Ball-smashing T20 star Chris Gayle believes the West Indies could struggle at the upcoming World Cup, a tournament that they will head into with a new generation of players.
For the first time in decades, the likes of Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, and Andre Russell will not be a part of the team. While Bravo and Pollard have retired from international cricket, Russell was not selected for the squad after an indifferent run of form.
Instead, the unit will feature the likes of burgeoning T20 star Nicholas Pooran and a host of other talented players yet to prove themselves on the international stage for the Caribbean team.
"It will be very difficult for the West Indies team as the captain of the team is new and there is no Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Bravo in the team," Gayle told India daily Dainik Jagran.
Despite the relative lack of experience, Gayle believes the team’s talent could, however, make them a dangerous prospect for any opponent on a given day.
"Yes, it is definitely that the players who are included in the West Indies team are talented and can prove to be dangerous for any team. As everyone knows it is just a matter of adapting your strategy in the right way on match day. I hope the team plays well," he added.
The West Indies will bow into action with a Group Stage encounter against Scotland on Sunday.
Knight stars as Barbados complete CWI Super 50, T20 Blaze double
Kycia Knight starred with an unbeaten half-century as Barbados defeated the Leeward Islands by eight wickets to claim the CWI Women’s T20 Blaze title, adding to their Super 50 crown won last week.
The Leewards batted first at Warner Park on Saturday, making 121-5 off their 20 overs thanks to a 50-ball 33* from Divya Saxena.
Theanny Herbert-Mayers was the best bowler on the day for the Bajans with figures of 2-12 from her four overs.
The Barbados chase was then anchored be an 80-run opening stand between Knight and Aaliyah Alleyne who made 32.
In the end, Barbados claimed victory in 17.3 overs, reaching 122-2. Knight faced 51 balls for her 66*, hitting nine boundaries.
At St. Paul’s Sports Complex, Guyana won an extraordinary match against Trinidad & Tobago by one run to secure second place.
Guyana took first strike and were bowled out for a horrendous 39 in 19.3 overs with only skipper Shemaine Campbelle reaching double figures with 13 against an excellent four-over spell from Anisa Mohammed which saw her claim four wickets while conceding just five runs.
Steffie Soogrim and Shalini Samaroo also bowled eight overs between them, taking 2-7 and 2-10, respectively.
Then, amazingly, Guyana was able to defend the paltry total, bowling out T&T for 38 in 18.4 overs.
Mandy Mangru led the way with the ball with 4-11 from 3.4 overs while Ashmini Munisar took 2-8 from three overs.
At Conaree Sports Club, the Windward Islands beat Jamaica by six wickets.
Jamaica made 102-6 off their 20 overs batting first. Keneshia Ferron led the way with 32 off 41 balls while captain Stafanie Taylor made 22.
Afy Fletcher took 2-11 off her four overs for the Windwards.
The Windwards then needed only 17 overs to overhaul Jamaica’s total, reaching 103-4.
Zaida James led the way with 28 while Fletcher got 23.
The final points table saw Barbados and Guyana level on 16 points, followed by the Windwards (12), Jamaica (8), Trinidad & Tobago (8) and the Leewards (0).
Australia captain Meg Lanning ruled out of women’s Ashes
Australian women’s captain Meg Lanning has been ruled out of the summer’s Ashes tour due to medical reasons.
A statement from Cricket Australia said Lanning, 31, who returned to cricket in January after a six-month mental health break, has been “withdrawn from the squad due to a medical issue which requires management from home”.
Cricket Australia’s women’s cricket performance boss Shawn Flegler said: “It’s an unfortunate setback for Meg and she’s obviously disappointed to have been ruled out of the Ashes; it’s a significant series for the team and she’ll be missed, but she understands the need to put her health first.
“Meg will remain at home where she will continue to work with medical staff with the aim to return to playing as soon as possible.
“We ask that Meg’s privacy is respected at this time.”
Wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy will captain the team throughout the Ashes clashes against England with all-rounder Tahlia McGrath as vice-captain.
Lanning, who captained Australia to win the Twenty20 World Cup in March, will not be replaced in the squad with Australia A players touring England at the same and available if needed.
The multi-format Ashes series starts with a one-off Test in Nottingham from June 22 with three T20s and three ODIS.
Sammy addresses critics of lack of coaching credentials- “It’s a role that chose me”
New West Indies white-ball head coach Daren Sammy has hit back at critics of his hiring as coach.
Sammy, a former West Indies captain who led the regional side to World T20 triumphs in 2012 and 2016, was hired earlier this month as coach of the West Indies ODI and T20I sides despite not having a level 3 coaching certificate.
The former all-rounder previously coached Pakistan Super League (PSL) outfit Peshawar Zalmi in 2020 and 2021 before returning for the 2023 season. He also coached the St. Lucia Kings in the 2022 Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Despite this, critics have said his hiring as Windies head coach sets a bad precedent but the 39-year-old says he is “blocking out the noise” and focusing on the task at hand, returning the West Indies back to the top of the white-ball game.
“I’ve made it known; coaching was not something I aspired to do during my playing days but it’s a role that actually chose me. I’m a work in progress. I am aware of all those things,” Sammy said during a press conference on Friday.
“I understand the challenges ahead of me but I also believe in the impact and the effect that I could have on this generation right now and I will not let my lack of a certificate stop me from taking on the challenges that I know that I’m equipped to handle,” Sammy added before clarifying that he has, in fact, began the process of attaining the certificate.
“I have already started the process to be certified and, during that process, working with the West Indies team, working with further developing myself as a coach in terms of the qualifications needed,” he said.
“Don’t think for one minute that I will ever question myself that I’m not fit to do this job,” Sammy added.
His first two assignments will come next month when the West Indies battle the UAE in three ODIs from June 4-9 before they head to Zimbabwe to take part in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers from June 18-July 9.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
