“Chanderpaul, eyes focused like a laser on the ball from run up to the moment he demolishes it with his trademark pull/sweep, raises his bat, and kisses the pitch as the ball ricochets back off the boundary. The “Tiger” has reached yet another half century, this one the most important of all.” That was a few days ago, as Guyanese and Caribbean cricket legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former captain of the West Indies team, ICC’s Hall of Fame inductee, West Indian hero, and one of cricket’s most celebrated players, attained 50 years old.
Deserving appreciations for this unsung hero from Unity village, Guyana, who was denied the chance to become the leading test scorer in West Indies cricket, and “forced to retire,” when his career was unceremoniously derailed by Dave Cameron’s and the WICB’s whimsical and spiteful actions, poured in, not least in “Little Guyana,” where he is revered. The left-handed batsman scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51, with 30 centuries in an illustrious career of 164 Tests to end at the second place in the list of all-time West Indies run scorers, 86 runs short of legendary Brian Lara with 11,953 runs.
TWO years after announcing her shock retirement from the international women's game, all-action Barbados allrounder Deandra Dottin says her passion and desire to help the West Indies lift another Twenty/20 World Cup title contributed to her decision to come out of retirement.
In July 2022, Dottin confirmed her retirement from the West Indies, saying, "the current climate and team environment has been non-conductive to my ability to thrive and reignite my passion."
"With much sadness but without regret," Dottin said, "I realise that I'm no longer able to adhere to team culture and team environment as it has undermined my ability to perform excellently."
However, on July 27, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the 33-year-old Dottin's return to the maroon set-up.
As she prepares to lead Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) women into a third season of the women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), Dottin told Newsday about the motivating factors behind her move to suit back up for the West Indies.
"It was a matter of reflection. Just looking back and seeing where I was and where I want to be. What had happened in the past and stuff like that. It was just a lot of thinking in between," Dottin said, during an interview on August 16.
The leadership of the West Indies cricket team is at a very serious, unenviable level at present.
It seems there is a severe lack of cricket knowledge – and a total shortage of what is required to produce a winning combination.
When I read the utterances of the coach, Andre Coley, and the captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, on the WI team, I can’t help but wonder who the selectors are.
After being annihilated by England, three Test matches to none, in England, WI must have been looking forward to playing South Africa at home, to give a better showing.
Alas! It was not to be. In a series of only two Tests, the first at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad was badly affected by the weather. The second was played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, where WI were destroyed in three days.
The pitches for the first two matches at New York's Nassau County Stadium during the men's T20 World Cup 2024, as well as the one for the semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, have been rated "unsatisfactory" by the ICC.
The verdict comes nearly two months after the tournament, which India won by beating South Africa in the final.
In those two games in New York, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 77 against South Africa on June 3, and Ireland were shot out for 96 by India two days later.
In the second game, a number of players from the two sides copped blows on the body as a result of the uneven bounce. Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt as a precautionary measure after being hit on the upper arm by Josh Little. Rishabh Pant, too, was struck on the body by Little, while Ireland's Harry Tector was struck on the finger by a short ball from Jasprit Bumrah.
ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA – Cricket West Indies (CWI) will hold elections for the office of the Vice President on September 20, 2024. On Tuesday, August 8, 2024, at a Board of Directors meeting, in consideration of the recent judicial pronouncement from the High Court of Guyana concerning the challenge to the Vice President's election initiated by the Guyana Cricket Board, the decision was made to have the re-elections as soon as possible. This decision means that Mr. Azim Bassarath has vacated the office of Vice President for CWI.
Commenting on the Board's position, CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow said,
"This situation presents an invaluable opportunity to strengthen the CWI Memorandum and Articles of Association. Over time, policies and frameworks will always be tested. As a Board, we must remain open-minded and committed to evolving in all aspects; this circumstance is a testament to such fact," said Dr Shallow.
