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ICC champions trophy – West Indies Much has already been said about the current impasse between WICB and WIPA and its effect on the selection for the current squad. To effectively explain all the details and possible ramifications of this matter would take several articles. As such, this article will concern itself with the current West Indies team for the ICC Champions Trophy and what may be expected from the team by the basis of their performances in the warm –up matches. The West Indies began their preparation for the Champions Trophy with two matches against South African first-class teams. The first of these was against Cape Cobras on September 13 th in which the West Indies lost a close high-scoring match. The West Indian batting line-up posted 327/7 with fifties from Devon Smith, Kieran Powell and Chadwick Walton. Darren Sammy also provided late impetus by scoring 31 from just 14 balls. The West Indian bowling also started strongly with Kemar Roach claiming two wicket...

Considering the uncertainties surrounding the staging of the 1 st test between the West Indies and Bangladesh tomorrow it would be extremely naïve to try to write a preview. Conflicting and sometimes even contradicting reports suggest that anything from a complete player boycott to a second-string side being played. All the while the WICB maintain that “They are confident that there will be a Test match on Thursday”. If this is frustrating to those who only intended to watch the game on television imagine how much more so it must be for the fans in St. Vincent. In a ground that has only had one previous Test match, 12 years ago against Sri Lanka, the local fans would have surely been eager to see the return of Test cricket to the island. Ticket sales were sure to have been high, considering the fact that the West Indies were expected to win the series. The fans now are left with the dilemma of whether to even go to the ground, bearing in mind that the match may not even be played....

Bangladesh’s victory in the recently concluded 1 st test only serves to amplify the fact that West Indies cricket has been greatly weakened by external matters. Though playing a makeshift West Indian side, Bangladesh can only play whoever they are pitted against and in this instance they refused to be diverted from the cricket and exploited their opportunities. Taking nothing away from Bangladesh, who fully deserved their win , the questions that must be asked should be directed towards the administration. The reasons for this loss are just as much, if not more, of their making than that of the players. There is undoubtedly a large amount of talent in the team, perhaps enough to comprise the majority of a future first string West Indian team. But the emphasis lies on the fact that they are future potential and playing them all at once may serve to stunt their development. It is possible that some players may immediately make the jump from first-class to Test level and the selec...