The Jamaica Scorpions produced a spirited batting display to secure first innings honors against the West Indies Academy on day two of their fourth round 2024 West Indies Championship fixture at Sabina Park on Thursday.
King, who is captaining Jamaica for the first time in this match, led the way with 77, his 15th first-class fifty, off 132 balls including 10 fours and one six.
Leroy Lugg also showed good form for the hosts with his fourth first-class half century, 64 off 80 balls including nine fours and a six.
All-rounder Peat Salmon, who got promoted from his usual batting position of eight to six in this innings, repaid that faith with an unbeaten 60* off 157 balls including five fours and a six. Derval Green was the other not out batsman at stumps on 25* as Jamaica reached 326-7 off 82 overs, leading by two runs.
Earlier, openers Carlos Brown and Kirk McKenzie made 33 and 29, respectively.
Joshua Bishop was the most successful academy bowler on the day with 3-85 off 27 overs while Kadeem Alleyne took 2-29 from eight overs.
Full Scores: West Indies Academy 324 all out off 82 overs (Joshua Dorne 83, Jordan Johnson 61, Kadeem Alleyne 52, Joshua James 36, Ojay Shields 3-28, Derval Green 3-38)
Jamaica Scorpions 326-7 off 82 overs (Brandon king 77, Leroy Lugg 64, Peat Salmon 60*, Carlos Brown 33, Kirk McKenzie 29)
Having already identified a powerhouse batting line-up, West Indies white-ball Head coach Darren Sammy says the only task left is to assign specific roles for bowlers to be fully prepared for this year’s ICC Men's Twenty20 (T20) World Cup at home in June.
Cricket’s shortest format remains a strong suit for West Indies, who won both their T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016 under Sammy’s captaincy.
The regional side again showcased their prowess when they won T20 series against South Africa, India and England in 2023, and posted three successive 200-plus scores in Australia earlier this year, despite losing that series 2-1. Those results have left Sammy upbeat about the prospects, as they look ahead to the global showpiece to be hosted jointly in the West Indies and United States.
“The way my batters batted, I think it’s the first time a team had scored over 200 three-consecutive times whether batting first or chasing, and it speaks volumes of the power that we have in that squad. It sends a strong message to the world from our batting group that West Indies is a dangerous force,” Sammy said in a recent Cricket West Indies interview.
“I’ve said it before to my guys. I said to them, ‘I’ve seen this team before, this type of power, the explosiveness’. It was a team that I captained before, so to see it eight years since I left the game... man, it’s exciting times for us in the World Cup coming in June," he added.
Still, death-overs bowling remains an issue with the team, and as such, Sammy pointed out that they are in the process of finalizing candidates for various bowling roles.
Rising fast bowler Shamar Joseph is on Sammy’s radar for the World Cup, especially after the 24-year-old’s headline-grabbing debut in the Australia Test series earlier this year.
Joseph’s exploits were widely celebrated across the region and Sammy believes winning the World Cup on home soil would help sustain that interest in the game.
“When West Indies do well, there’s a buzz. You saw Shamar Joseph’s exploits in Australia and how it created a buzz in the Caribbean. So, for us, and for me as a coach, to lift the silverware, it will mean everything," Sammy declared.
“But, obviously we need to tinker and work on some different bowling roles and that myself, James Franklin and the captain [Rovman Powell] have been speaking to various persons that we want to execute different roles.
“I’ve been speaking and working diligently with our analysts looking at grounds, different venues we’re going to have [for the T20 World Cup] and the different dimensions and different conditions in the surface and making sure we have the right personnel to fill in those key roles," he shared.
Rovman Powell and his men will begin their World Cup campaign with a Group C contest against Papua New Guinea in Providence, Guyana, on June 2.
However, until then, Sammy said the focus is on their preparation to ensure efficient execution when game time comes.
“The preparation both on and off the field is going good. Leading up closer to the World Cup, I think a few of my boys will be in the IPL playing. We have a series probably just before the World Cup – three matches against South Africa – so building up to that, we’ll be ready," Sammy explained.
“And again, we’re at home, we know the conditions, it’s not about adapting. It’s just about making sure we execute well when the day comes," he ended.
Jamaica were crowned the 2024 CG United Women’s Super50 Cup champions picking up the winners’ cheque for $20,000 USD despite a 5-wicket defeat to Guyana in their final match of the tournament.
Winning the toss and batting first in a match reduced to 44 overs per side, Jamaica slumped to 73 all out in 27.1 overs at St. Paul’s Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Rashada Williams top-scored with 31 followed by Chedean Nation with 20. Ashmini Munisar once again led the way for Guyana with figures of 3/11, followed by Nyia Latchman with 2/1.
Guyana made a meal of the run-chase, losing five wickets in the process, but 24 from Mandy Magru and 21 from skipper Shemaine Campbelle ensure they did enough to earn the victory, finishing on 74/5 in 17.4 overs.
Jaunel Deers picked up 2/4 while Neisha-Ann Waisome had 2/23 bowling for Jamaica. Guyana finished second earning them the $10,000 USD runners-up cheque.
The Windward Islands earned a 44-run victory over Barbados, thanks to an 81-ball 72 from skipper Afy Fletcher and 30 from Namia Marcellin as the Windwards posted 233/9 in their 50 overs.
This is the second game in a row that Barbados have conceded over 200 runs when bowling. Shamilia Connell was the pick of the Barbadian bowlers with 4/38.
64 from Kycia Knight and 49 not out from Aaliya Allyene took Barbados to 189/9 from their 50 overs, as the Windwards bowlers kept the scoring in check.
Qiana Joseph 2/21, Zaida James 2/22 and Jannillea Glasgow 2/24 were the Windwards bowlers who got the defence job done.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas finally earned a win and points in the final match of the competition when they defeated the Leeward Islands by 4 wickets.
Batting first, the Leewards posted 151 all out in 40.2 overs, thanks to 48 from Reniece Boyce and 39 from Tonya Martin. Caneisha Isaac had the best bowling figures for Red Force Divas of 3/33 followed by Steffie Soogrim 2/15 and Samara Ramnath 2/22.
Ramnath returned with the bat to score 35 in their run-chase along with 48 from Lee Ann Kirby as Red Force Divas reached 152/6 in 41.1 overs. Leewards captains Amanda Edward had their best bowling figures with 3/17.
The teams return to action on Sunday for the start of the T20 Blaze tournament, with three matches per day at Warner Park at 10am, 2:30pm and 7pm. The T20 Blaze will run from March 17- 25.
Darren Gough has stepped down from his role as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire.
The former England fast bowler was appointed to the post in December 2021 in the wake of the racism allegations that rocked the sport.
Gough said: “It’s been an absolute honour to work for my boyhood club over the last two seasons.
“Having stepped in at a very challenging time, we’ve worked hard to steady the ship and develop our cricket department to ensure we can return to the top tier of English cricket.
“Following conversations with the club, I have decided now is the right time to step away from my role and give someone else an opportunity to take our playing squads forward.
“I’d like to thank all of our players, staff, members and fans for their considerable support over the last few seasons and wish them all the very best for the coming year. I will always be a Yorkshire Cricket supporter and look forward to returning to watch our teams in the coming years.”
A statement from Yorkshire said the club would take time to consider the best structure going forward before appointing any replacement.
Colin Graves, recently reappointed as chairman of Yorkshire, said: “I’d like to express our sincere thanks to Darren for the work he has put in over the last few seasons.
“Darren is a club legend in his own right having enjoyed two very successful stints as a player here and now helped us through some very difficult times.
“Everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best for the future, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Headingley again soon.”
Steve Harmison took seven wickets for 12 runs as England bowled West Indies out for 47 on March 14, 2004.
A damaging spell saw Harmison almost single-handedly knock over West Indies at Sabina Park on their way to a 10-wicket victory in the first Test.
It took just 11.3 overs for the then 25-year-old to pick up his seven wickets, conceding only 12 runs in the process and setting up an emphatic victory for England, who were on their way to a first Test series win in the Caribbean since 1968.
Before the series, 6ft 4in right-armer Harmison had shown lots of potential with his combination of pace and swing but struggled for consistency, while a back injury during the winter had also affected him.
The first innings of the match offered no sign of what was to come as the West Indies racked up 311, but everything changed on the fourth day.
England captain Michael Vaughan lined up eight fielders in the slips and Harmison did the rest as a young West Indies side wilted under a fearsome assault.
“To be honest, I’m absolutely speechless,” said Harmison afterwards.
“If you bowl the ball consistently in a good area, you often get a bit of luck. It’s just one of those days and I’m pleased for myself, but I’m not going to get too carried away by it.”
Harmison’s form continued into the rest of the series, with the Durham man achieving figures of six for 61 in the second Test.
It was the beginning of the best spell of Harmison’s career. A year later he played a key role in England’s famous Ashes triumph over Australia, but injuries limited his impact thereafter and his international career ended in 2009.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Anderson Phillip was in destructive form on Wednesday’s opening day of their fourth round West Indies Championship contest against Windward Islands Volcanoes, as he secured a five-wicket haul that gave Red Force a slight advantage at Queen’s Park Oval.
Phillip, 27, bowling his right-arm fast, had West Indies batsman and Volcanoes top scorer Alick Athanaze, who made 56, in his five for 37 from 13 overs, including four maidens. He got support from fellow seamer Jayden Seales, with 2-48, and spinner Khary Pierre, who had 3-21, as they combined to restrict the tournament-leading Volcanoes for 191.
The Red Force in reply closed in a decent position at 89-1, still 102 runs behind with Vikash Mohan, on 34, and Jyd Goolie, on one, to resume batting on Thursday’s second day.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 191 all out (53 overs); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 89-1 (27 overs)
After winning the toss and bowling first, the decision proved fruitful as Phillip accounted for Jeremy Solozano (eight) and Kavem Hodge (28), while Seales removed Johann Jeremiah (14).
Sunil Ambris (35) and Athanaze gradually repaired the innings, before the former, who had five boundaries and a six in his 30-ball knock went caught off Pierre.
Tevyn Walcott (28) tried to stick around with Athanaze, but eventually holed out to Jason Mohammed off Seales. Athanaze, who struck 10 boundaries in his 84-ball 56, went soon after, as he was trapped in front by Phillip and the Volcanoes innings crumbled from there.
Returning opening batsman Kjorn Ottley led a tidy stand with Mohan, but fell just shy of welcome half-century, as he went for 47 off 74 balls, including seven boundaries.
In other games, Leeward Islands Hurricanes trail Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners by 253 with nine first innings wickets intact at Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scores: Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners 273 all out (Amari Goodridge 75, Sadique Henry 73, Romario Greaves 58, Yannick Ottley 24; Daniel Doram 4-37, Jeremiah Louis 3-54, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-86); Leeward Islands Hurricanes 20-1
At Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, Guyana Harpy Eagles batted all day against Barbados Pride.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 231 for five (Kevlon Anderson 87, Tevin Imlach 55, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 40, Matthew Nandu 28; Jason Holder 2-29) vs Barbados Pride.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Scorpions trails Cricket West Indies Academy by 304 with all first innings wickets standing at Sabina Park.
Scores: CWI Academy 324 all out (Joshua Dorne 83, Jordan Johnson 61, Kadeem Alleyne 52, Joshua James 36, Rashawn Worrell 25, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 24; Ojay Shields 3-38, Derval Green 3-48, Abhijai Mansingh 2-69); Jamaica Scorpions 20 without loss.
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler feels recharged and fully motivated to improve in all areas after a disappointing 2023.
Buttler oversaw the abject defence of England’s 50-over World Cup crown in India in October, which raised questions about his captaincy and the credentials of white-ball head coach Matthew Mott.
A 3-2 T20I series defeat in the Caribbean followed but Buttler has managed to unwind since with a string of strong displays in South Africa’s franchise league helping him move on and turn the focus to putting things right at this summer’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.
“I am really enjoying my cricket again and that was a big part of South Africa. Finding that love for batting again and spending time in the middle or on the field,” Buttler reflected.
“Weirdly in that time in India going through really tough periods, there are actually levels of enjoyment with that of, ‘can we fix it, can we make it better, can we get back to the level we know we’re capable of’?
“So all those things are quite motivating even though they are very tough at the time. Looking ahead to the World T20 is really exciting and has a lot of full focus but for me beyond that, I still feel as a batter this should be the best years of my career.
“I still feel fit, still feel motivated and as a leader and captain. I am still pretty young in that journey so I certainly have lots and lots of motivation to carry on for a while yet.”
Buttler’s next assignment will be the Indian Premier League, which starts next week, but he will be back in England before the franchise tournament ends to firmly begin final preparations for the World Cup with a four-match T20I series against Pakistan.
After England won the T20 World Cup in Australia at the end of 2022, Buttler’s white-ball team have experienced a big fall from grace, losing series in South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies alongside the crushing World Cup defence in India.
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He admitted: “I think it’s important to recognise we haven’t won as many games as we’d have liked.
“I look at my own performance and even if there were certain things going on and I was feeling terrible, I would still back myself to play a bit better than I did individually and the same goes for us as a team (in India).
“You can fall off a little bit but how poorly we did play is and always will be a little bit of a mystery.
“It has been my sort of want as a player the whole time I have been playing to improve and get better – to always chase something more and that’s got to be exactly the same for my captaincy. To learn from those really tough moments.
“It probably took a lot more out of me than I realised and from the outside, maybe my image of how I was looking probably was even worse than it was in the inside, so that’s an interesting learning. It is just about putting things in place to learn from that and to get better.
“There is always something coming around the corner as well in cricket so it’s about moving on, planning, looking ahead and just improving.”
Buttler revealed he watched some of England’s recent Test series in India and expressed his delight at seeing Ben Stokes with the ball in hand again, acknowledging it would be “really exciting” if the Test skipper could become a genuine all-rounder again with the T20 World Cup in mind.
Buttler, holder of 57 Test caps, did also field more questions about his own red-ball prospects after he last played the longest format in 2021.
“No real ambitions at the minute,” the 33-year-old admitted.
“I am just really fully focused on white-ball cricket and all the stuff I am doing there, captaining England in that format.
“Never say never to anything but I’ve had no communication with anyone about red-ball cricket.”
New York Mets will play Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB World Tour: London Series 2024 on June 8-9 at London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at: http://ticketmaster.co.uk/MLB.
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler remains confident Jofra Archer can be a key player at this summer’s T20 World Cup.
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 in Bangladesh and not played on the global stage since May when he broke down at the Indian Premier League.
The fast bowler has been plagued by a series of stress fractures in his right elbow over recent years, but managing director of England men’s cricket Rob Key stated in January the plan was for Archer to be fit for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States, which starts on June 2.
No further updates have been provided for Barbados-born Archer, who spent time with the white-ball squad during their short tour of the Caribbean in December and caught the England and Wales Cricket Board management off guard by playing for his old school side Foundation during the trip.
Archer was pulled out of this year’s IPL by the ECB but is currently in India with his county Sussex to prepare for the new season and Buttler is hopeful there will be no setbacks between now and June.
Asked if he was optimistic about Archer being fit for the T20 World Cup, Buttler, speaking at an event to promote Major League Baseball coming to London in June, said: “I think so.
“For Jofra, we all know just what a special cricketer he is and it’s been a tough few years for him not being able to get on the park and perform, but with someone like him who is such a superstar, you’re always optimistic that with the physios and doctors working, his body will just allow him to get back where he was.
“I know how hard he’s been working at it and of course how desperate he is to come back.
“A couple of times (I’ve spoken to him). It’s really exciting for him that hopefully he’s going to get back to performing because as a captain he’s someone you want to throw the ball to.
“I think as a player he brings so much to the game – not just for us obviously but for the cricket world when he’s performing.”
New York Mets will play Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB World Tour: London Series 2024 on June 8-9 at London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.co.uk/MLB
Harry Brook has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League in order to prioritise his mental wellbeing following the death of his grandmother.
The England and Yorkshire batter pulled out of England’s recent Test tour in India in January, citing personal reasons, and in a social media post revealed the reason at the time was because his grandmother “was ill and didn’t have long left”.
In a post on Instagram, the 25-year-old confirmed that he would not be joining up with Delhi Capitals, saying: “I can confirm that I have made the very difficult decision not to play in the upcoming IPL.
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“I was so excited to be picked by Delhi Capitals and was so looking forward to joining up with everyone.
“Whilst I don’t think I should need to share my personal reasons behind this decision, I know there will be many asking why. So I do want to share this.
“I lost my Grandmother last month – she was a rock to me and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in her home; my attitude to life and love for cricket was shaped by her and my late grandfather.”
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.
He added: “I made the decision to leave the India Test tour the night before we flew from Abu Dhabi to India because I was told for the first time that my grandmother was ill and didn’t have long left.
“Now that she has passed my family & I are grieving and I need to be around them.
“Over the last few years I have learned to prioritise my mental wellbeing and that of my family’s, honestly nothing is more important to me than family.
“So whilst this may come as surprising to some, I know it’s the right decision for me. I’m young and hope to have many, many more years of cricket to come which I intend to make the absolute most of.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the support I have received, especially from the ECB and Delhi Capitals, thank you.”
Brook, who has made four centuries in 12 Test appearances for England, played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL last season.
Delhi Capitals are due to play their first match of the new season against against Punjab Kings on March 23.
Jamaica women remain unbeaten after four rounds of the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup after they defeated the Windward Islands by 3 wickets at the St. Paul’s Sporting Complex on Monday.
Batting first, the Windward Islands were kept to 175/9 courtesy some spectacular bowling by Chinelle Henry who finished with figures of 6/31 in the match reduced to 45 overs due to a wet outfield.
Experienced all-rounder Pearl Etienne top-scored with 58 followed by the inform Jannillea Glasgow with 38 and skipper Afy Fletcher with 31.
Jamaica had a nervy run-chase as they lost seven wickets in the process. Rashada Williams played a patient 101-ball 72 and Natasha McLean hit a run-a-ball half-century as Jamaica reached 176/7 in 36.1 overs.
The Leeward Islands scored their highest total ever in the competition when they posted 255/5 from their 50 overs at Warner Park.
Half-centuries from Shawnisha Hector 56, Amanda Edwards 55 not out and Divya Saxena 51 along with 46 from Jahzara Claxton took the home team to challenging total against defending champions Barbados. Barbados’ bowlers had a tough time in the heat as they toiled against the Leewards. NaiJanni Cumberbatch had the best bowling figures of 1/33.
The experience of the Barbados batting lineup reared its head, as the three most senior batters got their team to the victory line.
Skipper Kycia Knight kicked things off with 42, but it was 88 not out from twin sister Kyshona Knight who shared in a 152-run partnership with Aaliyah Alleyne that took the match away from the Leewards.
Barbados got to the target in 46.2 overs to finish on 256/5. Shawnisha Hector finished with figures of 2/48.
Trinidad and Tobago Divas slump continue in this season’s competition, as they lost their fourth match in row to Guyana by 62 runs, to remain winless.
The Divas bowlers did well to restrict Guyana to 156/8 from their 50 overs. Karishma Ramharack once again led the bowling with figures of 3/26 followed by Lee Ann Kirby with 2/24. Guyana captain Shemaine Campbelle made 52 while Shabika Gajnabi added 33.
In their reply, the Divas were bowled out for 94 in 42 overs, Samara Ramnath top-scored with 20 followed by Shunelle Sawh with 18.
Ashmini Munisar spn a web on the Divas, picking up her first fifer to finish with figures of 5/15. Nyia Latchman had 2/24.
In a move that celebrates both his sporting prowess and his national pride, Guyanese cricket sensation Shamar Joseph has been appointed as a Tourism Ambassador for his homeland of Guyana. The announcement, made by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), comes as Joseph's star continues to rise following his remarkable performance against Australia in January, where he played a pivotal role in the West Indies' historic Test victory.
Joseph, hailing from Baracara, Berbice, has captured the hearts of cricket fans worldwide with his record-breaking spell of seven wickets for 68 runs in the crucial test match against Australia not only secured a thrilling win for the West Indies but also marked a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.
"Shamar Joseph's outstanding achievements on the cricket field have not only brought glory to the West Indies but have also shone a spotlight on the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Guyana," the GTA said in a statement. "As a Tourism Ambassador, we believe he will play a vital role in promoting our country's attractions and welcoming visitors from around the globe."
Joseph's heroics against Australia, including his remarkable eight-wicket haul in the second Test match, have earned him widespread acclaim within the cricketing fraternity. His final wicket to clinch the historic victory was met with jubilation from fans and commentators alike, with renowned cricketing commentator Ian Bishop hailing it as "a real dream come true for 'Joseph the Deliverer', for the West Indies."
In addition to his on-field achievements, Joseph's off-field contributions have not gone unnoticed. Cricket West Indies recently awarded him an international retainer contract in recognition of his stellar performances against Australia. Furthermore, he made history by becoming the first-ever West Indies player to receive the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for January 2024, solidifying his status as a cricketing icon.
James Anderson insists his history-making 700th Test wicket was “nothing to celebrate” after England’s series defeat in India and is already looking to booking his place in the side this summer.
Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach the remarkable landmark when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav in Dharamsala, joining spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in one of cricket’s most elite clubs.
The 41-year-old seamer has been collecting various records since he first surpassed Sir Ian Botham as England’s leading wicket-taker back in 2015 and, with his big moment coming in an innings defeat and a 4-1 loss overall, he was happy to downplay the significance of an achievement which is unlikely to be matched.
“I didn’t really celebrate, I’ll be honest. There’s nothing to celebrate,” he told his Tailenders podcast.
“My dad was here so I had a drink with my dad, which was nice. He was more excited than I was. Maybe I would’ve felt more excited if we’d have won the Test or the series.
“I don’t know how I felt really.”
Anderson has been garlanded with praise, including his former captain Nasser Hussain’s suggestion that his final career tally will one day go down alongside the great Sir Donald Bradman’s batting average of 99.94, but claimed that was not the kind of of glory he sought.
“That’s irrelevant to me. I don’t get anything out of what other people say,” he added.
“I don’t play cricket to get personal milestones, I guess. I want to win games. I love playing a team sport, that’s when I get the biggest buzz. So I’m a little flat because we lost 4-1 in the series.”
Anderson has been swatting aside questions over when he might hang up his boots for several years but looked fit, held his pace and bowled skilfully enough to leave no question that he would be in contention for yet another domestic season in 2024, with England facing Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
“I’m really excited for the summer. I’m definitely in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” he said.
“I’m not getting any worse. I like where my game is at and I still have that enjoyment of turning up every day and trying to get better in the nets.
“My place in the team is not a given, so I’ve got to work hard to prove I’m worth a place in the summer.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) commends the proactive efforts undertaken by the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to bolster cricket infrastructure within the region. President Dr. Kishore Shallow commended the efforts by the Government and the St. Kitts Cricket Association to develop Conaree Cricket Ground, marking a considerable step towards enhancing regional cricket facilities and fostering the sport's growth.
President Shallow echoed the importance of governments investing in cricket infrastructure, stating, "Cricket West Indies is impressed with the developments and prospects of Conaree Cricket Ground, which has enabled Saint Kitts & Nevis to host regional matches and tournaments. It is imperative that governments recognize the significance of infrastructure in the development of cricket and the broader sporting community. Minister Duggins' efforts ought to be commended for his efforts in this regard."
The development of facilities and hosting of regional cricket align seamlessly with the vision outlined by Minister of Sports, Hon. Samal Duggins, who emphasized the importance of sports development as a cornerstone of the nation's youth empowerment agenda. Minister Duggins highlighted cricket's significance in the region and the promising opportunities it presents for the youth of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
"At the heart of our nation's vision for youth empowerment and sporting excellence lies a profound commitment to sports development. Sports development stands as a key aspect of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis' Sustainable Island State agenda, offering invaluable avenues for our youth to progress in personal development, bolstering their self-esteem, fostering international exposure, and honing essential team-building skills among other essential life skills. With cricket being one of the leading sports in our region, the increasing opportunity within this sport holds immense promise for our young people. The introduction of these tournaments signals a gateway to deeper collaboration and partnership between CWI and Saint Kitts and Nevis," Minister Duggins remarked.
CWI looks forward to working closely with the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis in realizing the shared vision of enhancing cricket facilities and promoting the sport's development across the region.
President Shallow further reiterated Cricket West Indies' commitment to collaborating with Saint Kitts and Nevis to elevate the standard of cricket facilities and nurture the development of players within the nation.
"We are dedicated to fostering a strong partnership with Saint Kitts and Nevis, not only to enhance the infrastructure for cricket but also to support the development of talented players. Cricket West Indies will continue to work closely with Leeward Islands Cricket Board and the two national cricket bodies in the twin-island federation to further improve the standard of facilities and provide the necessary resources for the development of their players," President Shallow affirmed.
So far this year, Saint Kitts and Nevis has hosted the West Indies Championship (the Men's first-class tournament) and the ongoing CG United Women’s Super50 Cup. The women will follow the Super 50 Cup with the CWI T20 Blaze. Saint Kitts and Nevis is also home to the CPL franchise, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
England should play the long game with Jofra Archer and prime him for India’s visit next year as well as the 2025/26 Ashes, according to former fast bowler Steve Harmison.
Archer’s last Test was more than three years ago, but he remains a much-coveted asset and England are hopeful he will be available for their T20 World Cup title defence in the Caribbean in June.
Harmison, though, believes the next two marquee five-Test series against India in the summer of 2025 then in Australia the following winter should take priority above all else where Archer is concerned.
“It’s slowly but surely with him,” Harmison told the PA news agency. “I’d build Jofra Archer up to play in 10 Test matches over the next two years – five against India and five against Australia or four each.
“I’d treat him like a prize racehorse. If England can keep him fit for the majority of those two series, I’d feel as though they have got a chance of winning.
“If he can play in Test matches in between and his body is holding up then everything after that is a bonus.”
Archer has had a succession of stress fractures in his bowling elbow and another in his back since his most recent red-ball appearance for England, while his last professional appearance was 10 months ago.
He joined England in Barbados before Christmas during their white-ball tour of the West Indies and took part in some bowling drills as part of his rehabilitation from the latest setback in his right elbow.
Just a couple of days afterwards, Archer, who was awarded a two-year central contract in October, blindsided England by playing for his old school side in the Barbados Cricket Association league.
But Harmison feels it could be better for everyone involved if the 28-year-old is allowed to get back to full fitness away from prying eyes.
“When I heard he was playing in that game in Barbados, I was over the moon, I just wish he had told (England’s managing director of men’s cricket) Rob Key first,” Harmison said.
“If he turns up for the T20 World Cup, fantastic, if he turns up for a Test match this summer, fantastic, but the most important thing for me is about his mental health and making sure he’s in a position to play cricket without thinking, ‘In however many weeks, I’m going to be injured again’.
“The more he does the bowling repetition and the muscle memory stuff under less scrutiny and less pressure, the better it will be for him coming back into top-level cricket.”
England have won three and lost six of their last 10 Tests against India and Australia and, in both series, there were instances where Ben Stokes’ side let promising positions slip.
After India sealed a 4-1 triumph in Dharamsala on Sunday, England head coach Brendon McCullum admitted they were too “timid” in passages and said their ‘Bazball’ style would be refined.
Harmison, who criticised England’s lack of a warm-up match before the series, expects them to rebound with six wins out of six against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer, but he insisted there must be lessons learned from what happened in India.
“They’ll win all six Test matches comfortably,” said Harmison, who played 123 times for England between 2002 and 2009. “It’s not a case of looking at just the summer, they’ve got to look beyond that.
“They’ve got to be smarter in identifying situations. We’ve got some cricket brains leading this team, but sometimes inside that dressing room, we might have individual characters who are happy to say, ‘That’s the way we play’, and that’s not good enough for me, it’s not acceptable.
“They have to be more accountable when they make mistakes. This is not the Dog and Duck, this is Test match cricket.
“Having the crutch of, ‘That’s the way we play, it’s Bazball’. No, Bazball is giving you the freedom to be the best version of yourself possible. You’ve still got to play the situation.”
West Indies T20I Captain Rovman Powell contributed a quick 30 in a nail-biting two-run win for the Peshawar Zalmi over the Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League action at the Karachi National Stadium on Monday.
Peshawar first posted 147-6 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Captain Babar Azam led the way with 51 off 46 balls including five fours and a six while Powell’s knock lasted 18 balls and included three fours.
Arafat Minhas was excellent with the ball for the Kings going for just 11 in his four overs and picking up one wicket in the process.
Karachi were then restricted to 145-5 from their 20 overs in their reply.
Tim Seifert led the way with 41 while Irfan Khan ended 39* against 2-22 from Naveen-ul-Haq.
All-rounder Aamer Jamal defended 17 runs off the last over.
Full Scores: Peshawar Zalmi 147-6 off 20 overs (Babar Azam 51, Rovman Powell 30, Arafat Minhas 1-11)
Karachi Kings 145-5 off 20 overs (Tim Seifert 41, Irfan Khan 39, Naveen-ul-Haq 2-22)
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