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Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Following Jamaica’s recent dismal display in the exhibition friendly against the United States, there is a plea from fans at home and abroad for the squad to be significantly strengthened ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.With the team’s familiar faces refusing to don the Reggae Boyz’ golden jersey until their contracts are sorted with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), head coach Theodore Whitmore has his hands tied in terms of selection and progress.He had little choice in selecting the squad that was woefully outwitted 4-1 in Austria by the youthful exuberance of their misfiring old foes, USA. The JFF were always going to be penny-pinching for the match in terms of air travel, accommodation and appearance fees. The JFF cle...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Theodore Whitmore, the Jamaica head coach, has been handed a tough ask for the exhibition match against the USA in Austria on 25 March with a heavily defensive and depleted squad. The ongoing issue between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and regular players over contracts and money, which came to light just ahead of November’s Saudi Arabia double-header, is seemingly the cause for so many regular faces being absent. A 19-man squad was announced today (17 March), although shortly after relative newcomer Ravel Morrison withdrew. It is rumoured that the midfielder, who has no club, is in full support of his compatriots so is taking a stand. Theodore Whitmore Although Whitmore is notoriously defensive even he surely must be scratching his hea...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Darren Bravo’s magnificent century helped guide the West Indies to a five wicket success over Sri Lanka in the 3rd One Day International (ODI) at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on 14 March.The left-handed Trinidad & Tobago batsman, who missed the recent tour to Bangladesh, celebrated his call-up for the 1st Test against Sri Lanka with a match-winning 102 off 132 balls in the thriller.Victory in the trio of ODIs secured the first points for the Caribbean side, who failed miserably in the format in New Zealand late last year and recently in Bangladesh. These matches form part of the ICC Super League and give the Windies a fighting chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals.The hosts continued their promising form, fresh from having ree...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner will be one of the many Caribbean cricketers that will return from the West Indies’ tour of Bangladesh as a hero, after they registered a remarkable 17-run success in the 2nd Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (14 February). This was the first Test series win for West Indies in Asia since winning against the same opposition in 2012, and the entire contingent are brimming with confidence following this tour. nkrumah_bonner The manner of their victory was admittingly a topsy-turvy affair, with the tourists initially taking control to cruise to 409 all out only to fail miserably in their next innings and be whittled out for a pitiful 117. Yet they held their nerve after setting a target of just 23...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Theodore Whitmore, the Jamaica head coach, will get an opportunity to rue his eye over his European-based players in an exhibition match against the USA in Austria on 25 March. The contest, a rematch of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final that Jamaica lost 3-1, falls on a FIFA fixture date so Whitmore will have his pick of players available and will probably consider bringing in new faces. Austria’s venue will be the 10,000-capacity Stadion Wiener Neustadt south of Vienna, which is home to the club SC Wiener Neustadt although the purpose-built stadium has also been used for speedway. The United States have previously been successful in the stadium, having defeated Panama 6-2 in a friendly in November 2020. Although the US have won 16 of the p...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Kyle Mayers helped the West Indies register an unimaginable 1st Test victory with an historical debutant double century to stun hosts Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today (7 February). Kyle Mayers The Barbados all rounder’s sparkling unbeaten knock of 210, which sealed a staggering three wicket success, seemed inconceivable and beyond the wildest dreams of the Windies when they were reduced to 59-3 in their second innings and chasing a total of 395. And given that the 27-year-old only bagged his maiden first-class century last month in St. Vincent, when representing Barbados Pride against Windward Islands Volcanoes in a four-day match, puts his brilliant history-making innings into perspective. He is the only cricket...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Jason Mohammed’s latest defeat as recently-installed One Day International (ODI) skipper, heavily beaten by seven wickets today (22 January) in Bangladesh, means the tourists have embarrassingly lost their three-match series with a game remaining. Mohammed, who stepped into the shoes of regular ODI captain Kieron Pollard (Trinidad) because of a large contingent turning down the opportunity to tour, won the toss but his teams looked in dire straits at 88-8. Having failed so miserably 48 hours before at the same Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Dhaka’s Mirpur, a vast improvement was expected from Mohammed’s troops. Yet they tasted a seventh successive ODI defeat to Bangladesh with a real whimper. Although they edged their way to...

By Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Jason Mohammed ended the dismal Bangladesh tour as the recently-installed One Day International (ODI) West Indies skipper with a disappointing clean sweep of defeats today (25 January). Jason Mohammed The tourists were embarrassingly toppled by 120 runs as their three-match series came crashing down in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS), and leaves the Windies facing an uphill struggle to qualify for the World Cup. At least Mohammed (Trinidad & Tobago) isn’t part of the Test squad that faces buoyant Bangladesh next month for two games, which will offer the Windies a shot at redeeming their reputation after recent tepid Tours to England and New Zealand respectively. Mohammed, who replaced regular ODI captain Kieron Pollard ...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Phil Simmons, the West Indies head coach, has admitted that hosts Bangladesh are the clear favourites against his depleted contingent in the upcoming five-match series. Phil Simmons With an inexperienced line-up, which includes the notable absence of Test skipper Jason Holder (Barbados) and One Day International (ODI) captain Kieron Pollard (Trinidad), Simmons certainly has his work cut out.The Windies landed in Bangladesh on January 10, so are preparing for yet another whistlestop overseas tour during the coronavirus crisis, having produced a tepid display in England last July and been outplayed by New Zealand - but this could be third time lucky.A trio of 50 overs ODIs and a pair of Test matches will be a tricky ask, but at least the tourists have ...

Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rüdd Sheldon Cottrell, Jamaican left-arm fast bowler, is one of 10 West Indies players who have declined the invitation to join the upcoming Bangladesh tour, citing safety concerns amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, compatriot Fabian Allen, an all-rounder, is unavailable due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, Jamaica have a strong showing in the Test squad comprising Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner and John Campbell, plus Andre McCarthy and Rovman Powell who are part of the One Day International (ODI) set up.The West Indies, who followed up their lacklustre tour of England in July, with a poor showing in their recent whistle-stop in New Zealand, have been dealt a massive blow with Test captain Jason Holder (Barbados) and limited o...