Evin Lewis last played for the West Indies in November of 2021; due in part to positive COVID results, and what Cricket West Indies (CWI) described as personal reasons. He was then not considered for the Caribbean side’s trips to the Netherlands and Pakistan earlier this year. Unfit, CWI reasoned at the time, with Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes stating, “As a professional cricketer, there’s a level of fitness that is required, and all players should try to reach that.” [Jamaica Gleaner]
On the floor of these culminating bases, Lewis missed 26 T20 Internationals (T20Is) across seven series in the eleven months that followed. Though seemingly fit again and a part of the West Indies squad to contend for the title of 2022 T20 World Champions in Australia, the emergence of Kyle Mayers the T20 batter, along with the form of Brandon King hold firm a probability which was unimaginable a year ago: Lewis might not make the final XI.
Lewis’ History of Consistency
And here’s why it was unimaginable. Whether via a quick peek or through a detailed examination, Lewis’ T20I career tells a story of consistency. Yet, at the age of 30, his status on the International scene continues to be understated, regionally. I have gone from once speculating the rationale behind the subconscious abandon with which Caribbean fans dismiss Lewis’ body of work; to now observing the appreciation for the left-handed opener from the thinkers of the game, the detailed-oriented analysts, and the tactical geniuses.
AS THE start of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup approaches, the West Indies cricket team continues to prepare for the big occasion. which bowls off in Australia on 15 October.
Their first assignment to acclimatise themselves was a two-game T20 series against the home team and defending champions, Australia.
The first game at the Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast was a close affair in which WI lost by three wickets. However, some poor cricket was played. Winning this game could have made all the difference as a confidence-booster. The way the game was lost reveals a deep lack of confidence.
Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell was given the responsibility of starting the final over to the left-handed Matthew Wade, with the Aussies needing 11 to win. Being slapped for four in the first delivery reduced the deficit to seven. Wade, with that boundary, moved his personal score to 43, then scooped the next delivery into the air, was dropped by Raymon Reifer at deep cover and gained two runs in the process.
Former West Indies captain Sir Richie Richardson received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his contribution to sport at the UWI Five Islands Campus graduation ceremony on Saturday.
Speaking at the event in Antigua and Barbuda, Richardson, 60, urged Caribbean people from “small islands” to never look at themselves as being small, because they all had big hearts and could compete with anyone in the world.
Richardson told the graduating class of 2022 that he was proud to be an ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda, and proud to represent the region as a cricketer.
“I remain optimistic and hopeful that the WI will return to being the best cricketing team in the world someday, hopefully pretty soon.”
Jamaica and West Indies opener John Campbell has been banned for four years by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCo) after failing to provide a blood sample to doping control officers in April 2022.
In an 18-page ruling, Campbell who was charged with evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection, a three-member independent panel, found that the player was intentional in his actions.
"The panel is persuaded to a comfortable degree of satisfaction that the athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation, namely a breach of JADCO rule 2.3.
ST JOHN'S: West Indies Men will travel to South Africa for an all-format tour which will feature two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals. The two-match Test Series will commence at SuperSport Park in Centurion from February 28 to March 4 followed by the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg from March 8-12. This series will be the final round of matches in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
The three-match ODI Series will begin at Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium in East London (March 16 and 18) before the series wraps up JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom (March 21). The three KFC T20Is will take the teams back to SuperSport Park (March 25 and 26) and conclude at the Wanderers (March 28).
