Former Reggae Boyz head coach Paul Hall has been appointed interim manager of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. Hall is stepping into the role following the departure of Michael Beale, who is taking the head coaching position of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers.
Prior to his appointment, Hall was the B-team manager at Loftus Road where he had spent more than a decade coaching from the U14 to U23 levels. He assumed the new role on Tuesday after Beale’s surprise exit on Monday after only six months on the job.
His first match, a friendly against Scottish Premier League side Livingston, saw QPR winning 2-1 in a behind closed doors encounter.
“It is really important I get this job right, the club is the most important thing here,” Hall told English media. “I’ve been here 10 years and seen a lot of managers come and go. But my focus now is just for us is to attack Burnley.”
QPR play Burnley on December 11.
“We need everyone to focus on it, not just the staff but the supporters too, because although these players are resilient, they need everyone to get behind this team as they have got what it takes.”
Hall represented the Jamaican national side in 48 matches between 1997 and 2003 scoring 14 goals. He was recently in charge as interim head coach during the latter stages of the Reggae Boyz failed World Cup campaign before he was replaced by Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimmson.
Pat Cummins hopes to be fit for Australia's second Test against West Indies, after his side ran out comfortable victors in Perth on Sunday.
A devastating six-wicket performance from Nathan Lyon helped the hosts to a 164-run victory at Optus Stadium, despite a defiant half-century in defeat from Roston Chase.
Cummins elected not to bowl in the final innings after suffering a minor quad strain earlier in the Test however, sparking fears he may have to sit out their next match in Adelaide, starting on Thursday.
But the captain thinks he will be able to play, and discussed how he will measure his workload ahead of the game, plus a subsequent red-ball series with South Africa.
"I felt okay," he said. "It was more not trying to run as opposed to being restricted to run. If it got a bit tighter, I was going to have a bowl but [I'm] pretty happy I managed not to, to give myself a good chance.
"It's just a small strain. If you bowl, you make it worse and can make [recovery] longer. I'll spend the next few days rehabbing, getting it right, and I think it's a pretty good chance I'll be good for Adelaide.
"We've got five Tests and I want to make sure I'm available for all five. It's always like that. But a lot of the Test matches you leave with absolutely nothing left in the tank."
With four more matches to come this month, though, Cummins said he would leave the call in the hands of Australia's medical staff and selectors amid a series of short turnarounds.
"You don't really want to turn a one-week injury into a three or four-week injury, and potentially miss the summer," he added. "So we'll weigh all that up.
"As I said, I felt pretty comfortable out there. The physio might be less optimistic, but I think I'll be fine. I'm sure I'll have running and a bit of bowling to make sure I'm right."
Nathan Lyon has bowled Australia to a 164-run victory over the West Indies with a fourth-innings six-wicket haul in the first Test in Perth on Sunday.
The West Indies resumed at 192-3 chasing the improbable target of 498 and pushed Australia beyond drinks in the second session before Lyon claimed the final two wickets in successive balls.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins was on the field throughout the final day but did not bowl, due to a quad injury which has him in doubt for the second Test starting in Adelaide on Thursday. Cummins' absence from the attack heaped more pressure on Lyon who shouldered that burden.
Lyon finished with 6-128 from 42.5 overs in the fourth innings, getting the key breakthrough of captain Kraigg Braithwaite, after having Kyle Mayers caught at first slip by Steve Smith in the first session. Braithwaite, who reached his century late on day four, was bowled by Lyon for 110.
Jason Holder was brilliantly caught by Smith at first slip off Travis Head before Joshua De Silva edged to Usman Khawaja off Josh Hazlewood, with the tourists' resistance appearing set to wither at 233-7.
But Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase put together a stubborn 82-run eighth-wicket partnership which ensured Australia were made to work for their victory.
Head clean bowled Joseph, who belted three sixes in his 43, on the delivery after wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a tough chance, before Lyon dismissed Chase for 55 and Kemar Roach in successive balls.
Marnus Labuschagne was named Player of the Match after his scores of 204 and 104* earlier in the contest.
Lyon brings it home for Australia
Australia's all-time most productive off-spinner Lyon finished the job for the hosts with four final-day wickets and six for the fourth innings, having taken two late on the fourth day.
Lyon's five-wicket haul was the 21st of his Test career, but also his fifth in the fourth innings of a Test match, with only one of those coming before 2019.
Positives for West Indies
Not much was expected from the West Indies in this series but they can take some heart from their gallant defeat in Perth, although it leaves them 1-0 down in the two-game Test series.
The West Indies bowling left a bit to be desired but their opening batsmen did well, with Braithwaite scoring 64 and 110, while debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul impressed with 51 and 45.
Marquino Mindley is travelling to Australia as injury cover for the West Indies Men’s squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide. The right-arm fast bowler is due to arrive in Australia on Tuesday morning.
All-rounder Raymon Reifer has been ruled out of the tour with a groin injury and Kyle Mayers can no longer bowl in the series after suffering a strain to his right teres major. Nkrumah Bonner has been ruled out of further participation in the current first Test Match due to concussion protocols after being struck on the helmet when batting in West Indies first innings. Shamarh Brooks replaced him as the concussion substitute.
Mindley, 27, has so far played 42 first-class matches with 103 wickets at an average of 24.25 runs per wickets. His last first-class assignment was in August for the West Indies “A” Team against Bangladesh “A” in Saint Lucia where he had impressive figures of 5-59 in the first four-day match.
The first Test is being played at the Perth Stadium and enters the fifth and final day on Sunday, 4 December. The second Test will be a day/night contest featuring the pink cricket ball at the Adelaide Oval, from Thursday 8 December to Monday 12 December. The two teams are competing for the Frank Worrell trophy, named in honor of the former West Indies captain and icon.
FULL SQUAD
Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain)
Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain)
Nkrumah Bonner
Shamarh Brooks
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Roston Chase
Joshua Da Silva
Jason Holder
Alzarri Joseph
Kyle Mayers
Marquino. Mindley
Anderson Phillip
Kemar Roach
Jayden Seales
Devon Thomas
Jamaica College are champions of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup for the 31st time after a thrilling 8-7 penalty-shootout win over rivals St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) at Sabina Park on Friday.
The teams, meeting in the decider for the third time in the last six years, played out a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time.
JC took the lead in the 27th minute through a brilliant strike from winger Jaheem Frazer. They almost doubled that advantage ten minutes after the second half commenced when striker Maquan Aldridge rose well but headed a Tarick Ximines cross off the post.
That miss proved to be a big one as STATHS got back on level terms four minutes later when Shakeone Satchwell capitalized on a defensive error to slot home his 14th goal of the season.
With no further goals between the two heavyweights, the dreaded penalty shootout was needed to decide the champion.
JC had the worst possible start in the shootout when Romaine Blake had his penalty saved by STATHS keeper Jaheem Williams.
After that, both teams held their nerve well scoring penalties back and forth before STATHS, at this point with the score being 4-4 in the shootout, had a chance to secure their first Manning Cup crown in 35 years.
Unfortunately for them, substitute Namar Nelson blasted his penalty over the bar, meaning the shootout entered sudden death.
In sudden death, each team converted their first three kicks before Rashaun Frankson became the second STATHS kicker to blast over, giving JC an 8-7 win and a 31st hold on the crown.
Earlier at Sabina Park, Tivoli Gardens High School won their fifth Walker Cup title and first since 2005 after their own 5-4 penalty-shootout win over Haile Selassie High.
Tivoli took the lead when Captain Daniel Watson scored from a close-range header in the 35th minute before Joshua Dewar got Haile Selassie’s equalizer in the 49th minute.
In the resulting penalty-shootout, both teams converted their first four spot kicks before Haile Selassie substitute Tyreece Francis had his kick saved by keeper Shakur Adair.
Talented Bournemouth winger Jaidon Anthony insists he is in no hurry to decide his future with both international teams England and Jamaica being options at this point.
In truth the 22-year-old winger might not be a major consideration for either country at this point, having not secured much time on the pitch in the English Premier League (EPL).
In total the player has made only 12 appearances but has shown plenty of ability with the 3 goals he has scored so far. At Bournemouth, Antony is teammates with Jamaica international Jamal Lowe who has already attempted to sell the young player on representing the Caribbean team. At this point in time, however, he insists he is not yet ready to consider it.
“My mum and my dad are both from Jamaica as well. I have got good heritage from there,” Anthony told the Beautiful Game Podcast.
“It would be an honour to represent either. One of my team-mates, Jamal Lowe, plays for Jamaica. He’s always saying you need to come!
“I have only been playing professional football for two years. I don’t want to rush any decisions. We will see what happens.”
I’m ready now – Whisper
The World Athletics Championships will return to the Bahamas for the fourth time in six years after successfully winning the rights.
The next edition of the championships is due to be in 2024, and once again the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium has been earmarked as the venue for the team championship.
The Bahamas hosted the first three editions of the tournament, which took place between 2014-2017. The event them moved to Yokohoma, Japan in 2019 and then Chorzow, Poland last year.
With the team’s track record of successfully hosting previous events, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe is confident the country will be able to deliver another exciting event.
“We have had three wonderful editions of the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, which established this event on the global calendar, so we know we are in safe hands for what will be an important Olympic qualifier for all our relay events,” Coe said.
“We are confident that The Bahamas will offer the best conditions for the athletes and a brilliant atmosphere for both athletes and fans as we mark a key milestone on the road to the Paris Olympic Games.”
The 2024 World Athletics Relays will serve as the main qualifier for teams participating in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 and mixed 4 x 400m metre relays for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite insists he was not surprised by the determined, obdurate display of opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul, on his debut against Australia, on Wednesday.
Facing a mammoth 598 for 4 declared, the West Indies ended day 2 at 74 without loss after facing 25 overs. Chanderpaul, the 25-year-old son of legendary West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, made a solid 47 from 73 balls while Brathwaite himself made a more patient 18 from 79.
Chanderpaul was called into the squad last month as a replacement for previous opening batsman John Campbell, who is currently serving a doping violation suspension. A match-up against top-ranked Australia certainly isn’t the easiest debut for the young batsman, his captain Brathwaite was, however, not worried.
“I wasn’t surprised. I’ve known him for a while. I’ve played against him and he has always had fight always takes his time to bat and bats for long periods,” Brathwaite said at the end of the days play.
“I know he is a fighter, so it isn’t surprising. I just look forward to a lot from him playing for West Indies. It was good to see but we need to continue,” he added.
Chanderpaul previously stood out for the team last week against the Prime Ministers XI where he recorded a century in the four-day affair.
Sunshine Girls Captain Jhaniele Fowler was named the Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year for the fifth year in a row at the Australian Netball Awards Ceremony on Thursday.
The 33-year-old goal shooter led all players 1668.5 total points, 929 goals and 55 offensive rebounds on her way to helping the West Coast Fever to second place in the league table with 32 points from their twelve games, eight behind champions the Melbourne Vixens.
Fowler was also named to the Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year. The team also included Fowler's Sunshine Girls teammates Shamera Sterling at Goal Keeper and Latanya Wilson at Goal Defence. Sterling and Wilson, both members of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, finished first and third in interceptions with 52 and 31, respectively. Sterling was also fourth in total points with 1177.5.
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel on Wednesday named a 14-member squad for the first and second matches in the CG United One Day International (ODI) series against England Women starting on 4 December at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
West Indies and England will contest three day/night CG United ODIs starting at 2pm local time/1pm Jamaica time. All three CG United ODIs in the series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua on 4, 6 and 9 December as part of the ICC Women's Championship.
Lead Selector Ann Browne-John said: “The return of Shemaine Campbelle and Kycia Knight to the ODI squad after missing the last series due to injury will bolster the team in the absence of the experienced Stafanie Taylor who is still recuperating from injury sustained during September’s series against New Zealand. The CG United ODI matches are vital as points earned will take us a step closer towards automatic qualification for the next ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025.”
She added: “This series against England comes on the heels of the New Zealand tour to the West Indies and continues our important preparation for the upcoming Tri Series against India and South Africa and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to follow. It gives the players a great opportunity to develop and push for final selection for the Tri Series and World Cup.”
The CG United ODI Series is the second opportunity for the West Indies to gain points in the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC). The top five teams in the IWC will automatically book a berth for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025. The remaining five teams in the IWC will have to go through the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The T20I Series which follows provides both teams with important preparation for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa which begins on 10 February 2023, with West Indies and England drawn to play each other in Group 2 of the tournament.
Tickets are available in advance for the first two CG United ODIs and the first T20I in Antigua from the Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard - tickets.windiestickets.com. Tickets are just US$9/EC$25. The third CG United ODI in Antigua will be free for local and visiting fans as it falls on V.C. Bird Day, a national holiday in Antigua and is being supported by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Fans who purchase tickets will receive their tickets securely into their online Windies Tickets account to save to their mobile device or print out for presentation at the stadium, avoiding the need to queue at or travel to the stadium ticket offices. Ticket offices at each venue will be open on the day of each match.
All matches will be available to view in the West Indies live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel as well as on the ESPN Play app. Fans in the UK will be able to view on BT Sport with fans based in the USA able to watch live on ESPN+.
FULL SQUAD
(1st and 2nd CG United ODIs)
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith made double centuries as Australia piled on the runs against West Indies at Perth Stadium, achieving a feat last witnessed over a decade ago.
Not since Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke plundered double tons against India in January 2012 had any pair of batters made 200-plus scores in the same innings of a Test match.
This first Test saw Australia follow up their opening-day dominance with more commanding batting to reach 598-4 on Thursday, before West Indies rallied to reach 74-0 at stumps, with debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul closing in on a half-century.
Labuschagne had been 154no overnight, and Smith was with him on 59, and they went on to post 204 and 200no respectively, sharing in a third-wicket stand of 251 runs. It was a second Test double century for Labuschagne, and a fourth for Smith.
Australia declared when Travis Head was dismissed on 99, edging the 95th ball of his innings into his stumps to give West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite a second wicket, ending a 196-run alliance with Smith.
In reply, Chanderpaul, son of West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, powered to 47no as Brathwaite battled to 18no, offering hope the tourists may be able to show sufficient defiance to still take something from this match, the first of two in the series.
Smith joins Bradman
Smith's century, which became a double, was his 29th ton in Tests, moving him level with the great Don Bradman on the all-time list. He and Bradman share fourth place among Australia century-makers, behind Ricky Ponting (41), Steve Waugh (32) and Matthew Hayden (30).
Chanderpaul a chip off the old block
Facing the full assault of Australia's pace attack, Chanderpaul did not always look comfortable against Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but he found a way to survive to the close.
Dad Shivnarine made 11,867 Test runs for West Indies, so Tagenarine is just 11,820 behind now. More relevantly, perhaps, Shivnarine made 62 in his first Test innings, against England in Georgetown in 1994. After this strong start, West Indies will hope his son can go significantly past that score on Friday.
2022 World Championship 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams was controversially left out of Barbados’ Independence Awards as the country celebrated their 56th year of independence on Wednesday.
Barbadian journalist Mike King described the omission of Williams from the list of awardees as “shocking” and “inexcusable” in a Facebook post.
“To leave World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams out of the Independence Awards is a national scandal. Members of Cabinet should hold their heads down in shame,” he added.
Williams enjoyed a career best 2022 season in the one lap event.
In July, she ran a personal best and national record 49.75 for bronze at the World Championships in Eugene. She followed that up in August by winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 49.90 and silver at the NACAC Championships in Freeport in 49.86.
In addition to those medals, Williams also enjoyed four top three finishes on the Diamond League circuit last season. She finished third in Monaco and second in Lausanne and Brussels before crossing the line third once again at the Diamond League final in Zurich.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has refuted claims made in a recent interview by national player Leon Bailey and called for evidence in lieu of some of the explosive accusations levied against the organisation.
In particular, the association took exception to a claim made by the player that suggested that the JFF had actively played a role in preventing his ability to travel abroad when he attempted to do so as a developing young player.
“From I was 8 or 9 I have been getting 'fight' from the federation. They even tried to block me from going to Europe. They linked up with the embassy to deny me a visa…the last time I went to Europe I had to fly to Cuba to get my visa,” Bailey told the Let’s Be Honest podcast.
In addressing the issues, via a press release, the JFF expressed disappointment with many of the utterances made by the player and the manner in which the grievances were aired.
Leon Bailey speaks out in explosive interview! The 25 y-o says JA football needs a proper system
“It is unfortunate that Leon has apparently felt this way about the JFF, especially while playing for the Jamaica National team and not expressing it, and knowing his commitment to the program and country. He has indicated that the persons in the JFF, and by implication the JFF, has given him a fight and tried to block him from going to Europe by working through the Embassy…,” the release read.
“This is quite unfortunate as the JFF has always seen Leon as an important member of the National team, and what he has said is baseless and is consistent with recent similar comments made, which we have called for evidence to be shared, either privately or publicly, so that we can act on it. To date, no such evidence has been shared. It is not credible to make anecdotal accusations without evidence, and by doing so seek to damage the reputation of individuals and the JFF as an organisation. We also find it impractical that a child between 8 and 12 years old would understand what the actions and motives of the JFF or any organisation would be, with any clear understanding as first-hand information,” it added.
“In fact, by saying that the JFF has the capability to block an Embassy from issuing a visa, also implies that the Embassy is complicit with the JFF in acting, as he implies, in a “corrupt” manner. The JFF can assure everyone that we do not have the ability to influence a visa decision with any Embassy, and we would never seek to intervene in such a process.”
The release went on to state that the matter had been referred to the team manager and coach for review.
West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes maintaining discipline will be crucial for the unit if they are to pose any type of challenge to Australia in the upcoming series.
Despite a relatively solid year in the red ball format, the Windies will start as massive underdogs against the top-ranked Australians on Sunday. In addition to the fact that West Indies has not secured a win against Australia at home since 1993 the team has won just games in the last 8 Test series.
Having managed solid wins against England and Bangladesh in their last two series, however, Brathwaite will be hoping to spring a surprise. For that, keeping focus will be crucial.
“We have 10 days of hard Test cricket to play. We know Australia are a very, very good team, especially at home. So, the main thing for us is to focus on our discipline,” Brathwaite of the media on Tuesday.
“When we are batting, we want to bat 100 overs plus, when we are bowling, we are looking to get 20 wickets. So that obviously is to help the team win a game. We know Australia is a superior team. We have to play 10 days of hard cricket that’s the focus.”
The West Indies will play Australia in two Test matches. The first will bowl off in Perth on December 4th, followed by a trip to Adelaide from December 7th-12th.
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