The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, named after iconic West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago batsman Brian Charles Lara, belonged to 26-year-old off-spinner Bryan Charles today. Confused? So were the Jamaica Scorpions, as Charles finished with 6/48 with the visitors skittled out for 141. Scorpions stars Jermaine Blackwood and …
Read More »Media Monitor: Why CWI Media’s Covid-enforced changes would not have cramped Cozier’s style
Kraigg Brathwaite embarrassed us all in the second innings of the Second Test in Sri Lanka last month but few seemed to notice. The West Indies Test skipper finished with 1/11 in his five overs after ending a troublesome 51-run sixth wicket partnership by having Ramesh Mendis caught by Kemar …
Read More »McWatt and ‘Reds’: Hayley, Seales and Brathwaite shine in 2021, but results, fitness and selections stink
“[…] Since making his debut on 10 June against South Africa, 20-year-old Jayden Seales has captured 16 wickets in just four Tests, while demonstrating the pace and accuracy that are the hallmarks of all great fast bowlers. “[…] However, during 2021, the West Indies’ […] final win/loss ratio was a …
Read More »Media Monitor: Maroon maulings, batting blues but blackout on WI batting coach Monty Desai
Where, pray, is Monty Desai? And what, pray, does the current West Indies batting coach contribute to regional cricket? I think those are two questions that need urgent answers. But I really don’t know whether—should we decide to direct them to CWI media officer Dario Barthley or through him—they will …
Read More »CWI axes selectors Harper, Bascombe; head coach Simmons to lead pro-tem panel
Appointed as lead selector for two years in mid-October 2019, Roger Harper got a two-month extension until the end of the current year. But that’s it! Cricket West Indies today announced that neither the former off-spinner nor Miles Bascombe, the second member of the three-member panel, will have his contract …
Read More »Media Monitor: Cricket coverage in the time of Covid; is the CWI media officer friend or foe?
Covid-19 has forced the postponement of the ODI half of the West Indies’ 2021 six-match Pakistan tour, six players and three team officials being required to withdraw into quarantine. We know eight names: Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, assistant coach Roddy Estwick and …
Read More »McWatt and Reds: Brilliant Permaul, stubborn Blackwood and SOS for a leg-spin coach after Sri Lanka series
“[…] The very first order of business […] must be for us to immediately place our order for a very large double serving of curried crow, with some Guyanese plain rice on the side […] following the totally unanticipated, on our part at least, outstanding Second Test bowling performance of …
Read More »B&B (Trailer): ‘Reds’ Perreira says West Indies players prematurely rewarded for Bangladesh Test win
Renowned West Indies commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira suggests that the Cricket West Indies (CWI) acted prematurely in offering two-year contracts to players in the wake of the Test series win away to Bangladesh, but still sees the makings of a competitive team there. Look out for Perreira’s full interview on …
Read More »Pakistan roar back to level at 1-1 with easy 109-run win over West Indies
A T20-Powerplay-style opening partnership between Abid Ali (29 off 23 balls) and Imran Butt (37 off 44) on Monday afternoon pushed the door open for Babar Azam’s Pakistan to level the two-match Test series at 1-1 at Sabina Park on Tuesday. But it was Man-of-the-Match (10 wickets for 94 runs) …
Read More »Best: Brathwaite’s West Indies lose it; whom the gods wish to destroy?
Just after 11.30 am with lunch approaching, Kyle Mayers, on 34, tried to club Kagiso Rabada over midwicket. A problem? Well, the ball was just short of a good length and, more importantly, well outside off-stump. It was not the first time; in the second innings of the First Test, …
Read More »Best: Is Holder’s unbirthday gift enough to take Brathwaite’s WI over the line?
Joshua da Silva had a birthday on Labour Day, Day Two of the Second Test between West Indies and South Africa. His former skipper Jason Holder will turn 30 on November 5 so yesterday would have been his unbirthday. He celebrated it in style, giving the side he once captained …
Read More »De Kock, S/African pacers shine as Proteas make light work of woeful WI
Dean Elgar’s seventh-ranked South Africa needed only seven sessions to coast past Kraigg Brathwaite’s feckless West Indies in the First Test in St Lucia on Saturday. Well-deserved five-fers by the frontline quicks in both innings and a long-awaited, well-paced century by former South Africa skipper Quinton de Kock made the …
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