with a mature cricketing brain,” Butcher told Nation News.
During the July 17-20 International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual conference held in Singapore, Cricket West Indies (CWI) leadership presented the organisation’s bold vision for greater collaboration across the Americas.
In addition to the ICC’s full member stakeholders, the conference brought together representatives from the cricket associations in the Americas including USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Bermuda, and The Bahamas, all committed to harnessing the sport’s surging popularity throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Headlining the presentation was the proposed establishment of La Federación de Críquet de las Américas (FECA) to formalize relationships and serve as a unified, collaborative platform for the exchange of ideas and development initiatives.
Fifteen of the region's most promising female cricketers have embarked on a specialized training camp at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in India, as part of Cricket West Indies (CWI) expansion and continuation of its groundbreaking India development program.
The female contingent, accompanied by head coach Merissa Aguilleira, assistant coaches Ryan Hinds and Tremayne Smartt and team manager Yasmine St Ange, departed Barbados for India on August 12 ahead of the comprehensive two-week program, which runs from 13 to 30 August.
The 15-member group features some players capped at senior level including Ashmini Munisar, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Mandy Mangru and Nerissa Crafton, in addition to present and former West Indies Under 19 stars Naijanni Cumberbatch, Niya Latchman, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Steffie Soogrim and Selena Ross.
“I believe this was a moment that called for a more expansive and inclusive approach. We must recognise that the challenges confronting West Indies cricket extend far beyond inconsistent performances on the field,” said West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, who was part of the two-day emergency meeting called by Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow.
The meeting, which took place on Monday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, aimed at addressing critical challenges facing West Indies cricket and formulating immediate structural reforms of the top sport in the region with contributions from members of the Cricket Strategy & Officiating Committee along with former West Indies players Dr Desmond Haynes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ian Bradshaw, and special invitees Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards and Lara.
In a press release on Friday, Lara, who holds the world-batting record of 400 runs in Test cricket, said, “It was an honour to be called upon to contribute to the future of West Indies cricket, particularly at a time as pivotal as this. I do not take lightly the responsibility of offering whatever insight or assistance I can. The opportunity to serve is something I embrace wholeheartedly, and I remain committed to the cause.”
