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Sherfane Rutherford aims to book a spot T20 World Cup squad: “I sleep with that on my mind”

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Sherfane Rutherford aims to use the upcoming ILT20 Season 2 as a platform to book a spot in the national squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and the Caribbean.

Rutherford scripted his way into cricketing folklore in season one of the DP World ILT20, after he bravely walked back on to the field, despite suffering a torn hamstring against the Gulf Giants in a crucial qualifier.

Rutherford scored 37 off 19 balls, fighting against excruciating pain, and helped his side storm into the final.

The West Indies star returns to the Desert Vipers squad for season two, and Head Coach James Foster could not be happier.

Foster said he was full of admiration for the courage and determination that Rutherford showed in that qualifier and throughout the campaign.

“What a tournament he (Sherfane Rutherford) had last year; he was a standout player for us with the impact he had in the campaign,” Foster was quoted as saying in a release.

“We all remember that qualifier and the way he tore his hamstring and that was the end of the tournament for him, and he came off (the field). But then he was adamant about going back out to play.

“Initially my reaction was to say ‘You cannot go back’, but he insisted. After a chat with (Desert Vipers Director of Cricket) Tom Moody, our incredible physio strapped him up and he went back. The way he performed after that, and banged out all those sixes, was simply incredible.

“But it was not just about that performance, it was about the whole tournament. He is a great guy, and great around the group and a very talented and gifted player, and I am delighted to see the recognition he has been given with the West Indies.”

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Rutherford spoke about that knock in last season’s qualifier which he considers one of the best of his career, having batted through pain.

“Going on to bat I was asking myself – what I was going to do? I was in in pain, and I could barely move. I did not have a plan, I just thought I would go out and do my best,” Rutherford recalled about the knock.

“I wanted to finish the tournament well. I guess it was a miracle because it went well, and something I will always remember. I enjoyed that innings, and it will be one of my best.”

While that was an unforgettable performance, Rutherford was impressive across the first season of the ILT20 where he scored an impressive 247 runs at a strike rate of 184.32, the second-best strike rate of any player in the tournament that played eight innings or more, behind only Keiron Pollard of MI Emirates (192.19).

Rutherford said it was all about putting in the work: “It (the DP World ILT20 campaign) was a good one, I actually played out of my skin, surprising myself once more.

“I actually trust my game and my process where I work hard. With hard work there is no limit, and there is a lot you can achieve by just working hard and that is the standout for me in performing and playing well.

“Doing well for me is about preparing well, and I think I have been doing that for the past few years. I am looking forward to the next season, and hopefully my hard work will continue to show on the field.”

The left-handed batter showed the real resolve while making a comeback from the hamstring injury after spending an extended period on the sidelines.

“Six months I was out and basically it was about recovery,” he said. “For the first few weeks I could not walk or do much for myself. It was painful, but in the end, it was a part of our journey and something to look back on and pat yourself on the back for coming back from it.”

Rutherford’s patience was rewarded, and he was recruited into the West indies short form squads, playing for his country in the ODI and T20I series against England at the end of 2023.

“It is good to play international cricket, it is something I have always wanted to do,” he told the Vipers Voices podcast.

“It is good to get back that feel of it. I am looking forward to playing more and extend my career and have a long run in international cricket as well.”

For Rutherford now, the goal is to remain in international contention and work even harder towards the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the summer in the West Indies and USA.

“I sleep with that on my mind, it keeps repeating itself in my head every day. That is one of my biggest motivations. It is a work in progress, but the good thing about the T20 World Cup is that it is being played in a few months,” he said.

“And I have a lot of cricket ahead (with the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League following the DP World ILT20). Playing cricket, I feel is going to give me the best chance of making the squad and also performing.”

And in the short-term, Rutherford said he was confident the Desert Vipers could lift the trophy this season in the International League T20.

“The key to winning the tournament and being a good team is to try and retain the core of the players and I think we have done that,” he said.

“We have picked some exceptionally good players, and I am very excited about catching up with the guys. “This is a good team, and I am confident that these are the guys who can put their hands up in every game and at the end of the tournament we can go one step further.”

The DP World ILT20 gets underway on Friday 19 January and the Desert Vipers’ first match is against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 21 January.

“I’m quite clear on the XI” – Kraigg Brathwaite ready to make ‘West Indies proud’ with inexperience squad in Australia

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West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is “quite clear” on the XI he will take into the first Test against Australia next week, which will include at least three debutants, and praised his largely inexperienced team with making good use of their warm-up match in Adelaide.

The three-day clash with Cricket Australia XI saw notable contributions from the top order, with Joshua Da Silva notching a century on the final day, complemented by Kavem Hodge’s scores of 52 and 99, and Justin Greaves twice making significant runs.

The Windies bowlers showcased their prowess, dismissing the CA XI for 174 in the first innings, spearheaded by the promising Shamar Joseph, who is poised for a debut alongside seasoned campaigners Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph in the upcoming Test.

As the Caribbean side gears up for the challenge, he expressed confidence in his carefully chosen combination. The Windies’ performance in the warm-up encounter has undoubtedly boosted their morale ahead of the impending Test clash with Australia.

“[I’m] quite clear on the XI. Very happy with how all the guys went about the camp [and] went about this game. This time next week it’s about making West Indies proud,” Brathwaite said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Though Brathwaite remained discreet about the specific lineup for the impending Test against Australia, insights from the warm-up match suggest that Hodge and Greaves are likely to debut at No. 5 and 6, respectively, alongside Shamar.

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, renowned for his 13-wicket haul against Zimbabwe a year ago, seems poised to assume the frontline spinner role, although the selectors may contemplate allrounder Kevin Sinclair’s noteworthy performance.

In the second innings, West Indies reshuffled their batting order, with Da Silva capitalizing on his opportunity with a century. Brathwaite expressed satisfaction with Hodge’s consistent contributions.

“[Da Silva] took it with both hands, the opportunity to open, and he batted for a long period which is what you want In Test cricket so that was good to see,” he said. “Very pleased with how [Hodge] showed he [could] come again in the second innings and do it. That’s what we want.”

Brathwaite (87 Tests) along with Roach (79 Tests) will have key roles to play in showing the way while Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alzarri were also on the previous tour.

“[You can talk about] different spells you would have faced, how the pitches played, there’s a lot of information shared,” Brathwaite said. “Obviously Kemar Roach leading the young bowling attack with experience of similar, how the Kookaburra ball reacts off these types of pitches, the lengths, especially with the new ball is very important.”

West Indies also caught well during the game – something Pakistan were unable to do during their Test series, which may have cost them the Melbourne Test.

“Catching is very important, especially here in Australia,” Brathwaite said. “The pitches get quite a bit of bounce so especially the slip fielders have to be sharp. That’s something the fielding coach speaks about, [but] we’ve got to keep working hard.”

West Indies arrived in Adelaide on December 30 so have had the rare opportunity of spending two weeks in the same city to prepare for the opening Test, which this year will be a day game rather than Adelaide’s traditional day-night fixture with Brisbane instead hosting the pink-ball contest.

“Having the time to practice here in Adelaide, get accustomed to the pitches and stuff, think that was great for us,” Brathwaite said. “As a team we are very pleased. The facilities here are outstanding and the boys made good use of them.”

West Indies’ squad is missing a host of senior players including former captain Jason Holder and allrounder Kyle Mayers who opted to play in T20 leagues.

’There is no doubt that the T20 system is hampering us’ – Former West Indies Captain Clive Lloyd on Test Cricket

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Former West Indies Cricketer Clive Lloyd shared his thoughts on Test Cricket, T20 Franchise Leagues.

Lloyd said this while attending the platinum jubilee celebration of Satgachia High School in West Bengal’s East Burdwan district.

The current state of West Indies cricket—the team failed to qualify for the last 50-overs World Cup in India—hurt Lloyd like it surely must anyone of his calibre and with his history.

‘’There is no doubt that the T20 system is hampering us,’’ says Lloyd, who believes that it is Test cricket which calls for an examination of a player’s character, while the T20 format is more of an exhibition.

‘’If we groom 30 boys, we lose 15 of them to T20 and it takes time to develop them again. No, I am not blaming the franchise leagues or IPL as it has given people a good living. However, we don’t have the reserves of talent like, say, India — who can set up three teams simultaneously,’’ he said.

Former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd on Friday said that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in West Indies and the USA in June, will be an exciting one.

“This T20 world cup could be quite exciting. West Indies did not qualify for World Cup 2023 which was really very disappointing. Hope this time West Indies will do better,” he said.

The Guyanese-British former cricketer has advised to make teams comprising experienced players as well as promising young cricketers.

“The best teams should be picked considering the West Indian wickets and conditions. Experienced players as well as young cricketers should be there in the teams,” Lloyd said.

‘Lambs to the slaughter’ – Jeffrey Dujon criticizes inexperienced West Indies squad for Australia tour

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Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Jeffrey Dujon believes the squad selected to participate in an upcoming two-Test series against world number one ranked Australia is similar to sending lambs to the slaughter.

The Kraigg Brathwaite-captained team comprises seven uncapped players, and Dujon added that this is a bit of an embarrassment for the Caribbean team.

“It’s a bit of an embarrassment because Australia doesn’t suffer from the same situation like us. Maybe their players are more patriotic, but this is like sending lambs to the slaughter.

It would have been better if we had sent a young team like this to play a weaker nation, but I don’t think there’s a whole lot to be gained sending a team with seven debutants against a team so experienced, established, and powerful,” Dujon explained.

The last time a West Indies team defeated Australia in a Test series Down Under was in the 1992/93 series when the West Indies won 2-1.

According to Dujon, he’s in agreement with the former Australian captain, as he thinks it signals the doom of Test cricket. “Cricket can’t improve unless you have your best players playing.

However, it’s not a situation that’s easily solved, and Steve Waugh is right, this is signaling the doom of Test cricket because the boards don’t have enough control over the players and they (players) can dictate when and where they want to play,” Dujon said.

“New inclusions will have an impact to returning players” – Desmond Haynes backs West Indies white-ball squads for Australia tour

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West Indies have announced their white-ball squads for the upcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against Australia in three ODIs and three T20Is from 2 to 13 February.

While the ODI squad is devoid of some key players because of their commitment to T20 leagues around the world, the T20I squad is as formidable as it could potentially be.

The ODI squad features two potential debutants, 2022 U19 World Cup graduate Teddy Bishop and wicketkeeper-batter Tevin Imlach.

Bishop earned his call-up following a strong campaign in the West Indies 50-over competition while Imlach will remain in Australia after the Test series.

The series also sees a return for Justin Greaves from injury, having also averaged 80 in the Super 50. Hayden Walsh Jr and Kavem Hodge also return.

Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford were unavailable for selection, while Shimron Hetmyer and Yannic Carriah were left out.

West Indies have enjoyed a form uptick, winning both the T20I and ODI home series against England in December.

Lead selector Desmond Haynes has urged the side to continue in Australia, building on their momentum and preparing for a home stand at the T20 World Cup in June.

“On the back of a series win against England, we are expecting our ODI team to be very competitive in Australia,” Haynes began.

“We have some new inclusions, who have impressed over a significant period and a couple of returning players, who we think will have an impact. For the T20I series, this forms part of our crucial preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup where we are hosts.

“We are hoping to build on strong overall performances against India and England and to keep improving as we approach the major tournament.”

Before the two white ball series the teams meet in two Test matches as part of the World Test Championship from 17 January.

ODI squad: Shai Hope (Captain), Alzarri Joseph, Alick Athanaze, Teddy Bishop, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.

T20I squad: Rovman Powell (Captain), Shai Hope, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas

Australia v West Indies ODI Series

1st ODI: 2 February – Melbourne
2nd ODI: 4 February – Sydney
3rd ODI: 6 February – Canberra

Australia v West Indies T20I Series

1st T20I: 9 February – Hobart
2nd T20I: 11 February – Adelaide
3rd T20I: 13 February – Perth

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone” – Andre Coley says New-look Windies hoping for fresh fortunes

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Cricket Australia will host West Indies for a two-match Test series starting Wednesday (January 17). The tourists will take on Cricket Australia XI in a three-day warm-up game on Wednesday, January 10.

The Windies will have a new-look squad, including seven uncapped players. West Indies begin their second men’s Test tour to Australia in barely a year hopeful that a new coach and a slew of fresh faces will also deliver them a change in fortunes.

Kraigg Brathwaite’s team finalise their Test preparation with a three-day game against a Cricket Australia XI starting tomorrow.

While the tour match is not an official first-class fixture which means both teams can rotate more than 11 players through their line-ups, it will provide vital experience for a visiting outfit that bears little resemblance to the squad that played two Tests here at the end of 2022.

Former Jamaica wicketkeeper Andre Coley has taken over as coach after Phil Simmons’ tenure ended after the previous Australia campaign, and he believes the inclusion of untried talent coupled with the challenge posed by the world’s top-ranked Test outfit on their home turf can bring the best out of his unheralded squad.

“At the moment we have a number of white-ball franchise tournaments that are happening at around the same time, we have a couple of injuries as well so when you put all of that together it will have impacted some of the selection,” Coley told cricket.com.au today.

“But with that said, it does not take away from the fact the players who are here on tour actually merit their selection.

“So it’s an opportunity for the players that are here to express themselves and play against a team who won the last (World) Test Championship.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone.”

West Indies last Test victory in Australia came at the WACA Ground in Perth 27 years ago, and their most recent win away from home came against Bangladesh at Dhaka in February 2021.

Coley said the absence of formal first-class status for this tour game gives him a chance to have a look at how all members of the West Indies squad acquit themselves in Australia conditions, and also allows them to better manage fast-bowler workloads.

But Coley was today keeping an open mind as to whether the planned uniformity between Karen Rolton and Adelaide Ovals would prove an advantage heading into next week’s series opener.

“That’s the thing about pitches, no two are the same,” he said.

“So as you play on them you assess and you work out what the approach is going to be.

“Similarly in a Test match, you have an idea how Adelaide pitches will play but we’ll take it one step at a time.

“We’ll tackle the three-day match and get as much as we can from the three-day and from the surface that’s offered, and then when the Test match comes around we’ll deal with that.”

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua DaSilva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair

CA XI squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Jack Clayton, Harry Conway, Jake Doran, Jayden Goodwin, Liam Haskett, Bradley Hope, Jack Nisbet, Liam Scott, Tim Ward, Doug Warren, Teague Wyllie

Gudakesh Motie’s Record-Breaking Performance ends 2023 with best match figures in Tests

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In an astounding display of cricketing prowess, Guyanese left-arm spinner, Gudakesh Motie, marked his name in the annals of Test cricket in 2023.

His breathtaking performance against Zimbabwe in February at Bulawayo saw him achieve the best match figures of the year, weaving a spell that spun the West Indies to a decisive victory.

Motie’s Unforgettable Performance

Motie’s mastery of the cricket ball was in full display as he delivered an exceptional bowling performance. In the first innings, he captured 7 wickets for just 37 runs, demonstrating his lethal accuracy and skill. However, his magic did not end there. In the second innings, he followed up his performance by claiming 6 wickets for 62 runs. This resulted in an extraordinary match figure of 13 wickets for 99 runs, setting up an innings and four-run victory for the Windies.

Player of the Series

Motie’s overall contribution in the two-match series was nothing short of remarkable. He claimed a total of 19 wickets, leading the West Indies to a resounding series victory. His performance earned him the coveted title of ‘Player of the Series’, a fitting testament to his exceptional skill and contribution.

Other Top Performers of 2023

While Motie topped the charts, two other spinners also left a significant mark in 2023. Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, delivered the second-best match figures of the year. Against the West Indies in Dominica in July, Ashwin claimed 12 wickets for 131 runs.

Coming in third, Australian off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, secured his spot with 11 wickets for 99 runs against India in Indore in March. These performances highlight the year’s dominant trend of spinners leading the charge in Test cricket.

T20 World Cup draw: Windies group opponents named for T20 World Cup 2024

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The 2024 T20 World Cup draw has reportedly been made public. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the US and the West Indies.

The first two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eights, in which their starting position has already been arranged.

The draw for the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup will include a second group stage in which the best teams already know their starting positions, it can be revealed.

The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in the West Indies and United States of America in June and features 20 nations, who will initially be divided into four groups of five. Countries have already been sent their opponents in the competition, which Telegraph Sport can reveal:

2-time world champions and hosts the West Indies have been drawn in Group “C” against 2021 runners-up New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda for this year’s T20 World Cup.

In Group B, played entirely in the Caribbean, defending champions England are to play Australia, Scotland, Namibia and Oman.

In Group A, played entirely in the USA, Ireland will face India and Pakistan, who will play against each other at Eisenhower Park, 30 miles east of Manhattan.

The Super Eight draw will be determined by pre-tournament seedings, regardless of whether teams finish first or second in their groups.

Based on rankings, and should they qualify through the group stage, England are expected to play hosts West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa in the Super Eight stages of the competition, even if they all top their opening groups.

The format has been shared with competing nations and barring any final changes will be officially announced imminently. In Group C, West Indies will meet New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda. In the final pool – the only group to feature matches in both the US and West Indies – South Africa will meet Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal.

‘He’s considered for West Indies selection again’ – Following break over, Darren Bravo confirmed for 4-day campaign

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Following his break over, Darren Bravo will be back with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force unit.

The Red Force players will get the first of just two opportunities to play competitively before the start of the West Indies Four-Day Championship when they play a three-day practice match in Preysal. And Bravo is expected to be part of the action.

This was confirmed by Red Force coach and selection chairman David Furlonge yesterday. He also told that Bravo would also play in next week’s North/South Classic, as well as the Four-Day Championship.

Bravo captained the Red Force in the recent CG United Super50 Cup staged in Trinidad and emerged as the leading batter as the hosts clinched the title with an unbeaten run.

However, after being overlooked for the WI One-Day International squad for the recent home series against England, which the West Indies won 2-1, the 34-year-old announced that he was stepping away from the game “just for a bit”.

However it was reported that Bravo was contacted by Cricket West Indies director of cricket Miles Bascombe about going on next month’s Test tour of Australia but he declined the offer.

In an emotional post on social media platform Instagram, he said

“At this point in my career it’s not easy or should I say it takes a lot to continue to find the energy, the passion, commitment and discipline to be able to perform to the best of my ability and put myself in a position to make my return to international cricket.”

Bravo, who last played for the West Indies in January 2022 in a T20 International against England, led the Red Force to victory in last November’s Super50 Cup, in which he was the leading run-scorer.

Speaking on the Mason and Guest cricket radio show in Barbados on Tuesday, Furlonge admitted he was “surprised” that Bravo had turned down the chance to tour, but added that, “I know he’s disappointed at not being selected in the 50 overs against England but we have to move on. Hopefully he gets back himself. He has made himself available for Trinidad. We’ll see how that goes from there.”

Furlonge also said: “I respect his decision, I know what he is going through…I believe he will have to start over and have another good year before he’s considered for (West Indies) selection again.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain predicts winner of T20 World Cup 2024

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After all the focus on ODIs in 2023, the shortest format is back to hog the limelight this year as the T20 World Cup is scheduled to happen this year. Tentatilvely, the ICC has decided to stage the tournament from June 4 to June 30 in the West Indies and the USA.

The schedule for the competition is yet to be finalized but former England captain Nasser Hussain has already predicted the finalists and the eventual winners of the World Cup.

Interestingly, he has noted England’s poor form on the field in white-ball cricket and while he reckons that the defending champions can make it to the final, Hussain feels they will end as the runners-up.

The renowned cricketer and now the commentator has picked South Africa as the favorites to win their first ever World Cup trophy in history.

For the unversed, England won the previous edition of the tournament beating Pakistan in the final.

“I haven’t thought too much about this actually…but I’m going to go with South Africa. England are (reigning) champions, but not playing particularly well at the moment. It’s in the Caribbean and West Indies are going OK, then you have Pakistan, so can I choose all of these sides? I’m going to go for South Africa versus England in the final,” Hussain said as part of the Coke Believing is Magic series.

He noted that the emergence of SA20 has given an edge to their players and also remembered South Africa’s exceptional show in the ODI World Cup in India last year during their run to the semi-finals before losing to Australia. “I think their (domestic) SA20 competition has really elevated some of their players and they have now got that depth and that class and that talent.

“I don’t know where he is with his injury at the moment, but someone like Anrich Nortje is what they were missing maybe in those vital games, towards the end of the World Cup. So I think maybe if Nortje can get fit for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and with their dynamic batting line-up, I’m going to look for South Africa,” he further added.