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• Windies captain Brathwaite eyes strong finish to 2024 with series win against Bangladesh

  West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is relishing the opportunity to lead the Caribbean side into his 86th-consecutive Test match as they aim to complete a clean sweep of the two-match series against Bangladesh in Jamaica.

  With the hosts 1-0 up following a 201-run win in Antigua, the stakes are high heading into the second Test at Sabina Park, and Brathwaite emphasized the importance of ending the year on a positive note, both for the team and himself as a batsman.

  “Obviously, a completely different ground, and the surface has a bit of grass, which is good to see. Obviously, a lot of moisture around, a lot of rain. So we got to start fresh this game,” he said in an interview ahead of Saturday’s first day.

  The Sabina Park pitch, known for its pace and bounce, offers a fresh challenge for Brathwaite’s bowlers, who excelled in Antigua, as the five-prong pace attack ran amok through Bangladesh’s batting line-up. He believes it is another opportunity for his pacers to shine, but stressed the need for discipline across all departments.

  Spinner Jomel Warrican has been added to the squad, giving the team a 12-man roster to choose from for the final eleven.

  “I have full confidence in all the fast bowlers we have. All these guys have different attributes, and I’m really excited about what the future holds for this bowling group,” Brathwaite said.

  “As I said, the covering of the grass on the surface is good. But at the end of the day, it is not just the surface. You got to go out there and bowl well, take the catches, and bat well to put runs on the board,” he noted.

  Brathwaite, who has fond memories of leading the West Indies to victory against Pakistan at Sabina Park in 2021, described the venue as a special place for him and the team.

  “Jamaica is a place that I love, and personally, as a West Indies group, we love to play here. I remember, obviously, a great partnership to win us the game against Pakistan, but the bowlers really enjoy bowling here as well,” Brathwaite shared.

  The West Indies have not won a Test series all year, and Brathwaite is determined to end 2024 on a high note. The West Indies currently sit in eighth position on the ICC Test Championship standings, just above Bangladesh and behind seventh-placed Pakistan, whom they will cross swords with next.

  “It’s very important. You can’t ever take any Test match or Test series for granted. We need to end this year strong, especially with a lot of Test cricket coming next year. The first Test is history; we’ve got to come and start right back over as a bowling unit and a batting unit,” the captain stressed.

  That said, the Barbadian also views this series as an opportunity to recapture his best form with the bat, especially as he celebrates the significant milestone of 86 consecutive Test matches for the West Indies, the most by any player in the team’s history.

  “It’s very important for me. My role is to set that foundation and make it easier for the guys to come in. That’s always the aim,” he said.

  “I’m very honoured and privileged to be here. Very thankful. It’s an opportunity I’ve had for over 10 years, and I’m very thankful for it. To be the most is good. I just want to be an example for guys to follow, and I’m really excited about it,” Brathwaite ended.

• “Don’t want to be stuck at First-Class level”- In form Jangoo hopes mindset shift can propel him to highest level

  Cricket is one of the most unforgiving sports on the planet and every batsman dreams of a purple patch where every time they take the crease, they get a significant score or close to it.

  That description is apt for the 2024 regional cricket season of Trinidadian wicketkeeper/batsman Amir Jangoo.

  The 27-year-old left hander enjoyed a career year in both the West Indies Championship and the recently concluded CG United Super50 Cup that has a lot of West Indian fans calling for his graduation into the set up of the Men in Maroon.

  In his five matches in the West Indies Championship which took place from February to April earlier this year, Jangoo played in five out of seven matches for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.

  In those five games, Jangoo made exactly 500 runs in eight innings. Included in those runs are a pair of fifties and his maiden First-Class hundred, 218 against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the penultimate round of the tournament.

  

  This was after a score of 93 in the previous round against the Guyana Harpy Eagles.

  On the back of that form, Jangoo set some lofty goals for himself in the recently concluded CG United Super50 Cup at home in Trinidad & Tobago.

  “I had a few conversations with Sunil Narine talking about goal-setting. I wanted 350 runs and he said no, go for 450,” Jangoo said in an interview during the Super50.

  He just missed out on that 450, finishing with 446 runs in seven innings at an average of 89.20 with one hundred and three fifties.

  Interestingly, Jangoo’s 111 against Guyana, his first List A hundred, came on the back of scores of 96 against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and 70* against the West Indies Academy.

  “It was a bit of déjà vu,” Jangoo said of getting a milestone hundred quickly after missing out soon before.

  “I knew that I was batting really well and a big score was around the corner again. It’s all about starting over,” he added.

  Overall, Jangoo is pleased to finally have two regional hundreds under his belt.

  “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s always played on my mind mentally so, to get past that hurdle is an amazing feeling. I’m grateful for it,” he said.

  So, the question remains: what is behind this run of good form for Jangoo?

  “It is a challenge but at the end of the day, I think something that changed with me and has taken me throughout my career, so far, is setting my standard higher for myself now to go on to the next level,” Jangoo offered.

  “I really want to play for the West Indies and don’t want to be stuck at the First-Class level alone so it’s all about having your standards really high and that’s what I’m doing for all these tournaments now,” he added.

  Jangoo mentioned changes in his training regime that have helped him physically and mentally but, in order to make it to the top level, he knows what matters most.

  “It’s all about putting the numbers on the board. At this stage of my career, that’s all I’m focused on doing now,” he said.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Dwight Yorke challenges Soca Warriors to uphold standards and strive for excellence

  Trinidad and Tobago’s Head coach, Dwight Yorke, has challenged local-based Soca Warriors players to embrace professionalism, maintain high standards, and push themselves to earn a spot in the team for upcoming fixtures.

  Yorke’s message came at the conclusion of a seven-day live-in camp held at the Home of Football in Couva, capped by a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) outfit Defence Force at the Larry Gomes Stadium recently.

  Despite the win, Yorke acknowledged the team's uneven performance during the match, dominated largely by Defence Force. However, the former Manchester United star emphasized the importance of players applying the lessons learned during the camp once they return to their clubs.

  “We expect discipline, dedication, and attitude, all of which I consider to be an image of me in many respects. ‘You are the national team, and you are the best players in the country,’ and that comes with a certain amount of responsibility,” Yorke said in a video released by the TTFA media.

  Yorke, flanked by his assistants Derek King, Russell Latapy, England’s Neil Wood, and strength and conditioning coach Anthony Crea, urged players to set themselves apart by embodying the qualities of national footballers both on and off the field.

  Furthermore, he advised his players not to merely reintegrate into their club teams but to stand out by demonstrating leadership, discipline, and a professional attitude.

  “When you leave here and go back to represent your clubs, make sure that they know that you’re a national player, and the only way you do that is by setting standards. How you train, how you carry about yourself, being on time, being an example for all, being that difference-maker,” Yorke shared.

  “We have eyes on the ground; we would know where you are. I’ve always said if you’re good, we will find you, so don’t give us any excuse to not be in this team. When we give you days off, make sure you use it to your advantage. Don’t go gallivanting everywhere...playing football with your mates,” he added.

  With the Soca Warriors potentially set for encounters against Qatar and Saudi Arabia next month, ahead of crucial fixtures in the Concacaf Gold Cup preliminaries in March.

  Beyond that, Yorke’s main objective is to qualify the Soca Warriors for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. They will resume qualifying action in June against St. Kitts & Nevis.

  As such, Yorke made it clear that success hinges on a collective effort.

  “You are in the system. Make sure and stay in the system, but that is down to you guys. We will do everything from an administration side, from the supporting team of the staff to make sure we provide you with all the ammunition,” he declared.

  “I’ll fight for you guys as the leader, as the head coach. I will go out there and make sure we get what it takes and all the stuff that you need to make sure that you are looked after. It is part of my responsibility, but you have to give us something in return... it can’t be a one-sided deal,” Yorke noted.