Windies shine in T20; Red Force 4-day woes persist

The West Indies Under-19 team, not the most talented team on paper, won the ICC U-19 50- over World Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh defeating India in a low scoring final on February 14. Medium pacer Ryan John snatched three for 38 in 10 overs while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph grabbed 3/39 in 10 overs as India was dismissed for 145 in 45.1 overs.

India seemed set to lift the title as West Indies were reeling on 77/5 after 29 overs. However, an unbroken 69-run sixth wicket partnership between Keacy Carty and Keemo Paul took the Windies to their maiden U-19 World Cup title. Man of the match Carty finished unbeaten on 52 while Paul was 40 not out.

If West Indies fans thought February 14 was a special day, April 3 almost seemed unbelievable as the West Indies Senior Men’s and Women’s teams won World T20 titles mere hours apart. Cricket fans throughout the Caribbean set their alarms early that Sunday hoping that the Windies could bring home both titles in the tournaments being played simultaneously in India.

First up it was the West Indies Women as they had a daunting task against three-time defending champions Australia in the final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Australia posted a challenging 148/5 off their 20 overs as West Indies faced an uphill task. The Windies Women were ready for the occasion as a 120-run opening partnership between captain Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews help set up an eight-wicket win with three balls to spare.

Matthews fell for 66 with the score on 120, then Taylor was dismissed for 59 with the West Indies on 144. Deandra Dottin and Britney Cooper avoided any further damage getting West Indies to the target. Even some of the West Indies Men, who were waiting to play the Men’s T20 final at the same venue, joined the Windies Women on the field to do the “Champion” dance in celebration of their victory.

Hours later Carlos Brathwaite became a household name in cricket and it took him four deliveries.

Chasing 156 for victory, West Indies needed 19 off the last over with Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels at the crease. Brathwaite did not need the entire over smashing the first four deliveries for six off medium pacer Ben Stokes to end the match in spectacular fashion.

Before Brathwaite struck the final six, English commentator David Lloyd graciously told former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop to commentate the final delivery.

Bishop could not hold back his emotions as when Brathwaite struck the final six over mid-wicket he shouted, “Carlos Brathwaite! Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name! History for the West Indies! What a match we’ve had here at Eden Gardens!” Brathwaite ended on 34 not out off 10 balls, while Samuels was unbeaten on 85 off 66 deliveries.

TT Red Force/TT Red Force Divas The TT Red Force cricketers continued their prowess in the shorter formats of the game winning the Nagico Super50 tournament which was hosted by TT and St Kitts and Nevis from January 7 to 23. TT lifted the title with a 72-run victory over Barbados Pride in the final played at the Queen’s Park Oval. Despite the team’s success in the 50-over format, the Red Force struggled in the 2015/2016 Regional Four-Day tournament finishing fourth among the six teams. The TT women were more successful than their male counterparts as they won both the 50-over and T20 regional titles in Guyana.

Queen’s Park do the treble Queen’s Park Cricket Club continued their dominance in local club cricket winning the T20, 50-over and three-day titles. The treble made the year even more special for the Parkites as the club celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2016.

Players, WICB continue to wrangle The WICB and the players had a tumultuous relationship in 2016 with many players openly stating their dissatisfaction with the board. In the post-match conference after the West Indies won the World T20 title Darren Sammy, who was the T20 captain at the time, stated his disappointment with the WICB’s lack of support.

Sammy said, “I really want to thank the heads of CARICOM.

Throughout this tournament they have been supporting the team, we’ve got emails, we’ve got calls… and I’m yet to hear from our own cricket board. That is very disappointing.” Darren Bravo was another player to state his frustration with the WICB. In November Bravo was been sent back to the Caribbean from Zimbabwe after his public outbursts about president of the WICB Dave Cameron.

Bravo was offered a C contract by the WICB __ the lowest grade available __ but declined the offer.

Cameron said the board can’t continue giving Bravo an A contract because he would not have any motivation to improve. Bravo openly stated his displeasure with Cameron via Twitter, calling him a “big idiot” while clarifying that he has never received an A contract.

Shake Up in West Indies Cricket West Indies were busy off the field as many changes in personnel were made. In May, only weeks after West Indies won the World T20 title, former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose was sacked as West Indies bowling coach and replaced by Roddy Estwick. In June Clive Lloyd packed his bags as West Indies chairman of selectors and replaced by former West Indies wicketkeeper Courtney Browne.

In August the changes continued as Darren Sammy, only months after leading the regional team to the World T20 title, was removed as West Indies T20 captain and replaced by the inexperienced Carlos Brathwaite.

Also in August West Indian bowling legend Courtney Walsh accepted a job offer in Bangladesh as that nation’s bowling coach leaving his post as a member of the West Indies Selection Panel.

Phil Simmons was next to go, axed as the head coach of the West Indies after 18 months on the job in September.

Henderson Springer and Estwick were in charge of the team while the West Indies Cricket Board searched for another coach. In December the WICB made the decision to hire Australian Stuart Law as the new head coach, while Jimmy Adams was announced as the new West Indies Director of Cricket replacing English-born Richard Pybus.