World Cricket News

“Everybody is looking in good nick” – Deandra Dottin believes her team has a great chance of winning the the 2024 edition

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Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) women’s team captain Deandra Dottin believes her team has a great chance of winning the the 2024 edition of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

The tournament bowls off from 7 pm on August 21, when defending champions Barbados Royals take on Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba.

This season’s opening fixture is a rematch of last year’s finale, which saw the Royals edging the Warriors by a eight-run margin at the BLCA venue after a stunning allround performance by West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews.

For the third edition of the tournament, though, Dottin says TKR are ready to reclaim their title after beating Matthews and the Royals in the 2022 finale. Dottin, 33, the owner of the fastest 100 in women’s Twenty/20 Internationals, was named as the Player of the Tournament in 2022.

After retiring from the international game in July 2022, the exciting Barbados allrounder confirmed her return to the Windies team on July 27 and already has the October 3-20 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup in her sights.

In the interim, Dottin wants a piece of franchise silverware.

“I rate our chances of winning the Women’s CPL title very highly,” Dottin said, during an interview with Newsday on August 16.

“With the level of players we have and where they are at in terms of international experience, I think this year we’re a bit stronger than we were last year. We have more versatile players. We’re actually blended with the senior players, as well as the overseas players.”

Last season, TKR finished at the bottom of the three-team table, with one win and three losses.

The team’s lone win came against the eventual champs Royals in their penultimate game, with Dottin top-scoring for her team with an innings of 47.

“(The young players) are hungry to play cricket in the big WCPL. I definitely do think we have a strong chance of winning the WCPL this year,” she said. “But we all know cricket plays on the day and it’s very funny as well.”

TKR will open their 2024 campaign against the Royals at the BLCA from 7 pm on August 22. They will then play the Amazon Warriors on August 23 and 25, before closing off the group stage against the Royals on August 27. The final will be played on August 29.

Dottin and several TKR players were involved in a West Indies training camp in Antigua in the build-up to the WCPL. Seamer Shamilia Connell, Jannillea Glasgow, Zaida James, Chedean Nation, Shunelle Sawh and 18-year-old St Kitts and Nevis starlet Jahzara Claxton, who was adjudged MVP of last month’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars women’s under-19 championship, also took part in the West Indies camp.

“Everybody is looking in good nick – speaking from TKR’s point of view,” Dottin said. “I think the team is in good spirits and they’re getting a lot of training in here as well.”

Dottin is happy with the young talent at her disposal for the 2024 tourney.

“There are players like Claxton, (Samara) Ramnath and James and there are others. I’m very impressed and pleased with how they have developed and how they have improved really quickly.”

For this WCPL campaign, TKR have added a wealth of experience, with the Australian pair of Jess Jonassen and Meg Lanning joining their setup, alongside the Indian pair of Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues. Jonassen and Lanning have played over 200 Internationals across all formats, with Pandey and Rodrigues both having over 100 Internationals under their belt.

The 31-year-old Jonassen is currently ranked as the ninth-best bowler in the world in the One-day international (ODI) format, and 13th among all allrounders.

As captain, Dottin says she doesn’t feel extra pressure to perform, and just wants to do her best in any aspect of the game to help her team over the line.

“Those overseas players like Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Jemima and Pandey, they’re all international and world-class players as well, so they will actually help us steer the boat to help us win the WCPL trophy this year.”

She rates the WCPL tournament highly, but believes there is one aspect which can help take the competition to a higher level.

“I think for the third year of the WCPL, it’s about looking to improve. I just think we can get in one more franchise to make it four.

“I would love to see two more franchises, but if we could get one more franchise just to make the tournament have more teams, and as well to make it a bit longer, that will be great. All in all, I think it’s heading in the right direction.”

Though she has greater aspirations for the WCPL, for now, Dottin and TKR vie against the Royals and the Warriors for the coveted crown.

“All I have to say is, TKR fans, we’re coming!”

TKR team:

Deandra Dottin (captain), Jahzara Claxton, Shamilia Connell, Jannilea Glasgow, Zaida James, Jess Jonassen, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Meg Lanning, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shikha Pandey, Samara Ramnath, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shunelle Sawh.

“No cost to the treasury to secure hosting of CPL games” – says Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Charles Ramson

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Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Charles Ramson Jr said Guyana’s bid to host the semi-finals, and finals of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) from 2022-2024, did not incur a cost to the national coffers.

“No money was paid for the securing of the CPL finals, there have been no cost to the treasury for the hosting of the CPL finals and semi-finals in Guyana,” he said in what was his first answer to a series of questions from the Opposition in the National Assembly on Monday.

Minister Ramson explained how the bidding process is conducted for the hosting of international tournaments.

“When it comes to securing tournament, games, etc., countries have to bid and then they also have a negotiation process, what we have negotiated have come at no cost to the treasury, we have made no payments to CPL for securing the finals and semi-finals” the Minister reiterated.

The Minister was also asked whether Guyana would gain television rights from the hosting of the championship to which he responded in the negative.

Minister Ramson was also asked to respond to the associated cost of renting the National Cultural Centre, which falls within his portfolio, as a rehearsal and performance space.

“All of the rates that the Ministry inherited from the previous administration, which I am advised that the surcharges have been increased [under the said administration] have been maintained,” the Minister relayed.

Here’s the list of all the West Indies legends who were inducted into the ICC Hall Of Fame

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The ICC Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players ever to grace the game throughout its rich history, and these three individuals have all left a lasting legacy through their significant contributions to the sport. The ICC Hall of Fame was launched on January 2, 2009.

International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the name of 3 new inductees into the ICC Hall Of Fame of 2022.

Following a voting process that ICC included Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Charlotte Edwards and Abdul Qadir as the latest legends.

The ICC Hall of Fame was International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Centennial Celebration, the Hall of Fame has been awarded to 106 players. There are 21 West Indies cricket legends have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame list.

Two all-rounders, Ten batsmen, eight bowlers and one wicket-keeper were Inducted into ICC Hall Of Fame for the West Indies. That is,

01. Sir Gordon Greenidge (1974 – 1991)

02. Andy Robots (1974 – 1983)

03. Clyde Walcott (1948 – 1960)

04.George Headley (1930 – 1954)

05. Frank Worrell (1948 – 1963)

06. Michael Holding  (1975 – 1987)

07. Rohan Kanhai (1957 – 1975)

08. Sir Clive Lloyd (1966 – 1985)

09. Everton Weekes (1948 – 1958)

10. Malcolm Marshall (1978 – 1992)

11. Sir Viv Richards (1974 – 1991)

12. Sir Garfield Sobers (1954 – 1974)

13. Lance Gibbs (1958 – 1976)

14. Sir Courtney Walsh (1984 – 2001)

15. Joel Garner (1977 – 1987)

16. Sir Curtly Ambrose (1988 – 2000),

17. Brain Lara (1990 – 2007)

18. Sir Wesley Hall (1958 – 1969)

19. Learie Constantine (1928 – 1939)

20. Desmond Haynes (1978 – 1994)

21.Shivnarine Chanderpaul

As well as There are England 31, Australia 29, India 07, Pakistan 07, South Africa 06, New Zealand 03, Sri Lanka 03 and Zimbabwe 01 each has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

“I was frustrated” – Pacer Jayden Seales confirmed he ruled out of cricket for next four months

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West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales has been ruled out of cricket for approximately four months owing to an injury to his left knee.

(image courtesy: AFP/Getty Images)

Jaden Seals was angered by the news that he will be out for the next four months but has vowed to take the time to ensure he returns a better player.

The 21-year-old pacer suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during the recent Test tour of Australia which the Windies lost 2-0.

Seales played the first game in Perth, bowling 21 overs in the first innings and grabbing one for 95. He bowled just three in the second innings and did not feature in the second match, which was a day/night Test in Adelaide.

Seales confirmed the news yesterday, describing the situation as “frustrating,” with the bowler wanting to stamp his name on international cricket during the now completed Australia series and the upcoming Test tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“I will be out for four months and will be on crutches for six weeks,” he told the Express from England yesterday.

“I am currently doing rehab in the UK right now and I am coming back on the 22nd (December) and I will continue rehab there. I can’t put any weight on my foot until six weeks are up, so that is basically all I can do right now. The surgery was on December 13 on my left knee, my landing leg,” he revealed.

“It is frustrating in a sense because I was kind of hoping to use the Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa tours to try and stamp my name in international cricket, seeing that these were my first tours away,” Seales continued.

“But in saying that, this is a chance for me to go back and get stronger and fitter and to gain a better understanding of my game and come back a better player and a more professional and mature player in terms of knowing my body to a better extent and being better prepared for all the cricket that I will have upon my return,” he added.

He said the prospect of being on the sidelines and missing cricket for four months caused him to break down but his family came to his aid.

“My parents handled it better than me,” he said.

“I was actually speaking to Ian Bishop during the Australia series and he said he would not mind if I had to miss a year of cricket to correct the injury and everything I needed to correct…Hearing that, I would not have been too keen on it because I want to play.

Jayden Seals
(image courtesy: AFP/Getty Images)

“My parents sat me down, over the phone of course, and we talked while I broke down because I was frustrated that I will miss cricket for such a long period,” Seales continued.

“But they spoke to me and gave me the advice I needed and I have the support of my family and loved ones and Cricket West Indies, which allowed me to do the surgery out here and are keeping me across here for rehab. So, it is just a matter of doing what is necessary to come back out and repay the faith they are showing in me.”

He is still in the early stages of his Test career but has already taken 37 wickets in ten matches.

Women’s T20I Rankings: West Indies star Hayley Matthews closes in on No 1 All-rounder spot

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West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has closed in on top spot in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings for all-rounders.

Matthews, who has picked up five wickets in the ongoing T20I series against England in the West Indies, jumped up three places in the bowling rankings and one spot in the all-rounder rankings to reach the top five in both lists.

Matthews is now four rating points away from the top-ranked Sophie Devine in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings for all-rounders.

She also jumped up to No.4 in the bowling rankings behind Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Deepti Sharma, the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday.

There was also a significant gain in the rankings for England’s T20I opener Sophia Dunkley, who moved up 19 places to close in on a spot in the top 10.

With 147 runs in the four T20Is in West Indies so far, Dunkley is the leading run-getter by a fair distance and has moved up to No.12 in the batting rankings, making her the highest-ranked England batter ahead of Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver.

Watch: ‘Could West Indies call him up?’ 53-year-old Brian Lara rolls back years as he smashes Rashid Khan in nets

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The West Indies would have been wise to draft legend Brian Lara into their injury-hit side in Adelaide after the 53-year-old showed he’s still got it in a priceless net session with Rashid Khan.

Lara played his last Test match 16 years ago in 2006, but he showed against the Afghanistan and Strikers spinner that hasn’t lost any of the skill that saw him blast 11,953 runs in 131 Tests at an average of 52.88.

Lara, who is in Australia for the recently concluded two-match Test series between the hosts and the West Indies as part of the commentary team, was a great player of spin during his prime and despite being 53 showed that he has still got it.

Lara was given the challenge to score 12 runs off Rashid in one over and the left-hander played a couple of brilliant strokes – a cut through backward point and a lofted shot towards mid-on after dancing down the track.

Rashid, who is in Australia for the 12th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) where he will ply his trade for the Adelaide Strikers, was nervous to bowl to Lara, however, he manage to stop the West Indies great to 11 runs and it was a tie.

“It is unbelievable,” Rashid said. “As soon as I heard that I was going to bowl to him I was super excited and nervous as well. It is going to be a different day for me bowling to someone like Brian Lara, who is a great player of spin bowling. I think it is going to be a great challenge for me.

“It is not just about winning and losing, but I am proud to bowl to him,” Rashid was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

After the over, Lara too admitted that it was great fun to face-off against Rashid while taking a cheeky dig on the star leggie saying that he might not be in his top form.

“It was good fun. Low trajectory. I think Rashid may not be in top form at the moment, but it was just awesome and a privilege to face the great man,” he said.

Social media lit up with pundits and fans in awe of Lara’s brilliant performance with the bat and called for him to get a call-up for the struggling Windies against Australia.

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“It’s getting more and more embarrassing” – Former Test skipper Carl Hooper called for urgent administrative changes at the CWI

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Former Test skipper Carl Hooper was disappointed after West Indies’ massive lose 2nd Test against Australia and called for urgent administrative changes at the top.

Hooper also warned that after nearly 20 years of decline, worse was to come for the one-time rulers of world cricket.

They haven’t beaten Australia in any Test since May 2003 and their last series win over the Aussies was in 1992/93.

“No, I don’t think we’ve hit rock bottom because every time I think we have, we keep going lower,” Hooper told Media after the Test.

“It’s getting more and more embarrassing — I’m hurt today.

“I’ve never played in a West Indies side that has been bowled out for under 100. Just never.

“I mean your personal pride means you go out and fight.

“We’re not fighting to qualify in major tournaments. How much lower can we go?”

The demoralizing series in Australia follows the T20 World Cup earlier this year where the West Indies failed to hold a high enough ranking to qualify automatically for the main draw, and were beaten by Scotland and Ireland to fail to qualify for the Super 12.

Hooper captained West Indies in 22 Tests in the early 2000s.

Carl Hooper
Carl Hooper

The spinning all-rounder scored more than 5,000 runs and took more than 100 wickets and 100 catches in both Tests and ODIs in a 16-year international career.

Over his career he went from part of a dominant West Indies side to one that struggled for big periods.

However, he told Media the current side was at a lower ebb than his era ever had and pointed the finger firmly at administrators.

“When we were dominant, you hardly knew the directors. Today you’ve got 16 directors making cricketing decisions,” Hooper said.

“Since 1993 we’ve struggled and certainly judging from the results, there’s no policies or systems that have been implemented that is changing the downward course we’re on.”

Hooper said administration changes were the only thing that hadn’t been tried yet.

“We’ve changed captains, we’ve changed personnel, we’ve changed coaches — [it] hasn’t worked,” he said.

“So maybe let’s go a little bit higher and get people in these positions that can lead us in the right direction.”

The defeat ended the reign of West Indies head coach Phil Simmons, who announced his intention to quit after his team’s disastrous recent Twenty20 World Cup campaign when it exited in the first round.

Simmons led the West Indies to victory in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, and then returned as coach for a second stint in 2019.

“Trinidad plays the best 50-over cricket in the Caribbean for a while..”- Scorpions Skipper Rovman Powell

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Powell’s Scorpions qualified for the final with a three-wicket win over the Guyana Harpy Eagles in Thursday’s semi-final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Harpy Eagles scored 318/7 in 50 overs, while Scorpions scored 322/7 in 48.1 overs. Powell scored an unbeaten 105 off 92 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes.

The Jamaica Scorpions captain believes his unbeaten 105 against the Guyana Harpy Eagles on Thursday night was one of the best scores he has played in his career.

He put on a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 45 with Alvin Williams and then shared 34 and 37 with Dennis Bully (17) and Odean Smith (19) for an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 37 with Javier.

Brandon Ling
(Image courtesy: CWI media)

Powell came to the crease after Brandon King was dismissed for the third wicket after scoring 64 with the score on 101. About his innings, he said, “I think it is one of my better 100s.”

“I got a very good start. It was a very good wicket, to be honest, and so once I paced the innings and stayed at the wicket we would win.”

The skipper hailed King’s half-century, his second of the season, which sealed the win for the Scorpions.

“It was very important. It was important that someone get us off to a flying start and I think Brandon did that. It was just unfortunate that he couldn’t go a little longer.”

“We were looking to get to 100 in 15 or so overs for the middle order to settle in and push around the ball and I think Brandon’s innings really set that up nicely.”

Speaking further, Scorpions Skipper said that if they have any chance of dethroning the Trinidadian unit, it is imperative that his team improve in all three aspects of batting, bowling and fielding.

“Trinidad plays the best 50-over cricket in the Caribbean for a while now so it’s important for us to play very good cricket and improve batting, bowling, and fielding.”

“Today (Thursday) we dropped a few catches. In the final, we cannot drop Trinidad’s big players like that.”

CG Super 50, final will be played between the Red Force and the Scorpions at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, Antigua on Saturday at 2 pm.

Hundred 2022: [Watch] Sunil Narine gets the better of Glen Maxwell in The Hundred

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Defending champions Southern Brave began The Hundred 2022 campaign with a convincing nine-wicket win over Welsh Fire on August 3.

The second game saw London Spirit register a close win against the Oval Invincibles at Kennington Oval.

They continued to lose wickets and were reduced to 55/3 on Thursday.

However, skipper Eoin Morgan and Daniel Lawrence stitched a 72-run stand before Lawrence was bowled by Sunil Narine on the 75th ball with the score at 127/4.

Morgan top-scored with 47 while Kieron Pollard chipped in with a quickfire 19 to push the total to 171/6 in the end.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell was done in by the guile of Sunil Narine as London Spirit lost their third wicket on 55. Maxwell looked to loft it through the off-side but ended up slicing it towards deep backcward point.

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“I can give back to youngsters” Former West Indies Pacer Winston Benjamin Urges Sachin Tendulkar For Help

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India and West Indies are all set to play the last two T20I games in Florida, and Miami in the US.


West Indies, the cricketing nation that dominated the game of cricket in the 1970’s and the 1980’s, has seen a big decline over the last few years.

However, Cricket West Indies has long been experiencing financial instability. Their cricket has been impeded by it, and it has led to numerous arguments between the players and the West Indies cricket board.

Former West Indies cricketer Winston Benjamin, in a special request to his old friend and legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, requested some donations.

Benjamin, isn’t expecting the money, but he is happy to receive something as simple as cricket bats or other equipment that he can help distribute to aspiring players in the area.

“Previously, we used to have a tournament in Sharjah where it used to be like a benefit game for players from different countries. I don’t want benefits. All I want is for somebody to say ‘here is some equipment’ – 10-15 bats, that is good enough for me. I don’t want 20000 US dollars. I just want some equipment so that I can give back to youngsters. That’s all I am asking,” Benjamin said in a video shared by veteran sports journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel.

He also asked Sachin Tendulkar for some help.

“Mr. Tendulkar… if you are in a position, could you assist me? Hit me up,” he said while sharing his phone number,” he said. “I would like to thank my good friend Mohammad Azharuddin. He sent me some equipment over. Azhar, congratulations! And thank you so much for that assistance. Stay in touch. Anyone else who wants to contribute, feel free,” concluded Benjamin.

Benjamin, who represented the West Indies in 85 ODIs and 21 Test matches between 1986 and 1995, took 161 wickets.

A five-match T20 International series is being played between India and West Indies. India currently leads the series 2-1.