No need to discard Jason Holder as Test captain.
How do we evaluate a captain? Do we use their win-loss record? Do we judge their on-field performances? West Indies Test captain Jason Holder should continue as the team’s leader despite calls for Kraigg Brathwaite to replace him at the helm.
The calls have come after Brathwaite led the squad to victory over Bangladesh in a two-Test series two weeks ago while Holder opted not to tour due to health and safety concerns.
Changing captains is not the answer to the West Indies’ problems and if the selectors were to do so it would be a very rash and irresponsible decision. It would also amount to a knee-jerk reaction.
When Holder was selected to be Test captain in 2015, it was purported as a “long-term” appointment. By replacing Holder with Brathwaite after success in one Test series, the selectors run the risk of undermining Holder’s confidence by bringing into question his ability to lead. Nothing good would come from that.
It would be inaccurate and quite unfair to say Holder has had no success as captain as he did win the Wisden Trophy in 2019.
The 29-year-old Holder has grown as a cricketer and is one of the world’s leading Test cricketers, ranked third on the all-rounder’s chart, 11th in bowling and 43rd in the batting rankings.
He has a lot to offer to the team and each player can learn from his exploits in different formats and levels of the game.
It is also key to note that just recently, Kraigg Brathwaite was stripped of the vice-captaincy and told to focus on improving his game.
The Windies will be confident going into their series against Sri Lanka. So instead of causing unnecessary division within the team by changing captains, each player should be encouraged to learn from the other and cooperation should be encouraged.
Both Holder and Brathwaite can work alongside each other. Holder could learn a thing or two from Brathwaite and vice versa.
So instead of focusing on who should be captain, the focus should be on building around the core and planning for the future.
The NBA All-Star Game should be cancelled.
The 2021 All-Star Game was initially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but the NBA has reversed the decision and decided to hold a one-night event in Atlanta on March 7, despite public objection from players.
Despite players like LA Lakers star LeBron James coming out and voicing his displeasure with the league’s decision saying that he will be there physically but not mentally, the NBA’s persistence in continuing with the All-Star Game, gives the impression that player safety and concerns are being overlooked in the name of profit.
The All-Star Weekend provides fans with the ability to interact tradition with their favourite players. However, the fact that Covid-19 has prevented fans from being at the games undermines the need this season.
We live in unprecedented times and the safety and health of the players should be of paramount importance, and it is not unreasonable to believe that the All-Star Game could trigger virus clusters that put even more players at risk.
Is all this worth risking the rest of the NBA season?
Novak Djokovic is unstoppable! Novak Djokovic extended his dominance at the Australian Open beating Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-2 6-2 to secure his18th Grand Slam title.
The 33-year-old Djokovic dispensed of his opponent in an hour and 53 minutes to claim his ninth Australian Open title and move with two of the number of titles won by both Roger Federer’s and Rafael Nadal.
Not even an abdominal injury suffered earlier in the tournament could prevent the Joker from continuing his relentless march to catch up with his two contemporaries.
Congratulations!
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Successful inaugural badminton summit inspires with holistic approach to athletic success
The inaugural Badminton Summit, held on Saturday, proved a resounding success, drawing in 93 attendees throughout the day and surpassing 100 participants with the inclusion of panelists. The event offered a platform for badminton players, parents, sports professionals, and fans to delve into essential topics related to athlete development, mental health, and personal branding, all within a supportive and interactive setting.
Patrons left the summit equipped with crucial insights into holistic athletic development, covering everything from training, sleep, and nutrition, to the importance of warm-ups and recovery routines. Additionally, the discussions highlighted the mind-body connection, emphasizing the value of setting SMART goals and understanding that anxiety, though often perceived negatively, can be a normal and even beneficial response, indicating genuine interest and engagement.
One of the key lessons from the summit was the importance of mental health management, social media presence, and building a support team to help achieve athletic goals. These insights offered attendees a comprehensive view of what it takes to succeed not only in badminton but in any high-performance sporting environment.
Mariah Ramharack, moderator for the event and a presenter on the popular SportsMax show SportsMax Zone, praised the summit's wide-reaching impact. "Overall, the summit was a success in multiple aspects! Firstly, as the moderator, I must say the turnout was very encouraging and not only limited to badminton players. The age group of the participants ranged from the bright-eyed little boy or girl enthusiastic about sport to their parents, grandparents, and key stakeholders in sport."
Ramharack also commended the summit’s openness, which allowed participants to engage directly with experts, ensuring no questions went unanswered. "At the end of the summit, even I benefited from the fruitful discussions. What I enjoyed most was the openness afforded at the forum—the ability for the participants to ask their questions directly to the experts. In that way, no one left the room with an unanswered question, and each person felt involved in what was happening."
The summit’s sessions were thoughtfully designed to address key aspects of athlete development. The first topic, titled "The Power Play," delved into the importance of effective athlete management, where experts discussed strategies to optimize training and performance while balancing the demands of competitive sports. Following that, "Mind and Muscle: Fueling the Champion Within" explored the mental and physical synergy required to achieve peak performance. Panelists emphasized the importance of the mind-body connection, sharing insights into mental resilience, focus, and the role of physical conditioning in building a champion mindset.
Finally, the session on "Brand You: Crafting Your Legacy Beyond the Court" highlighted the importance of personal branding for athletes, guiding participants on how to build a lasting legacy that extends beyond their sporting achievements. This session covered the effective use of social media to engage fans and attract potential sponsors, as well as strategies for establishing a personal brand that reflects athletes' values and aspirations.
These topics provided attendees with a holistic view of what it takes to succeed both on and off the court, underscoring the importance of mental fortitude, physical preparation, and the ability to create a meaningful impact beyond competition.
The sessions were brought to life by a stellar lineup of speakers, including IAAF World Championship silver medalist Fedrick Dacres, Jamaica Olympic Association Vice President Robert Scott, PFJL CEO Owen Hill, West Indies cricketer Chadwick Walton, and Bruce James, co-founder and President of MVP Track and Field Club. Their experiences and insights gave attendees a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
Ramharack summed up her enthusiasm for the event, expressing her eagerness for future summits: "The topics explored and the choice of panelists per segment were also very impressive. Looking forward to Part Two!"
The success of this inaugural event not only provided valuable lessons for all involved but set the stage for further engagements aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s athletic community and inspiring future champions across sports.
ATP Finals: Will Djokovic's drop out pave the way for another Sinner-Alcaraz tussle?
The end of the 2024 season is upon us, but before the ATP Tour wraps up until 2025, there is one final big tournament to come.
That season finale is, of course, the ATP Finals, and it kicks off in Turin on Sunday, with eight of the world's top players vying for the prize.
Jannik Sinner is already sure of his place as the year-end number one, but there could be movement in the rankings below him, with Alexander Zverev heading into the tournament as the newly minted world number two, ahead of Carlos Alcaraz.
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic withdrew on Monday, meaning for the first time since 2001, none of the "big three" (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer) will feature at the ATP Finals.
Djokovic beat Sinner last year to claim his seventh ATP Finals title, which is the most times a player has won the competition.
Sinner, fresh from triumphs at Flushing Meadows and the Shangai Masters, heads to Turin as the favourite, with an eighth title on the line, but let's look ahead to the 2024 ATP Finals with Opta's pre-tournament facts.
Sin(ner) City
Sinner will not only be the firm fan favourite in Turin, he will always be the favourite to claim the crown.
The 23-year-old has already collected a Tour-leading seven titles this season, including the Australian Open and the US Open, and will be out to go one better following his loss to Djokovic in last year's final.
Six of Sinner's victories have come on hard court, with his triumph at the Halle Open the only exception.
The Italian is only the fifth player aged 23 or under to win at least six Tour-level titles on hard courts in a calendar year after Jimmy Connors (1973), Ivan Lendl (1981), Pete Sampras (1994) and Federer (2004).
Since the ATP's redistribution of ranking points in 2009, only Djokovic (2015) and Nadal (2010) have clinched the year-end number one earlier in a season than Sinner in 2024.
He is out to become the seventh player to win the ATP Finals on home soil in the Open Era, and will be the player to beat in Turin.
Alcaraz and Zverev scrapping for second
Zverev comes into the tournament in excellent form, on the back of winning the Paris Masters.
His triumph in France not only saw him move into second place in the rankings, but also saw him claim his 66th match win, which is more than any other player in 2024 (Sinner is second on 65).
Among the qualifiers for this year's event, Zverev (14) and Daniil Medvedev (11) are the only two to have recorded 10+ match wins at the ATP Finals.
Zverev is only 27, but he is comparatively a veteran at the ATP Finals when stacked up against the other players to have qualified for this year's event. The German will be featuring at the tournament for the seventh time.
Since the rankings were first published in 1973, Boris Becker (four) holds the most wins over the world number one at the ATP Finals – Federer and Zverev have the next-most such wins, with three each.
Among players with multiple matches against the world number one at the ATP Finals, Zverev (3-2) is the only player to hold a winning record.
With Djokovic out of the picture, Alcaraz will be hoping to get back into the top two to end the year.
Only Sinner (12) has claimed more top 10 wins in 2024 than Alcaraz (11), whose last such win came against Sinner in Beijing in September.
Alcaraz is the only player to claim multiple wins over top-five ranked opponents on hard, grass and clay courts in consecutive seasons since the rankings were published in 1973. John McEnroe (1984) is the only other player to achieve the feat in a single year.
The other names in the hat
Who else will be looking for glory next week?
Medvedev comes into the ATP Finals ranked at number four in the world. Only two players won more matches at grand slams in 2024 than the Russian (18), and they are Sinner (23) and Alcaraz (19).
Taylor Fritz reached his first major final earlier this year, losing to Sinner at the US Open. Only two players - Zverev and Sinner - have won more matches on the Tour in 2024 than the American, who has an impressive 49-21 record.
After qualifying for the 2022 ATP Finals, Fritz will become the first American to make multiple appearances at the event since Andy Roddick (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010).
Casper Ruud is one of only three players, along with Sinner (eight) and Alcaraz (five), to have reached at least five ATP finals this year.
Alex de Minaur, meanwhile, will become the first Australian to appear at the ATP Finals since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago.
Hewitt went on to reach the final, so there is a good omen there for his compatriot.
Djokovic withdraws from ATP Finals
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Finals, which start in Turin later this week.
Djokovic pulled out of the Paris Masters last month, and the world number five will now not feature in the season-ending tournament.
The 37-year-old, who lost to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters in his last competitive appearance, is sat on 99 ATP Tour-level titles, and his wait for a 100th victory will now roll into 2025.
Djokovic confirmed on Tuesday that he would not be participating in the ATP Finals.
"I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won't be playing next week," Djokovic said on social media.
"Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!"
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz have all qualified for the tournament.
Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Alex de Minaur are the three players contesting for the remaining two spots.
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