The location has changed from the previous Issue’s
center-page spread but here, nonetheless, are
this month’s WI Wickets’ Laurels & Darts. As a
reminder, laurels are awarded to those whose activities
within the governing past month have been deserving of
the highest kudos. Conversely, darts are thrown at those
whose conduct has been most unbecoming. Five laurels
are awarded each month, but only three darts are thrown.
MAY LAURELS:
Former West Indies captain and batting maestro
Antigua’s Sir Richie Richardson, for his appointment
as ICC Match Referee for the June 7-12,, World Test
Championship Final between Australia and India played
at the Oval. The assignment is now arguably, the most
prestigious of all the many that Sir Richie has enjoyed since
his September 21, 2016, appointment as an ICC Elite
Panel Match Referee!
The West Indies A Team for its 1-0 win in the
three four-day Tests Series against hosts Bangladesh!
West Indies were led to their highly encouraging Series
win by the outstanding batting of skipper Joshua DaSilva
who completed the Tests with an overly impressive even
100.00 average. Da Silva’s batting was very well supported
by Tagenarine Chanderpaul (68.78), Kevin Sinclair (49.66),
Alick Athanaze (44.00) and Kirk McKenzie (41.80). Among
the bowlers, Keving Sinclair (13), Akeem Jordan (12) and
Jair McAllister (10) were the West Indies A Team’s highest
wicket-takers during the three Tests series.
Kevin Sinclair for his outstanding West Indies
A Team Bangladesh Tour all-round returns with both bat
and ball. Sinclair scored 149 runs from four innings for an
impressive 49.66 average. As a bowler, the wily Guyanaborn
off-spinner also took 13 wickets during the series.
His scalps were captured at an outstanding 25.69 average
and at a measly 3.27 economy rate. Sinclair’s returns also
included one five-wicket (5/79) haul.
Sinclair’s outstanding all-round series performance must now
almost certainly have earned him a spot in the West Indies
14-member squad for the July 11 first Test against India.
Whether he makes his debut during the Test remains to be
seen, but at the very least he must now be in the squad.
Jair McAllister, the impressively quick Barbadian
pacer, who captured 10 wickets at a 20.80 average and 4.18
economy rate during the Bangladesh Series. Returns which
could also very well earn him a surprise call-up for the India
first Test. McAllister’s threatening pace might be viewed by
the Selectors as a perfect x-factor surprise weapon to be used
as a means of unsettling the Indians vaunted world-class toporder
batting.
Joseph “Reds” Perreira for attempting to remain
relevant. The St Lucia-based Guyana-born internationally
famous former Caribbean Cricket Radio Commentator who
recently celebrated his 84th Birthday, has become even more
outspoken in his twilight years than he has ever been before.
Reds has seemingly found a willingly supportive scribe in the
personality of his Guyanese countryman Brandon Corlette, a
writer for the ruling government’s mouthpiece newspaper the
Guyana Times. Reds has, therefore, become as vocal as ever
with his almost weekly commentaries on the ails which are
currently affecting West Indies cricket!
MAY 2023 DARTS:
Cricket West Indies for seemingly
being constantly behind in its Media
Relations and issued official Press Releases.
West Indies cricket fans and followers
were left totally in the dark over the muchdelayed
release of the forthcoming India
Tour schedule. There was also no CWI
acknowledgement or official response to
Caribbean music icon and West Indies
cricket anthem composer David Rudder’s
recent public announcement of his
Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis!
West Indies newly appointed ODI
and T20I white-ball cricket Head Coach
Darren Sammy, for his first media interview
revelation that he had reached out to Sunil
Narine and Andre Russell among others
on the possibilities of their recall to the
West Indies team. Sammy’s actions were
disrespectful to the West Indies Selection
Panel Chair the Rt, Honourable Desmond
Haynes and Co-Selector Roland Butcher.
They were also representative of highly
unnecessary backward thinking. It has long
since become unmistakably obvious to all,
except perhaps Sammy, that both Narine
and Russell are now well past their prime
and no longer worthy of West Indies whiteball
team selection.
Popular Caribbean TV and Radio
Cricket Commentator Barry Wilkinson,
for blatant publicly demonstrated insularity.
During a recent Caribbean cricket Radio
Program, Wilkinson suggested his long since
discarded fellow-Barbadian countryman
Carlos Brathwaite, would be the “ideal”
replacement for Devon Thomas’ forced
withdrawal from the West Indies UAE Tour
squad. Shame on you Barry