Leon Johnson, captain of the Guyana Harpy Eagles, made a shocking revelation on Tuesday evening when he appeared on Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, stating that he learnt of his selection to the 13-man squad for the first two rounds of the West Indies Four-Day Championship through a post on Facebook.
“I saw the team on Facebook!” the long-standing captain of the Harpy Eagles revealed in response to a question on whether he was informed of the squad selected.
Pressed by host Andrew Mason to clarify his statement, Johnson responded: “…would I make that up?”
On the evening of January 20, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) released the squad to the media, but according to the distinguished captain, there was no prior communication to him on the squad from any official of the Bissoondyal Singh-led board.
The West Indies Women suffered a 10-wicket defeat to South Africa Women in the fourth T20 International of the Women’s Tri-Series at Buffalo Park.
Hayley Matthews 34(26) and Shabika Gajnabi 33(34) posted a 61-run partnership as West Indies Women posted 97/6 (20 overs). Tumi Sekhukhune was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-0-21-2 followed by Nonkululeko Mlaba with 4-2-7-1.
South Africa Women's openers Laura Wolvaardt (42*) and Tazmin Brits made quick work of chasing down the target, with Brits scoring a half-century (50*) and hitting the winning runs. The South Africa Women reached 98/0 in 13.4 overs. For the West Indies, Karishma Ramharack had the most economical bowling figures of 3-0-17-0.
West Indies Test Captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been named in the International Cricket Council's men's Test Team of the Year, following a successful year with the bat.
The 30-year-old averaged 62 in seven Tests during the last calendar year, scoring two hundreds — a marathon 160 against England in Bridgetown and a fine 110 against Australia in Perth in December.
Brathwaite's West Indies teammates, batsman Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, were also honoured by the ICC, named in the men's One-Day International Team of the Year.
"I'm very privileged and honoured to be named as a member of the Test team," said Brathwaite, who recently arrived in Zimbabwe for the two-Test tour against the hosts, starting next month.
Left-handed batsman Alick Athanaze, 24, has been named captain of the Windward Islands Volcanoes to participate in the 2023 West Indies Championship. His deputy will be left-arm pacer Preston McSween.
This would be Windward Islands’ first full Four-Day Championship in over two decades without the prolific runs scorer Devon Smith, who retired last season.
Right-arm leg-spinning all-rounder Abhijai Mansingh and fast bowler Ojay Shields are the only new faces named in a 13-man Jamaica Scorpions squad for the first two rounds of the upcoming Regional Four-Day Championship.
The Jamaica Scorpions are scheduled to play the Leeward Hurricanes in the first round and then the Barbados Pride in the second round with both matches to be played in Antigua.
Off-spinner Akim Fraser also makes a return to the squad after missing the last regional championship due to injury while seamer Marquino Mindley has also returned from injury and is expected to spearhead the pace attack which includes Gordon Bryan.
The other spinners named are Patrick Harty and Jamie Merchant with Aldane Thomas once again selected to don the gloves behind the stumps.
