On the centennial birthday of Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary cricketer, highlighting his transformative impact on both the sport and the Caribbean community.
"Today, we stand at the intersection of history and aspiration, commemorating the centennial birthday of Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell," Dr. Shallow began. "This moment invites us to reflect deeply on a man whose impact extends far beyond the boundaries of cricket, touching the very essence of Caribbean identity and resilience."
Sir Frank Worrell's historic appointment in 1960 as the first black captain of the West Indies team for an entire series marked a turning point not only in cricket but also in the fight against racial prejudice. Dr. Shallow underscored how Worrell's leadership symbolized hope and change, unifying the Caribbean with a spirit of dignity, pride, and excellence. "Worrell’s appointment was a bold declaration that cricket in the West Indies would no longer be shackled by the chains of racial prejudice," Dr. Shallow emphasized.
Under Worrell’s captaincy, the West Indies team became a beacon of possibility and a source of collective pride. His ability to unite players from diverse backgrounds into a cohesive and formidable unit demonstrated that unity is the Caribbean’s greatest strength. "Sir Frank's tenure as captain was more than a chapter in a cricketing saga; it was a pivotal moment in our region's social and cultural renaissance," Dr. Shallow noted.
Reflecting on the current state of West Indies cricket, Dr. Shallow called for introspection and purposeful collaboration. He acknowledged that recent performances have not met the expectations of West Indian fans, and emphasized the need for transformation and innovation within the sport. "Our commitment to transformation in pursuit of excellence must be evident. We must embrace innovation and creativity to strengthen our cricket systems, including coaching and selections," he said.
Education, according to Dr. Shallow, is crucial for the future of West Indies cricket. He urged young cricketers to learn about the rich history of the Caribbean and the significance of cricket, emphasizing that the legacy of legends like Sir Frank Worrell must inspire future generations. "The legacy of legends like Sir Frank must be shared in all forms possible to inspire future generations," he asserted.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Shallow celebrated Sir Frank Worrell’s enduring legacy as a guiding light for the Caribbean. "Sir Frank Worrell’s legacy is a testament to what can be achieved when we dare to dream and work together," he said. "As we celebrate his life and contributions, let us recommit ourselves to the principles he stood for—unity, excellence, and an unwavering pursuit of progress. His story is our story, and as we move forward, let us carry his spirit with us, striving to build a future worthy of his legacy."
Matthews hits 78* to lead Welsh Fire to six-wicket win over London Spirit in Women’s Hundred
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews produced an excellent knock to spearhead the Welsh Fire in their six-wicket win over the London Spirit in action in the Women’s Hundred at Lord’s on Thursday.
The Spirit first posted 150-5 from their 100 balls after Fire captain Tammy Beaumont won the toss and put them in to bat.
Danielle Gibson led the way with the bat with a 25-ball 41 while Deepti Sharma made 39* off 26 balls in support.
Freya Davies took 2-19 from her 20 deliveries for the Fire while Beth Langston, Jess Jonassen and Georgia Davis shared the other three wickets.
Needing 151 off their 100 balls for victory, the Fire lost skipper Beaumont for 6 off the 11th ball of the innings bringing Matthews to the crease.
The Bajan batted through the rest of the chase on her way to 78* off just 46 balls as the Fire reached 151-4 off 95 balls.
She hit 11 fours and two sixes in her 59 minutes in the middle. Sarah Bryce provided the most support for Matthews with 21 off 18 balls including three fours.
Danielle Gibson completed a good all-round performance with 2-28 off 15 balls.
This was the Fire’s second win in three games and moves them up to third in the eight-team table with four points, the same as the Spirit in second and the Oval Invincibles in first.
India face tough wicketkeeper call says Sharma ahead of Sri Lanka ODI series
Rohit Sharma has said India face a difficult decision on their wicket-keeper batsman selection ahead of their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Sharma, who declared his retirement from T20I's following India's success at the World Cup earlier this year, watched on as the Men in Blue started off a new era under the guidance of Suryakumar Yadav.
India comfortably beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in that series, and now face the same opponents in three 50-over matches that start this Friday.
Sharma will captain India for the upcoming fixtures, and acknowledged the difficulty in selecting the team's wicketkeeper batter for ODIs, with both KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant both in the mix.
Pant last featured in an ODI for India in November 2022, but has since made a comeback to the national team and was part of their T20 World Cup success in June.
First-choice Pant also played in two of the three T20s against Sri Lanka last month but faces competition from Rahul, who has been solid behind the stumps and impressed during the 2023 50-overs World Cup at home.
"It's a tough call. Both are quality players, you know the abilities of both. It's not easy to pick a team when you have players like that," Sharma told reporters.
"That's what these two individuals are all about. They're match-winners in their own way.
"It's always nice to have (such) problems. When you discuss a lot about whom to pick, it means there's quality in the squad. I look forward to these problems."
While Sharma has retired from the 20-over format, he is expected to stay in the role in 50-overs cricket with the Champions Trophy scheduled for next year.
The upcoming fixtures will present another difficult test for new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is yet to taste defeat in his first three games in charge.
"We'll keep in mind what we want to achieve as a team but this is by no means preparation or practice (for the Champions Trophy). We want to play good cricket and get something out of the series. It's as simple as that," Sharma said.
"We don't want to think about trying this or that. Of course we want to try everything possible, but when you're representing the nation the quality of the cricket should remain the way it is and how we've played in the last few years.
"That's more important, more than thinking that it's a preparation so let's go out and chill in Colombo."
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be without pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka, while Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara are also out with illness and a fractured thumb.
Uncapped Mohamed Shiraz has been brought in as replacement as they look to bounceback from their whitewash defeat in their recent T20 series.
Barbados defeat Leeward Islands to complete CWI Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 2-Day, 50-over double
Barbados Under-19s added the CWI Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 50-over title to their 2-Day championship crown with a six-wicket win over the Leeward Islands at the Cumberland Playing Field on Tuesday.
The Leewards were bundled out for just 105 in 39.4 overs after winning the toss and choosing to take first strike.
Isra-el Morton made 20* to lead the way for the Leewards while Devanand Singh (19) and captain Jewel Andrew (17) also got starts.
Off-spinner Saurav Worrell was the main man in the Bajan attack with 4-28 from his 10 overs and was well supported by Zishan Motara’s 2-17 off 10 overs.
Barbados then used just over half of their allotted overs to successfully reach 110-4 and secure the title.
West Indies Under-19 representative Joshua Dorne led the way with 40 while wicket-keeper Joshua Morris made 30 against 2-31 off five overs from pacer Michael Palmer.
In Tuesday’s other round five games, Jamaica defeated Trinidad & Tobago by 65 runs at Arnos Vale while Guyana defeated the Windward Islands by five wickets at Park Hill.
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