It seems, to my delight, that we have quite a lot of cricket fans who tune in to the WE Sports column regularly. Judging by the feedback I’ve been getting, cricket and the plight of our beloved Windies remains an obsession for most West Indians, even in the cold white North. Though the intent of WE Sports is to deliver general sporting news, not solely cricketing bulletins in our worthy Caribbean/Canadian sport scene, ah have to give de people what dey want!
So for the many of you that requested, and even those that didn’t, here is what’s in store for the West Indies cricket team leading into 2008. Beginning on November 30th a squad consisting of Christopher Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Runako Morton, Rawle Lewis, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, and Jerome Taylor, will battle Zimbabwe in the first of five one-day internationals. The Jamaican Gayle, will captain in the absence of the injured Guyanese, Ramnaresh Sarwan, while his vice-captain will be the newly appointed 24 year old Trinidadian, Dwayne Bravo. Clive Lloyd will be the manager, while David Williams and Barbadian Henderson Springer will provide coaching functions until not long added Australian coach, John Dyson, unites with the squad.
Subsequent games in Zimbabwe will be played December 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th.
Following what is expected to be a successful tour of Zimbabwe, the West Indians remain on the African continent to face much stiffer competition from South Africa.
Whilst the leadership and management remains the same as in Zimbabwe, there are two adjustments to the squad. Narsingh Deonarine and Ravi Rampaul have been substituted with Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga.
Against South Africa, three Invitationals, three Tests and five ODIs will be played, with the first being a day/night tilt against a Makhaya Ntini Invitation XI on December 14th.
Test dates are Dec 26-30, Jan 2-6, and Jan 10-14. ODIs are Jan 20th, 25th, 27th and Feb 1st and 3rd.
Regionally, the Carib Beer Series runs from Jan 4th to Aril 28th, the Sri Lankans arrive in March to challenge the West Indies in two tests and three one-dayers, followed by the exciting Australians from May 16th to July 6th.
Tons of cricket to look forward to, so make sure to check WE Sports every month for full results and commentary.
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