Following her record-breaking collegiate indoor season, Julien Alfred has been named the South Central Region Female Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The 21-year-old Alfred re-wrote both the collegiate and Texas record books this season after being crowned the indoor sprints double champion with the No. 2 world all-time performances in both the 60m and the 200m.
The St. Lucia native lowered her 60m collegiate record six times this season including times of 7.05, 7.02, 7.00, 6.97, 6.95 and finally 6.94. She's the only collegian to ever run under seven seconds and did it three times this season. She followed up with a collegiate-record in the 200 with a time of 22.01 that also serves as the UT record.
Her Longhorn teammate Yusuf Bizimana was the SEC Male Track athlete after winning the 800m crown at the NCAA Championships with his personal-best time of 1:46.02.
Newly crowned NCAA 60m hurdles champion Ackera Nugent arrived at Arkansas, already the 2021 World U20 100m hurdles champion and the World U20 record holder, but with the improvements she has made so far, and the potential she possesses in the flat sprint, she could be great at both the hurdles and the blue-riband flat sprint.
Johnson, the Associate Head Coach of the Women’s Programme at the University of Arkansas believes Nugent is a special talent that is nowhere close to achieving her full potential.
Early during the just-concluded indoor season, Nugent ran a couple of 60m races and she improved from her previous best of 7.27 in 2022 to 7.20. That improved speed between the hurdles was clearly evident as she upset gold-medal favourite Kentucky’s Masai Russell last weekend.
This is where Coach Johnson believes she has the most room for improvement. In fact, he believes that she will surprise many with how fast she really is.
“I won't let the cat out of the bag but I think you will be very pleased when you see her run 100m. I think everybody is going to be surprised about what she is capable of doing because she is a talent,” he said.
“Obviously, I have been fortunate enough to coach Janeek (Brown) and Dazsay Freeman, so three young ladies from Jamaica, all talented in their own right but this young lady is very special.
“The 60 is a little short for her. I think the 100m will be just right and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what she will be able to accomplish.”
Does this mean, Jamaica could have its version of the American Olympic champion Gail Devers, who won Olympic gold in the 100m in 1992 and 1996 and 100m hurdles world titles in 1993, 1995, and 1999?
“That’s tall cotton if you will, but I think that provided she can stay healthy and continue to progress, I think Jamaica and the University of Arkansas will be very pleased with where she is going. We have to take care of her and make sure she does the right things,” said Johnson.
Johnson, who is in his 12th season at Arkansas, began coaching Nugent last fall after the 60m World U20 record holder transferred from Baylor University where she spent her freshman year.
In 2019, Johnson coached Brown to an NCAA championship in the 100m hurdles where she ran what was then the second-fastest time in NCAA history crossing the line in 12.40, which at the time was a Jamaican national record.
Four years later, under his watch, Nugent who turns 21 in April, won the NCAA Division 1 National Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 7.73, just 0.01 off the world-leading and personal best 7.72 she ran in the preliminary round.
The 0.17 improvement in her 60m best came as a result of the improvements she has been making guided by Johnson’s experienced hand. His job is made easier, he said, because the 2021 World U20 champion is a good student of the sport.
“She is an extreme talent but from my position as a coach there were some things that needed to be worked on,” he said.
“We have worked on what she looks like on top of the hurdle, into and off of the hurdle and I think she has done a fantastic job in working on those things. She is a really good student of the hurdles. She has good body awareness and kinaesthetic awareness so when you give her cues, she is really into what you’re giving her.”
Coach Johnson also lauded Nugent for her willingness to embrace change in pursuit of progress.
“I’ve got to give her a lot of credit in terms of being able to change the way she has done things to fit the model that we think that’s going to be best for her. She has lost some pounds, that’s something that as a coach, I required. I think it’s important in her development, not just from the losing weight part of it but in terms of being healthy and being able to train at a very high level and she has been able to a good job of that. So we’re very proud of her progress.”
Notwithstanding the rapid progress Nugent has already made in a short time, Johnson believes there is a lot more to come from her indicating that once she ‘cleans up’ some technical elements she will be a force to be reckoned with provided she can stay healthy and continue to progress.”
The Guyana Harpy Eagles hold a 260-run lead over the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force after day two of their third-round fixture at the Brian Lara Stadium.
The Red Force started day two 7-0 replying to Guyana’s 324.
The Trinidadian opening pair of Jeremy Solozano and Keagan Simmons managed to put on 38 before Simmons went of the bowling of Keemo Paul for 15 in the 18th over.
Solozano and new batsman Darren Bravo brought the score past 50 in the 20th over before Solozano became Paul’s second victim, also going for 15.
Just eight runs later, Captain Bravo was the third man to fall for 15, going caught off the bowling of Ronsford Beaton in the 21st over.
Jason Mohammed (16) and Jyd Goolie (6) then came together and brought the Red Force to lunch on 81-3, trailing the Harpy Eagles by 243 runs.
After lunch, Mohammed and Goolie continued to toil against some good Harpy Eagles bowling before their resistance was broken in the 34th over when Paul dismissed Goolie for 22 with the score on 117.
It quickly became 118-5 as Tion Webster fell to Veerasammy Permaul a few overs later for a duck.
Amir Jangoo was next to the crease and he and Mohammed added 32 before he too went off the bowling of Permaul for 18 to leave the Red Force 150-6 in the 47th over.
Permaul was at it again when he dismissed Imran Khan for two with the score on 157 in the 49th over.
Ronsford Beaton took the final three wickets of the innings, dismissing Bryan Charles, Jason Mohammed for a well made 50, his 18th in first class cricket, and Justin Manick for a duck.
Just before the tea break, the Red Force were bowled out for 160 in 52 overs, trailing the Harpy Eagles by 164 runs.
Ronsford Beaton ended with 4-31 from his 13 overs while Keemo Paul and Veerasammy Permaul took 3-37 and 3-36, respectively.
Guyana lost Tevin Imlach very early in their second innings, going for just three in the fourth over off the bowling of Uthman Muhammad.
The score was 31-1 in the 12th over when the Harpy Eagles lost their second wicket, Kevlon Anderson caught off the bowling of Daren Bravo for 15.
Matthew Nandu and Kemol Savory then put on 49 for the third wicket before Nandu fell for 33 in the 27th over.
At stumps, the Harpy Eagles were 96-3, leading the Red Force by 260 runs with Savory (34) and captain Leon Johnson (9) at the crease.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 off 86.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Imran Khan 4-80, Bryan Charles 3-85) and 96-3 off 34 overs (Kemol Savory 34*, Matthew Nandu 33)
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 160 off 52 overs (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22, Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37)
Rakheem Cornwall and Devon Thomas combined for all 10 Barbados Pride wickets in the second innings to put the Leeward Islands Hurricanes firmly in control of their third-round encounter at the Queen’s Park Oval.
The Pride started day two 294-8 from 88 overs and were able to add 28 more runs before being dismissed for 322 in 91.5 overs.
Captain Shane Dowrich, who entered the day not out on 116, finished 124 not out.
Rakheem Cornwall continued his sensational form with the ball this season with 6-50 from his 24 overs.
The Leeward had a horrific start to their reply as Montcin Hodge (6), Kieran Powell (5) and Akeem Saunders (0) all fell within the first seven overs to leave them 23-3.
Devon Thomas and Kofi James then tried to mount a comeback before, with the score on 44 in over number 13, Thomas fell off the bowling of Dominic Drakes for 20.
Just two balls later, James was dismissed by Shamar Springer for 12 with no further addition to the score.
Captain Jahmar Hamilton and Rakheem Cornwall then had one job, try to get to lunch without any further wickets.
The were unable to do that as Cornwall went off the bowling of Jonathan Carter for seven off the final ball before the lunch break to leave the Hurricanes 63-6 off 17 overs facing a deficit of 259 runs.
The post-lunch session was equally difficult for the Hurricanes. Hamilton and new batsman Jeremiah Louis were able to add 30 runs before Hamilton went off the bowling of Springer for 30.
However, good cameos from Louis (24), Hayden Walsh (20) and Colin Archibald (24) helped the Leewards recover to 154 all out in 42 overs at the tea interval, facing a deficit of 168 runs.
Dominic Drakes finished with 3-38 from 13 overs.
The Barbados second innings started promisingly as Zachary McCaskie and Sheyne Moseley put on 59 for the first wicket.
That wicket fell when McCaskie was dismissed by Cornwall for 29 in the 14th over. Not long after, Moseley went off the bowling of Devon Thomas for 27 to leave the Pride 65-2.
What followed was a massive collapse for the Pride as they lost their next five wickets for just four runs as Thomas and Cornwall ripped through the batting.
Jonathan Drakes (3), Jonathan Carter (0), Shane Dowrich (0), Kevin Wickham (1) and Shamar Springer (0) all fell within the next four overs to leave them 69-7 off 19.1 overs.
The eighth wicket fell just two balls later when Cornwall removed Chaim Holder for a duck for his fourth wicket of the innings and tenth in the match.
Dominic Drakes was the ninth man to go, bowled by Thomas for 2 to give him a maiden first class five wicket haul and leave the Pride 71-9, leading by 239 runs.
The Pride were eventually bowled out for 78 leaving the Hurricanes needing 247 to win.
Cornwall finished with 5-19 from 7.2 overs while Thomas took 5-22 from nine overs.
The Hurricanes ended the day 13-0 off two overs.
Scores: Barbados Pride 322 off 91.5 overs (Shane Dowrich 124*, Chaim Holder 43, Rakheem Cornwall 6-50, Sheeno Berridge 2-39) and 78 off 23.2 overs (Zachary McCaskie 29, Sheyne Moseley 27, Rakheem Cornwall 5-19, Devon Thomas 5-22).
Leeward Islands Hurricanes 154 off 42 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 30, Jeremiah Louis 24, Colin Archibald 24, Dominic Drakes 3-38, Chaim Holder 2-7, Jair McAllister 2-36, Shemar Springer 2-48) and 13-0 off 2 overs (Montcin Hodge 9*)
Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge scored fifties as the Windward Islands Hurricanes put themselves firmly in command of their third-round encounter against the Jamaica Scorpions after day two at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
The Scorpions started the day 98-7 off 21 overs replying to the Windwards’ 217 all out.
They lost their final three wickets quickly, adding just three runs to their total to finish 101 all out in just 28.3 overs.
All the Jamaican wickets fell to fast bowling as Justin Greaves starred with a career-best 6-34 off 10.3 overs while Shermon Lewis and Ryan John took two wickets apiece.
The Windwards began their second innings with a lead of 116 and suffered an immediate setback when Jerlani Robinson fell to Marquino Mindley off the first ball of the second innings.
Debutant Johann Jeremiah went next for 11 before captain Alick Athanaze and Kavemm Hodge batted beautifully to put on 66 and carry the Volcanoes into lunch on 85-2, a lead of 201 runs with Hodge on 45 and Athanaze on 26.
The post-lunch session saw the pair continue to look comfortable against the Jamaican bowling.
Hodge and Athanaze both brought up fifties as the partnership reached a mammoth 171 before Hodge fell for an excellent 107-ball 82 to leave the Volcanoes 190-3 in the 38th over.
Only eight runs later, Athanaze fell just shy of what would’ve ben his second first class hundred when he was dismissed by Kirk McKenzie for 97 off 100 balls, his eighth first class fifty and second of the match.
At tea, the Volcanoes were 215-4 off 44 overs, a lead of 331 runs, with Sunil Ambris on 12 and Justin Greaves on seven.
Soon after the resumption, Ambris became the fifth man to go, caught off the bowling of Nicholson Gordon for 23 with the score on 242 in the 54th over.
Two overs later, Tevyn Walcott went for a nine-ball duck to leave the Volcanoes 244-6.
Patrick Harty removed Greaves for 33 and Ryan John for six in the 61st over to leave the Windwards 259-8.
The ninth wicket fell when Jamie Merchant removed Kenneth Dember for 13 in the 69th over with the score on 283.
The Windward were eventually bowled out for 300 after 78.5 overs meaning the Jamaica Scorpions will need 417 runs to win.
Patrick Harty ended with 3-63 while Marquino Mindley and Nicholson Gordon took two wickets, each.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)
Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38).
South Africa and West Indies were frustrated by rain as Thursday's first ODI at Buffalo Park was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The day-night match in East London was in doubt once the toss was delayed, and conditions showed little sign of significant improvement.
Although rain briefly abated, showers soon returned and the contest was called off.
The second leg of the three-match series is due to be played at the same ground on Saturday.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) named 15 players for a West Indies Women’s Emerging Player High-Performance camp which will be held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) from March 16-30.
The squad includes several players with international experience and they will work under the guidance of Steve Liburd, Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s Rising Stars Under 19s programme.
Among the players selected are teenagers Djenaba Joseph, Trishan Holder and Zaida James, who were part of the West Indies Rising Stars Under 19 team at the recent ICC U19 T20 World Cup and were also selected in the West Indies Senior team at the ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa. Other players with international experience who will be participating are allrounders Jannilea Glasgow, Kaysia Shultz, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph and Shabika Gajnabi, while other members of the Rising Stars Under 19 team have been selected.
This High-Performance camp continues CWI’s increased investment into the women’s game and forms part of the overall High-Performance Pathway. CWI’s strategic plan has committed resources into developing the women’s cricket at every level. This High-Performance Camp at CCG plays a vital role in the strategy to develop the talent pool and produce the next generation of West Indies Women’s players.
Graeme West, CWI’s High-Performance Manager said: “This camp is geared towards players aged 25 and under as part of developing the pool of talent across the region. The camp will offer activities and support across technical, tactical, physical, mental and personal development areas with individualized programmes following each players involvement in the Senior and Under 19 sides in the last six months.
“We are looking to increase our investment in our most talented young female players and the introduction of an Academy programme later in the year will provide a further 15 players with full-time support, training and competitive opportunities as they make their way through the CWI High-Performance Pathway,” West said.
“The camp represents an opportunity to prepare some of the players that will be strong contenders for Academy places while sharpening the skills of several players that have already performed on the international stage at the senior level. These players will benefit from a fortnight of intensive work leading into a busy summer schedule with Regional Tournaments and International Series planned.”
West added: “We also have Cherry-Ann Fraser and Mandy Mangru who will come in for rehab from injuries that have held up their progress, so we hope to help them along their way with the intention that they will be fit for the Senior Women’s Regional tournaments in May.”
FULL SQUAD
Earnisha Fontaine
Shabika Gajnabi
Jannilea Glasgow
Sheneta Grimmond
Trishan Holder
Zaida James
Djenba Joseph
Qiana Joseph
Ashmini Munisar
Abini St Jean
Shalini Samaroo
Shunelle Sawh
Kaysia Schultz
Steffie Soogrim
Kate Wilmott
NOTE: Cherry-Ann Fraser and Mandy Mangru will be attending as part of their rehabilitation work from injury.
Half centuries from Leon Johnson, Anthony and Kevin Sinclair were the foundation of the Guyana Harpy Eagles’ 324 against Trinidad and Tobago on the opening day of their third-round West Indies Championship match on Wednesday.
Johnson scored 62, Bramble 52 and Sinclair 69 for Guyana that also got useful contributions of 44 from Kemol Savory and 46 from Keemo Paul.
Guyana benefitted from solid middle-order batting that saw partnerships of 97 between Savory and Johnson before both were dismissed in quick succession after taking the score from 33-3.
A partnership of 79 between Bramble and Sinclair followed before Sinclair and Paul added 88 for the seventh wicket.
Imran Khan was the best of the Red Force bowlers taking 4-80 while Bryan Charkes snared 3-85 for Trinidad and Tobago who were seven without loss at stumps, 317 runs behind.
The Jamaica Scorpions wretched season with the bat continued on Wednesday on the opening day of their West Indies Championship match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence. After restricting the Volcanoes to 217, the Scorpions slumped to 98-7 at stumps, still 119 runs behind.
It could have been much worse for Jamaica, who at one point were 41-6 before a 57-run partnership between Jamie Merchant (24) and Derval Green, who is unbeaten on 33, took them closer to 100 runs.
Justin Greaves was the main destroyer with 4-34 while Shermon Lewis supported with 2-29.
Earlier, Derval Green took 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26 and Merchant 2-39 as Jamaica bowled the Windwards out for 217. The in-form Alick Athanaze scored 81 and Greaves 50 offered crucial resistance to the Jamaican bowling.
Rahkeem Cornwall enjoyed a six-wicket haul but Shane Dowrich offered stern resistance, scoring an unbeaten 116 to steer Barbados Pride to 294-8 on the opening day of their West Indies Championship third-round match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queens Park Oval on Wednesday.
Barbados had been reduced to 53-3 after Cornwall dismissed opener Shayne Moseley for four and Zachary McCaskie for 26. Sheeno Berridge then dismissed Johnathan Carter for a duck when Dowrich arrived at the crease.
It was soon 57-4 after Johnathan Drakes fell to Cornwall for 22.
However, Dowrich provided some steel to the line-up sharing in a fifth-wicket stand of 92 with Kevin Wickham, who made 41 before became Cornwall’s fourth scalp. Cornwall would also pick up the wickets of Shemar Springer (4) and Dominic Drakes (22) after the latter and Dowrich had ground out 47 for the seventh wicket.
Chaim Holder offered some stout resistance scoring 43 as he and Dowrich mounted a 73-run partnership for the eighth wicket before he lost his wicket to Colin Archibald as it neared close of play.
Dowrich, who has so far hit nine fours and a six in his 191-ball stay at the crease and Camarie Boyce (8 not out) were at the crease at stumps.
Cornwall closed the day with 6-50 from 24 overs and will be hoping to add to his tally as Barbados try to push their score past 300 on Thursday.
Shaheem Prentice’s two goals spurred Newtown to a 2-1 win over Sadlers in the St Kitts and Nevis Premier League on Monday night.
In what was the final game of the weekend of matches, Prentice scored in the second and 22nd minutes leading his team to the victory. Jarin Clarke scored in the 55th minute in what turned out to a consolation goal for the visitors.
Coach Anthony “Nets” Isaac said his team’s victory was a sign of their resilience.
“We go from game to game. We get motivation from the game that we play because we come out on top and play very good football, so we take from that game into every game that we go into,” Isaac said.
Saddlers coach, Samuel Phipps, said he had to make changes in the first half as four of his first-team players showed up late for the match.
“I had to do some reshuffling in the first half because it’s unbelievable; we had players who were in the starting team showing up late so, of course, I had to readjust the squad from what I wanted for this game,” a flustered Phipps said.
With the victory, Newtown maintains third place on the Premier League table. Old Road United Jets are in second with 13 points while Cayon Rockets leads the league with 15 points.
On Sunday, Old Road blanked Hot Springs Bath United 3-0 at Warner Park. All three goals were scored in a four-minute span that put the game away.
Having struggled to take control in the first half, Old Road found their rhythm after the interval. Kaylon Liburd opened the scoring in the 60th minute before the prolific Tiquanny Williams scored two minutes later.
Nequan Browne secured all three points when he scored in the 64th minute as Old Road became only the second team to secure wins on the weekend.
Coach Alexis Morris of Old Road, explained why his team struggled in the first half.
“Let me tip my hat to the Bath United team because they really put us to the test,” he said. “We started a bit flat. We asked the guys to conserve some energy but to me, they went away from that and as a result of that, they were running all over the pitch.
“Luckily, at the break, we were able to talk. We were able to regroup and we were able to put things together and play the kind of (football) that we are capable of playing.”
Bath’s Coach Alex Claxton said lapses in concentration caused his team to concede three goals in four minutes. “I think this was one of those moments when our players lapsed. I think decision-making played a role in that regard so we have to go back to the drawing board and try to fix those things,” Claxton said.
In Sunday’s other match, Rams Village Superstars drew 1-1 with H.E. Garden Hotspurs.
Joseph Wilkes put Village ahead in the 44th minute but the lead lasted on four minutes as Steve Archibald drew Spurs level in the 48th.
Akio Benjamin of Spurs picked up his second yellow of the match in the 80th minute and was sent off.
Spurs Assistant Coach Rohan Browne was not happy with the draw.
“We dominated the game, to be honest. We dominated from start to end. We had most chances,” Brown said. “We had some chances on the break. I am disappointed but the guys played with heart and they finished off the game with one point. Not what we wanted but well done to the team.”
Village’s coach Stephen Clarke was also not pleased with the outcome.
“I expected three points but that’s how it goes sometimes. You just have to go back to the playing field, regroup and come back again,” Clarke said.
Meanwhile, defending champions S L Horsfords St. Paul’s, snatched a point from the jaws of defeat on Friday night on their home field.
A last-minute strike from Vinceroy Nelson that gave St Paul’s a 1-1 draw with St. Peters FC, who had taken the lead when Shomari Hanley 35th minute.
Coach Austin “Dico” Huggins of St. Peters, was upset with the outcome as he felt the seven minutes of stoppage time had already elapsed and the match should have ended, preventing St. Paul’s from scoring the last-minute goal.
In the night’s other match in St. Paul’s, Jones Group Sandy Point FC, came from behind with 10 men to draw 1-1 with Security Forces FC.
Donyelle Francis scored from the spot to give Security Forces the lead in the 26th minute before Melrick Warner pulled Sandy Point level in the 77th minute.
Table toppers FLOW 4G Cayon Rockets solidified their position at the top the league table with their fifth win from five matches on Saturday, edging SOL IAS Conaree FC 3-2 at home in St. Mary’s Park, Cayon.
Mervin Lewis put the leaders up 1-0 in the 14th minute but Errol O'Loughlin leveled the scored in the 24th minute.
Devontay Carty scored the first of his two goals to give Cayon the lead in the 29th. He added a second in the 75th to give Cayon 3-1 lead. However, Nequan Phipps made things interesting when he scored Conaree’s second in the 78th minute making for a tense final 12 minutes.
Assistant Coach at Cayon Valentine Anthony blamed lapses in concentration has been an issue of concern.
“For the past couple of games we started the first half (well) and in the second half we just come out lackadaisical. But grateful that we got the three points. Kudos to my team,” he said.
South Africa will look to maintain their ODI momentum ahead of the Cricket World Cup, but they are set to contend with key injuries as they take on West Indies in a three-match 50-over series, which starts on Thursday.
The Proteas wrapped up a convincing 2-0 Test series win against West Indies earlier in the month, having beaten world champions England 2-1 in an ODI series before that.
While Shukri Conrad has already taken charge of the Test side, this latest series will be the first for new white-ball coach Rob Walter having completed his term with New Zealand's Central Stags.
Walter will be without important players, however, after Keshav Maharaj ruptured his left Achilles in the Test series. Wiaan Mulder is also unavailable with a left side strain, with Tabraiz Shamsi and Wayne Parnell replacing the pair.
South Africa will be favourites given their form, but all-rounder Bjorn Fortuin is certain his side will take nothing for granted when they face off in the first ODI against West Indies since the 2019 World Cup.
"We are going to need to be at our best in all three aspects of the game to beat them, and that's what we are working towards," Fortuin said.
"They are a dangerous side on all fronts, whether with the ball or bat. We know they are supreme athletes on the field.
"The boys are coming off a successful Test series, and we will be looking to build on that and build some momentum."
West Indies have also made leadership changes prior to the series, with Shai Hope taking over the captaincy from Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran remains in the side and will look to form a key part of the middle order alongside Roston Chase and Shamarh Brook.
Interim coach Andre Coley's side have won just one of their last eight ODIs and have brought in former leg-spinner Samuel Badree to serve as assistant coach as they look to improve before the World Cup in October.
De Kock chasing milestone
Quinton de Kock may no longer play Test cricket, but the wicketkeeper's supreme batting talents are still a vital cog in South Africa's limited-over successes.
The 30-year-old has played 137 ODIs and is just 99 runs away from becoming the seventh men's player to score 6,000 runs for South Africa in the format.
If he reaches the milestone in his first match of the series, De Kock will become the third-fastest player overall to that mark in the history of ODIs, behind only Hashim Amla and Virat Kohli.
West Indies' ambitions rest on Hope
New skipper Hope has been a bright spark in an otherwise drab period for West Indies in ODI cricket.
The Windies will be relying on his top-order exploits as they look to turn around their form, with his average of 49 in men's ODIs the best of any batsman to play at least six innings for West Indies.
The role of head coach for the West Indies Senior Men’s teams will be split into two separate positions, Cricket West Indies has announced.
Recruitment start immediately for a Red Ball Head Coach for Test and ‘A’ Team cricket, as well as a White Ball Head Coach for One-Day Internationals (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricket, the governing body said in a statement released on Wednesday.
"After recently completing an independent review of our 2022 ICC World Cup performance, which included a closer look at the roles of the current Head Coach position, we believe it is now necessary to split the role and engage separate coaches for red and white ball formats,” said CWI’s Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams.
“The increased frequency of back-to-back multi-format tours combined with the specific demands of the respective formats no longer provides enough time for one individual to adequately plan, prepare and review across bilateral series and franchise itineraries that are so condensed.
“Separating the roles will also provide the head coaches with more time to oversee players’ ongoing development away from tours directly, and through increased engagement and planning with suitable high-performance programmes and coaches.”
According to Adams, the decision to separate the head coaching roles stems from the recommendation by the independent three-member World Cup Review Group that was appointed by CWI to conduct a comprehensive review of the West Indies Men’s team’s early exit from at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia last year.
The group was chaired by Justice Patrick Thompson Jr., a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and included Brian Lara, the West Indies batting legend, along with former South African, Pakistan, and Sri Lankan international coach, Mickey Arthur.
The position of West Indies Men’s Head Coach became vacant when Phil Simmons resigned following the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, and subsequently relinquished the post following the end of the West Indies tour of Australia last December.
Andre Coley is the current interim head coach for the recent Test series in Zimbabwe and the current multi-format tour of South Africa.
The West Indies Senior Men’s Selection Panel on Tuesday named Roston Chase as the replacement for Obed McCoy in the 15-member squad for the T20 International Series (T20I) against South Africa starting on March 25.
McCoy was named in the original squad subject to medical clearance but has been ruled out of the upcoming series due to a knee injury.
Lead Selector, The Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes, said: “Roston gets an opportunity in the upcoming series as we see him being a versatile player who can be called upon at any stage in the game. We want to wish Obed the best with his rehabilitation programme and hope to see him back in West Indies colours soon.”
The three-match T20I Series bowls off on Saturday 25 March at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The second match will be at the same venue the following day, while the third match will be at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Tuesday 28 March.
The T20I Series is preceded by a three-match One-Day International (ODI) Series.
The first two matches will be at Buffalo Park in East London on March 16 and March 18, with the final contest on March 21 at JB Marks Oval Potchefstroom.
T20I SQUAD
Rovman Powell (Captain)
Kyle Mayers (Vice Captain)
Shamarh Brooks
Yannic Cariah
Johnson Charles
Roston Chase
Sheldon Cottrell
Jason Holder
Akeal Hosein
Alzarri Joseph
Brandon King
Nicholas Pooran
Raymon Reifer
Romario Shepherd
Odean Smith
West Indies white ball match schedule in South Africa
Thursday, 16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
Saturday, 18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
Tuesday, 21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Saturday, 25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sunday, 26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Tuesday, 28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)
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