Cricket

For 32 years since Viv Richards’ West Indies beat Australia by nine wickets at the Gabba, no other country successfully breached that fortress.  Of the 31 matches played there between that defeat and this year, the home side had drawn seven and won 24. But without its appointed captain and …

In today’s Third ODI, West Indies won the toss, the only outcome that was not seemingly pre-ordained. They opted not to bat first; cynics who watched all three games might be tempted to omit the last word.  When they did eventually take their turn at the crease in Chattogram, halfway …

It’s enough to wipe the smile off your face. Or make you disrespect anyone else who is within earshot. On the radio on Friday morning, the announcer broke the news this way: “As expected, Bangladesh defeated the West Indies by seven wickets in the second ODI earlier today.” That she …

The West Indies touring squad to Bangladesh was dealt another blow today as leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr was ruled out for the upcoming three match ODI series, after testing positive for Covid-19. Walsh, an Antiguan leg-spinner, flew to Dhaka last week after two negative PCR tests in the Caribbean. He …

“At a time when aggressive, proactive international captaincy is in short supply,” writes Ian Chappell, in discussing Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership in the absence of Virat Kohli, “India are fortunate to have two leaders who both understand the value of taking wickets over containing the opposition.” At a time when aggressive, …

Under normal circumstances, you’d struggle to be well represented if 12 of your top players suddenly announced that they were unavailable for an imminent tour. But with the world in the throes of a global pandemic for the last year, January/February 2021 is anything but normal. So, unsurprisingly, Sir Clive …

Newly appointed West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite insisted that his team are flying to Bangladesh in confident spirits, despite missing a dozen senior players including regular captain Jason Holder. The West Indies departed from Barbados in two tranches on Thursday and Friday night. All squad members returned two negative Covid-19 PCR tests, as …

Five overs. For an ODI captain, those 30 balls are sometimes a real test. Think West Indies Test captain Jason Holder bidding just to keep the ball in the park when AB De Villiers took a liking to his bowling in the ICC World Cup in Sydney in 2015. Five …

As the West Indies second-string cricketers prepare to fly out to Bangladesh for a three-ODI, two-Test tour, expectation levels are way, way down. Unsurprisingly, not too many people seem terribly optimistic about the account this depleted bunch will give of itself.  And it’s not just the man-in-the-street who’s making little …

“[…] Judging from [Roger] Harper’s statement before the New Zealand tour, one would have to assume that [Kraigg] Brathwaite’s batting performances on the England tour and the matches immediately preceding the New Zealand series were of concern to the selectors.  “Given his scores in New Zealand, how does the move …

West Indies Test captain Jason Holder and One-Day International captain Kieron Pollard are among 10 cricketers who rejected call-ups for next month’s tour of Bangladesh due to ‘Covid-19 related concerns or personal fears’. The other players who ‘declined the opportunity to tour’ for similar reasons are: Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston …

A cricket match, a very wise man once wrote, is played in the minds of the opposing captains. The leader’s performance between the two sets of stumps may well contribute to the eventual outcome of any given match. But if he fails to perform consistently between the ears, his team …