The story about Kieron Pollard’s recently signed consultancy contract has not got a lot of traction in the media. But if Bobby is right, it could make a big difference to the outcome of this year’s World Cup. Twelve years ago in 2011, Pollard was offered a retainer contract by …
Read More »Holder, Mayers skip Australia Tests for T20 cricket; WI name seven uncapped players
West Indies will be without allrounder Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers for their two-Test series against Australia next month, as both players opted “to explore T20 franchise opportunities in January”. Holder, according to Espn Cricinfo, will compete in the International League T20 (ILT20) tournament in UAE next month instead. The …
Read More »Dear editor: Desmond Haynes had last laugh; Carty and Athanaze have great potential
“[…] (West Indies lead selector) Desmond Haynes has silenced the critics with this series victory in emphatic fashion. “Keacy Carty has the potential, I now understand why there is that focus on him, same with Alick Athanaze. Their techniques are ideal for top order batters—in this format that is…” The …
Read More »Pooran, Holder and Mayers decline WI contracts; CWI announces 2023-24 list
Cricket West Indies (CWI) today confirmed their list of centrally contracted men’s and women’s players for the 2023-24 season, based on “recommendations from the selection panels and approval by the board of directors”. There are 14 men and 15 women on the list, which is drawn up “based on player …
Read More »To boycott or not to boycott? Boo, not bravo, to I-Sports’ birdbrained idea!
“People are like animals,” a long-running promo for the two weekly I-Sports programmes asserts, “and sometimes they need to be treated that way on I-Sports.” The Reckless One, who hosts the bi-weekly sessions, has launched a public campaign for us all to boycott this month’s two West Indies versus England …
Read More »Bravo and Boycott: They’re both not playing; WI must resist insularity
As if West Indies cricket does not already have enough problems, what with our failure to qualify for the last two white ball World Cups (20 and 50 overs), we now have the spectre of insularity rearing its ugly head once more. It takes me back to the late 1960s …
Read More »Dear editor: Why not Bravo for Dowrich? ICC should normalise CWI!
“[…] The last straw is in [the CWI’s] media release of Shane Dowrich’s retirement announcement, indicating that a replacement won’t be named. What the hell is that supposed to mean? “[…] Every squad announced by the West Indies is supposed to have reserve players selected. It’s a home series for …
Read More »Discarded Darren bides his time, DJ Bravo throws WI selectors under the bus
At 34, Darren Bravo probably did not have his eyes on a place in the West Indies squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup. West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes is certain that he should not have been looking towards the South Africa/Namibia/Zimbabwe tournament. But was Bravo a shoo-in for …
Read More »Benjamin: Why WI never got the best out of Sunil Narine
By his own admission a man of few words, Sunil Narine once found enough of them to point accusing fingers at the TTCB and its president. Azim Bassarath had emailed TTCB board members using language that highly offended the then high-profile national player. “Let him start to Bowl !!!!!!” the …
Read More »Orwell’s take on Maxwell’s incredible no-foot batting, Cummins’ wotlissness and West Indian purblindness
The spirit of George Orwell lay heavy over Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday evening after favourites Australia got past underdogs Afghanistan in the 50-over World Cup match. Over the entrance to the losers’ dressing room, my mind’s eye saw, adapted, the legend from his Animal Farm: ‘Two legs good, no …
Read More »Challenging Dr Rowley—after Colm doesn’t cough up cash for cricket clubs
Budget Day. As usual, many citizens are waiting to hear what goodies are coming their way this year. Most are focused on Finance Minister Colm Imbert. What, they are asking, will the Finance Minister deliver today? But some others, not so much. What ball, we untypical Trini cricket fans are …
Read More »Remembering Shirvan Pragg: “one of the best all-rounders West Indies never had”
It’s coming up to 41 years since Shirvan Pragg left us. The car accident that took his life in November 1982 will never be forgotten by so many of us. I was on the other side of the universe, in southern France, when news of Shirvan’s fatal accident reached me. …
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