Cricket: Gibson, Sammy pleased to have Gayle back

West Indies in England 2012
Gibson, Sammy pleased to have Gayle back

West Indies have openly embraced the return of their premier batsman Chris Gayle, who on Wednesday committed to making himself available for selection for the one-day leg of their tour of England. In doing so he decided to forsake his contract with Somerset as an overseas player for the Friends Life t20 and Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, said if Gayle was available, he would “definitely be picked”.     

Chanderpaul is world number one again – updated

Good to be number one again, says Chanderpaul

Caribbean News Now – May 1, 2012  – update

Chanderpaul is world number one again

Published on April 30, 2012 – caribbeannewsnow.com

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has regained the number one ranking in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after hitting two half-centuries in the Dominica Test which Australia won by 75 runs to claim the series 2-0.

The series victory put Michael Clarke’s side ahead of India in third position on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.

Chanderpaul, who won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year at the LG ICC Awards in Dubai in 2008, scored 68 and 69 which earned him 19 ratings points and helped him to leapfrog South Africa’s duo of AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis into the No.1 position. 

“A GALA EVENING WITH GUYANA’S CRICKET HEROES”

“A GALA EVENING WITH GUYANA’S CRICKET HEROES”

Date: Friday June 22, 2012 – Toronto Canada.

Former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, reunites with some of the greatest names in Guyana’s cricket history.

Direct from England, United States, Antigua and Guyana, these acclaimed names which dominated West Indies Test Cricket come together for one nostalgic evening.

Together in Toronto for the first time, this special evening of dinner and entertainment pays tribute to these remarkable Guyanese cricketers whose uniquely brilliant careers have made them legends in international cricket.

This memorable celebration of Guyana’s finest contributions to cricket is for the benefit of Guyana’s Mercy Hospital which was partially destroyed by fire in 2010.

Just as these cricketers played together and promoted Guyana and the West Indies, they again unite to help rebuild one of Guyana’s national institutions.

Tickets are limited and go on sale April 15^{th .}                         [ MORE  DETAILS —  Guyana Cricket Heroes]

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Cricket – Pollard helps West Indies take series lead

West Indies v Australia, 4th ODI, Gros Islet. St. Lucia. West Indies.

West Indies 294 for 7 (Pollard 102, Barath 41) beat Australia 252 all out (Lee 59, Hussey 57) by 42 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Kieron Pollard at his most brutal left Australia with an insurmountable challenge at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia as West Indies took a 2-1 lead with one to play in an ODI series that is rivalling their wildest dreams. Pollard produced a memorable display of power hitting, 102 slugged from 70 balls to vanquish an Australian side that West Indies had come to regard as virtually unbeatable.

After a demoralising run against Australia of 13 defeats in 14 ODIs (the other being a no-result), West Indies now have two wins and a tie from their last three games. No side had ever scored more on this ground batting second than West Indies’ 284 for 5 to beat England in 2004 and Australia had little chance to buck the trend once they had lost half their side for 112.    [more ]

—Post #1229

The farce we call West Indies cricket – By Lester B. Bird

  Post #1163  –  From: caribbeannewsnow.com

The farce we call West Indies cricket

Published on March 3, 2012

By Lester B. Bird Former prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and former member of the West Indies Cricket BoardST JOHN’S, Antigua — If there was any doubt about the incompetence of the West Indies cricket administration or hope of a resurrected West Indies, the scheduling of the forthcoming Australian tour provides ample evidence of an organization that suffers from both incompetence and insensitivity.Three ODls are to be played in St Vincent; three ODls are to be played in St Lucia and a test match in Dominica. In other words over fifty percent of the matches would be played in a grouping whose population represents less than 8% of the cricket loving population of the English speaking Caribbean.If the argument is the cost, then it is improbable to think that a third one day in St Lucia, or a third one day in St Vincent would be more profitable than a single one day in a more populated country such as Jamaica or even Antigua. Given the fact that Jamaica is so far in the north and it is costly for Jamaicans to travel to the other parts of the Caribbean I think that Jamaica should always be included in a touring cricket itinerary. It does appear that, true to the management style of the West Indies Cricket Board, it is a decision to punish Jamaica for its decision to pick Gayle for national duty. This schedule is blatantly insensitive and irrational.

Cricket: Guyana loses Test match to Dominica

Guyana loses Test match to Dominica

Posted By Stabroek editor On February 3, 2012

(WICB) St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board today announced that it has taken a decision to move the Third Digicel Test which was originally scheduled to be played at the Guyana National Stadium.

The Test will now be played at Windsor Park in Dominica. The dates (April 23rd to 27th) are unchanged.

The change in venue is as a result of the situation in Guyana owing to the Government of Guyana’s push to take over the management and governance of cricket in the country.

Cricket: ICC condemns Guyana government intervention

ICC condemns Guyana government intervention

(Demerara Waves) February 1, 2012

(ESPNCricInfo).-The ICC board has condemned the Guyanese government’s interference in the functioning of cricket in Guyana. In a statement released after its meeting in Dubai, the board reiterated its stand that governments should have no involvement in the running of cricket in any country.

“The ICC Board was concerned to learn of the developments in Guyana where the government has dissolved the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and replaced it with an Interim Management Committee (IMC),” the release said. “In condemning this government intervention in the strongest possible terms, the ICC Board reaffirmed the principle of non-interference and that the only legitimate cricketing authority is that recognised by the West Indies Cricket Board.”     read more

Guyana Test in doubt due to tussle

Providence Stadium

(ESPNCricInfo).-The tussle between the West Indies board and the Guyana government has put the Providence Test against Australia in doubt. The WICB shifted the first four rounds of the domestic first-class tournament out of Guyana and said that a call on the Test, scheduled for late April, will be taken later.

The decisions come after the executive committee of the WICB’s board of directors had a teleconference on Saturday evening to try and resolve the impasse surrounding Guyana cricket.   more

—– Post # 1076

FIRE IN BABYLON – Cricket Documentary

Documentary on cricket in the West Indies

About 60 minutes long – very interesting

Should bring back memories of cricket in the “Good Old Days of Cricket” , when the West Indies reigned supreme.

Click here>  http://www.favupload.com/video/3510/  

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Also read this review of FIRE IN BABYLON titled

Tribeca: The West Indian cricket revolution

A new documentary explains how a gentleman’s sport got a reggae beat, and a Black Power agenda

Cricket: Gayle breaks silence on WICB treatment

Editor’s note: This is a statement by Chris Gayle, the former captain of the West Indian cricket team, in relation to his ongoing conflict with the Wast Indian Cricket Board of Control (WICB).  Chris Gayle was not selected for the recent Pakistan tour or the present Indian tour to the West Indies.  Please go to www.cricinfo.com for information on the  present matches between the West Indies and India. 

Gayle , now 31, recently top-scored in the Indian Cricket League IPL,  playing for the Bangalore Royal Challengers.  It was announced on June 1 that Gayle will play for the Sydney Thunder in the upcoming 8-team Australian Twenty-20 Tournament.  Read the announcement regarding the Australian T20 here. 

Here is Chris Gayle’s statement regarding the WICB:

(WIPA) I, Christopher Henry Gayle, am making this statement so that all my friends, fans and followers who continue to wonder why I am not being picked for the West Indies team despite being fit, available and in form will know the truth considering the many rumours and statements that have been made as it relates to this issue. Until now, I have kept my silence, but I believe that the time has come for you to all know what I plan to do about this extremely frustrating and humiliating situation.

Ever since I was a little boy growing upin Rollington Town, and living in the shadow of Sabina Park I had two dreams.  The first was to play for Jamaica and the second to play for the West Indies.  Fortunately, and thanks to the Almighty, I have been able to achieve both of them.  I have been Captain of both Jamaica and of the West Indies, and have worn both uniforms with pride and served with distinction.

I find it really painful now to hear that I did not give my best or that I lost my commitment to the cause of West Indies Cricket.  This is not true.  I have always given my all.  I have always played with my heart and soul.  I am not a boastful person.  I normally don’t speak until I have to.  I try not to show in my face what is in my heart but now my heart is heavy.  I have played with injuries.  I have played with pain.  But nothing in my life has been more painful and more injurious to my spirit than what has been done to me in the past few months.  Nothing.   more

Read whole statement here:  Gayle breaks silence on WICB treatment