“[…] West Indies cricket fans all over the world should now be overjoyed with the most wonderful news of Cricket West Indies’ announced intentions to create an Antigua Coolidge Cricket Centre-based Emerging Players Annual Academy. “[…] Many will expect that legends such as Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir …
Read More »Best: Pooran, Ambrose, big-money IPL contracts and WI; what sweet in goat mouth…
Toute vérité, we’ve been told, n’est pas bonne à dire. Even if is true, yuh doh have to say it… But 26-year-old would-be West Indies white ball captain Nicholas Pooran wouldn’t hesitate to tell you that it’s really sweet when your dreams come true. And 58-year-old former WI pacer Curtly …
Read More »Skerritt’s ‘introselection’ explained; why CWI presidents want no West Indies sole selector
Sick! Toxic! CWI president Ricky Skerritt has not actually uttered those words in public. Not yet. But two recent references to ‘mischief-makers’ tell us that this quiet, even-tempered Kittitian gentleman has had it up to here with what goes on behind closed doors in CWI. And in plain sight in …
Read More »Media Monitor: Unamusing musings the morning after Holder’s WI miracle the night before
Although they may not admit it, people do not like to be wrong; certainly, nobody likes to be seen to be wrong. Sometimes, however, you rejoice that you did not get it right. And you are overjoyed that you resisted the temptation to rush into print to share the view …
Read More »McWatt and ‘Reds’: England T20 series is acid test for WI captain and team; Skerritt’s struggles
“[…] For West Indies cricket fans, an ODI series defeat to Ireland, following immediately as it would be on the team’s ignominious loss of the T20 series in Pakistan, would be incomprehensible. Even more so because the Pakistan series loss was preceded by the WI’s most embarrassing and highly forgettable …
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 »Farewell Harper, welcome Sherfane! McWatt and ‘Reds’ suggest 15 WI players to new CWI selectors
“[…] Assuming everyone is fully fit and in sufficiently good form, if the 2022 World Cup 15-member squad were to be picked today, there would be at least eight players who would be considered by most to be automatic selections. “Discounting Kieron Pollard’s participation in any possible manner, the referenced …
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: Simmons to blame for pathetic WI? Howzat for ‘responsible’ journalism?!
Current West Indies coach Phil Simmons is a lucky man. Replying to Sri Lanka’s 386 all out in the First Test in Galle last month, Kraigg Brathwaite’s West Indies reached a precarious 100 for 6 in their first innings. And then, chasing 348 for victory, they found themselves at a …
Read More »Gayle, Rampaul and Fletcher make way, as CWI names WI white ball teams for Pakistan tour
Veteran batsman Chris Gayle, pacer Ravi Rampaul and wicket-keeper/batsman Andre Fletcher were overlooked by the Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel today, as CWI announced 20 players for the West Indies tour of Pakistan next month. West Indies will play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and as many T20 Internationals (T20Is) …
Read More »‘Reds’ and McWatt: ‘Pure, unadulterated rubbish?’ We beg to differ, Mr Best!
The following is a response from veteran West Indies cricket commentator ‘Reds’ Perreira and Toronto-based Canadian Cricket’s media relations manager Tony McWatt to columnist Earl Best’s criticism of their 2021 T20 Cricket World Cup post-mortem: Wired868’s renowned writer Earl Best has recently, publicly, described the suggestions contained in our Tony-Reds …
Read More »Media Monitor: Two Tonys and a ‘Reds’; would Cozier have condoned that crazy WI analysis?
Asked to name a West Indies all-time best squad, Lloyd Best, a serious and respected commentator on all things West Indian, selected him first. The role played by the doyen of West Indian cricket writers in the promotion of regional cricket, Best was making the point, was more important than …
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