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• Former Barbados all-rounder Kenroy Williams loses battle with cancer

  The local and regional cricketing fraternity was on Monday sent into mourning, when it was announced that former national captain Kenroy Da Costa Williams had died. Born in Harlington, St Philip, Williams passed away at the age of 40 after a brief battle with cancer. 

  The Barbadian cricket fraternity was sent into mourning on Monday at news of the passing away of former national captain Kenroy Williams at the age of 40 after a brief battle with cancer.

  The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) was swift to share sympathies with the family and friends of the late Barbados and West Indies B batting all-rounder, who was also a member of the St Catherine Sports and Social Club in his home community of St Philip. He was an employee at the Ministry of Agriculture.

  For St Catherine, he was named Best All Rounder in the Sagicor Super Cup, during which he excelled with bat and ball. 

  An aggressive and powerful right-handed batsman and off-spin bowler, Williams, a graduate of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic played 15 years at the regional level.

  He compiled 915 runs in 29 First Class matches, including four half-centuries and a career-best knock of 82. He also took 47 wickets in that format, with a best of 5-50. 

  In 19 List A fixtures, Williams amassed 240 runs and took seven wickets. He also played a solitary match for the Jamaica Scorpions in the 2019 regional T20 competition. He last played as a wicketkeeper for Charlotte Strikers in the Vincy Premier T10 League in 2020. 

  Among the career highlights for Williams would have been his Player of The Match award against the Windward Islands in the 2017-2018 West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament. His 55 runs and seven wickets (3-21 and 4-36) helped hand the victory to Barbados. 

  The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) also shared the sentiments of its members and leadership. 

  “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kenroy Williams,” said Wavell Hinds, WIPA president and CEO.

  “Kenroy was an exemplary sportsman on and off the field, he fought a good fight. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him. To Kenroy’s family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity, please accept our deepest condolences.”

   

   

• Brandon King elated after match-winning century and stunning catch as West Indies clinch ODI series 2-1 against England

  West Indies opener Brandon King expressed his delight after scoring a match-winning 102 in the third and final One Day International (ODI) against England, helping his team secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory and seal the series 2-1. King’s third ODI century came at a pivotal time after a challenging run of low scores, with the batsman only managing 63, 5, 23, 14, 16, 16, 30, and 7 across matches stretching back to the series against Sri Lanka in early October.

  In Wednesday night’s clash at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Player of the Match King found his form alongside Kaecy Carty, who scored an unbeaten 128. The pair forged a record-breaking 209-run partnership, setting up the West Indies’ chase of England’s 263-8 and delivering a memorable series win for the home side.

  Reflecting on his return to form, King attributed his performance to sticking with his routine and mental approach despite the string of low scores.

  "After a fair number of starts, I’m fortunate this hundred came in such a crucial match," King said. "I kept to my processes, maintained the same intensity, and trusted in my ability. Kaecy played a fantastic innings, batting fluently, which really helped both of us build a strong platform."

  In addition to his innings with the bat, King made a notable impact in the field with a stunning relay catch to dismiss England’s Phil Salt, who had threatened with a score of 74. In the 34th over, Salt attempted to clear wide long-on but found King stationed deep. King leapt backward to grab the catch, managing to stay in balance near the boundary rope, and then backhanded the ball to Alzarri Joseph, who completed the dismissal.

  Speaking about the catch, King commented, "[On Salt’s dismissal] I had a bit of room, and luckily Alzarri was there to give me a bit of help. It was one of those moments where everything just clicked."

  With this hard-fought series win, led by King’s resurgence and Carty’s steady knock, the West Indies head into the upcoming five-match T20 series against England with momentum and renewed confidence.

   

   

• Darren Sammy calls out Alzarri Joseph's behaviour as "unacceptable" during ODI series win over England

  West Indies white-ball coach Darren Sammy has voiced his displeasure with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph’s behavior during the decisive third One Day International (ODI) against England on Wednesday night. Despite Joseph’s contribution of two wickets, his conduct on the field drew criticism from Sammy, as the West Indies clinched the series 2-1 with an emphatic eight-wicket victory.

  The match, held at Kensington Oval in Barbados, saw a record-breaking second-wicket stand of 209 runs between Kaecy Carty, who scored an unbeaten 128, and Brandon King, who added 102. Their efforts helped the West Indies easily chase down England’s total of 263-8 in 50 overs.

  However, it was Joseph’s behavior during the fourth over of the England innings that became a talking point. The fast bowler appeared frustrated with a field placement and had a visible disagreement with captain Shai Hope. After removing Jordan Cox caught behind on the fourth ball, Joseph did not celebrate with his teammates, instead returning to his mark without acknowledging the dismissal. At the end of the over, he left the field unannounced, forcing the West Indies to start the fifth over with only ten players.

  Speaking to TalkSPORT after the match, Sammy did not mince words, labeling Joseph’s actions as unacceptable.

  "Behavior like that is unacceptable on my cricket field," Sammy said. "We will be friends… but in the culture I'm trying to build, that’s unacceptable. We will definitely have a chat about that."

  Joseph returned to the field for the sixth over but did not resume bowling until the 12th. After two misfields that allowed England to score through overthrows, he left the field again, returning later to bowl a few overs in the middle and his remaining three at the death. He finished the match with figures of 2 for 45 from his 10 overs, adding Dan Mousley to his list of victims.

  Sammy, who took over as head coach in May 2023, is renowned for his man-management skills, having successfully persuaded several notable players, including Andre Russell and Evin Lewis, to rejoin the international squad. Known for fostering a strong team culture, Sammy emphasized his commitment to addressing issues constructively.

  "I pride myself on having the difficult conversations," Sammy said. "But in a way that everybody understands what is needed to be done. To see guys going out there and slowly progressing in the right direction makes me proud. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it’s one that I’m quite passionate about."

  As the West Indies prepare for a five-match T20 series against England, Sammy hinted that seasoned players Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hosein, who missed the recent series against Sri Lanka, may make their return.

  "We’ve got a couple of senior players who were not in Sri Lanka that we expect to be back," Sammy revealed. "Our T20 team is our most successful team and our most settled team. So, yes, we incorporate some new guys to give them that exposure, but our T20 team normally picks itself."

  With an eye on building a resilient and disciplined squad, Sammy’s leadership will undoubtedly focus on setting a standard for on-field behavior as the team moves forward in both formats.