“World Cup front-runners like England and New Zealand have counterbalanced their explosive hitters, Jos Buttler and Martin Guptill, for example, with conventional, steady-headed players like Joe Root and Kane Williamson. They know that batting out the full 50 overs is key to victory. “The West Indies team management does not. …
Read More »Holder misleads West Indies and Aussies escape with a win
When the Jason Holder-led West Indians took on Australia in Nottingham yesterday, the five-times World Cup winners emerged victorious by a margin of 15 runs. Recovering from 58 for 4 and then 79 for 5, Aaron Finch’s Aussies went on to post a challenging 288. In reply, the West Indies …
Read More »Short on length, long on luck, West Indies blow away hapless Pakistan; but Bravo’s woes continue
On another day, it might have gone another way; the boot might well have been on the opposition’s foot. Yesterday, however, Jason Holder’s West Indies kicked some butt, embarrassing Pakistan with a rapid, convincing seven-wicket defeat. On a lively pitch in not unhelpful conditions, the West Indian pace attack exploited …
Read More »WI retooling? Holder finds only Allen key in bid to put spanner in Bangladesh works
“A man who took a wicket,” Richie asked, as West Indies captain Jason Holder summoned Fabian Allen to bowl over number 20 in Friday’s Tri-Nation Series final against Bangladesh, “to give himself a bowling average of 168 could be the key to Windies winning this?” “Crazy!!” he responded to his …
Read More »Best sees WI World Cup squad as not looking world-class but asks: Who we go put?
Twok! Twok! Twok! Twok! Four remarkable, meaty blows that sent Ben Stokes’ balls sailing over the boundary and unexpectedly won the 2016 T20 World Cup for West Indies. So, heeding Ian Bishop’s order, I have remembered the name Carlos Brathwaite. Likewise, clearly, the selectors. Three years after that unforgettable April …
Read More »CPL 18: Trinis to throng Tarouba to see triumphant TKR trounce Warriors
The biggest party in sport came back to the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba on Friday and the Trinis were in their glee. Chris Gayle’s STKNP were bidding to become the St Kitts and Nevis Party Poopers, thus confirming recent whispers by a little voice to the effect that, for …
Read More »Mind games: Why Holder’s Windies need men to lead them—on and off the field
If I didn’t so hate the taste of hair, I would recklessly have cocked a snook at Joel Garner and damblayed my much lamented, disastrous, so-far-off-the-mark post-First Test wager. At Lord’s, I was certain, Jason Holder’s West Indies were going once more to be blown out of the water. In …
Read More »CPL 17: Cooper gets a lover, Pollard gets a blank as TKR seal title number two
“Aye, Cooper, ah love yuh,” he shouted (Yes, he! No mistake! An older, balding gentleman whose gait suggested a certain unsteadiness that was perhaps liquid-provoked). “TKR is the greatest side in the world.” He was dressed in a Trinbago Knight Riders tee-shirt and waving a red bandanna energetically to and …
Read More »CPL 17: Cooper steals show to push Knight Riders to final victory over SKN Patriots
The Trinbago Knight Riders have a second CPL title in their hands, thanks to Kevon Cooper. Without the heroics the allrounder produced in the late stages of the TKR innings in their CPL final match-up last night, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots might well have walked away from the …
Read More »CPL 17: Celine Dion consolation for TKR as T&T lose twice in one night
“Every little thing’s gonna be alright,” Brenty M sang, quoting Bob Marley in an attempt to put the minds of the anxious Trinbago fans around us at rest. “But this is a big thing,” some wit behind us retorted, “so that eh happening tonight.” Under normal circumstances, the exchange might …
Read More »CPL 17: Cottrell charges as Patriots kayo kamikaze Knight Riders to march into CPL final
Sheldon Cottrell gleefully snaffled the easy return catch offered by Colin Munro and celebrated with a smart soldier’s salute. With military precision, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were on the march to their first Hero CPL finals. And at home at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba last night, …
Read More »CPL 17: Bravo’s down-sized TKR tackle Gayle’s Goliaths; can class trump form?
Boasting a spin attack that would be the envy of many teams in world cricket, Trinbago Knight Riders lost only two matches on their way to ending the round robin phase of this year’s Hero CPL T20 comfortably at the top of the table. But as they prepare to meet …
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