When we hear stories from victims of domestic abuse, sometimes we want to ask why did the victim stay in such an abusive relationship for as long as she did. Why endure such abuse, we wonder, when you could ‘easily’ just leave that toxic environment? Often the victim offers the …
Read More »Bangladesh make light work of West Indies; things look dark for Holder’s men
First, the good news: Jason Holder’s West Indies got a record-breaking performance in today’s crucial match-up against Bangladesh in Taunton, which they lost by seven wickets. The defeat effectively ends the WI chances of making the final four, their tally of three points likely to yield a maximum of nine …
Read More »W/Cup addict comments: Captaincy under the microscope; see Jason Holder squirm
It’s Brutus’ dilemma: If Jason Holder is removed as West Indies short-format captain, there is a good chance that he will go nowhere in the One-day game. If Jason Holder continues as West Indies short-format captain, there is a good chance that WI will go nowhere in the One-day game. …
Read More »Injury question marks as England down WI to go second; Caribbean Cavaliers in trouble
England duly got past an off-colour West Indies by eight wickets at the Rose Bowl in Southampton yesterday to move to second in the standings on six points from four games. Joe Root hit his second century of the tournament and England lost only Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes in …
Read More »W/Cup addict comments: How Holder’s howler compares with Kohli’s handling of his bowlers
Assistant coaches are the wretched of the earth; they may be called assistants but they offer little real help. Roddy Estwick is the assistant coach of the West Indies cricket team. According to Estwick, the West Indies’ 15-run defeat by Australia in last Friday’s crucial fixture, had “nothing to do …
Read More »Confessions of a World Cup addict: can West Indies turn water into wine?
We’d love nine wins! But six wins and three losses would be enough; with that round robin tally, Jason Holder and his 14 acolytes can feed the millions of West Indian mouths which have long hungered for World Cup cricketing success. That would be a miracle, you say? And so? …
Read More »Confessions of a World Cup addict: who against England?
“Often the bridesmaid,” a television commentator summed up England’s performance in the 11 World Cups so far contested, “never the bride.” The comment put a broad smile on my lips. And immediately afterwards, a disturbing thought in my mind. It wiped the smile completely off. Although the evidence, in my …
Read More »Holder in a monkey pants: West Indies is gouti, lappe or cockroach in fowl party?
When Jason Holder abandons the beaten track, it is to get back on to the main road. Conservative rather than adventurous, the West Indies all-formats captain opts for an oviparous style of captaincy, putting a premium on small gains and largely eschewing the daring that often yields success in shorter-format …
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 »Holder’s men in Tri-Nation final: which WI will turn up, calypso or collapso?
Did you see Monday evening’s World Cup programme or last week’s promo for it? The one in which ex-WI captain Darren Sammy matter-of-factly asserts that ‘West Indies are winning the World Cup’? I mean, really matter-of-factly. As if he were saying ‘The sun rises in the east.’ Promo and programme …
Read More »BC Lara’s Great GOAT Debate—Epilogue: priceless national treasures and the eye of the beholder
Brian Lara on song, cricket connoisseurs the world over agree, is an arresting, cathartic spectacle; it belongs, in the words of CLR James, who does not only cricket know, ‘with the theatre, ballet, opera and dance.’ A Brian Lara pull, right knee lifted high and torso swivelling rapidly but gracefully …
Read More »BC Lara’s Great GOAT Debate: The Prince at 50—Pt 2: looking back, forward, down and up
Columnist Earl Best concludes his series on legendary West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago batsman Brian Lara with an imagined interview with the Prince of Port-of-Spain: Earl Best (EB): Shane Warne calls some of Sachin Tendulkar innings “pretty amazing” and calls some of yours “unbelievable.” “I think if you wanted …
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