World cup 2007: Review of Cricket Teams - West Indies

About West Indies Cricket:

The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as The Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of a dozen English-speaking Caribbean countries and British dependencies.

History:

The history of the West Indies cricket team begins in the 1890s, when the first representative sides were selected to play visiting English sides. Administered by the West Indies Cricket Board ("WICB"), and known colloquially as The Windies, the West Indies cricket team represents a sporting confederation of English-speaking Caribbean countries.

The WICB joined the sport's international ruling body, the Imperial Cricket Council, in 1926, and played their first official international match, granted Test status, in 1928. Although blessed with some great players in their early days as a Test nation, their successes remained sporadic until the 1960s, by which time the side had changed from a white-dominated to a black-dominated side. By the 1970s, the West Indies had a side recognized as unofficial world champions, a title they retained throughout the 1980s. During these glory years, the Windies were noted for their four-man fast bowling attack, backed up by some of the best batsmen in the world. The 1980s saw them set a then-record streak of 11 consecutive Test victories in 1984 and inflict two 5–0 "blackwashes" against the old enemy of England. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, however, West Indian cricket declined, largely due to the failure of the West Indian Cricket Board to move the game from an amateur pastime to a professional sport coupled with the general economic decline in West Indian countries, and the team today is struggling to regain its past glory.

In their early days in the 1930s, the side represented the British colonies of the West Indies Federation plus British Guiana. The current side represents the now independent states of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, and the British dependencies of Anguilla, Montserrat, British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National teams also exist for the various different islands, which, as they are all separate countries, very much keep their local identities and support their local favorites. These national teams take part in the West Indian first-class competition, the Carib Beer Cup (earlier known as the Busta Cup, Shell Shield and various other names). It is also common for other international teams to play the island teams for warm-up games before they take on the combined West Indies team.

When playing one-day cricket, the Windies wear a maroon shirt, with grey around the sides. At present the shirt also sports the logo of the West Indian Cricket Board and the name of their sponsors, Digicel. The one-day cap is maroon with the WICB logo on the left of the front, with two yellow stripes separated by a green stripe running vertically on the right of the front.

When playing first-class cricket, in addition to their cricket whites, West Indian fielders sometimes wear a sunhat, which is maroon and has a wide brim. The WICB logo is on the middle of the front of the hat. Helmets are coloured similarly.

During World Series Cricket, colour uniforms were adopted. The initial West Indies uniform was pink. Later, the uniform was changed to maroon to match their test match caps. Grey was also added as as secondary colour. In some of their uniforms grey has been dominant over the traditional maroon.

Stadiums:

The following nine stadia have been used for at least one Test match. The number of Tests played at each venue followed by the number of one-day internationals played at that venue is in brackets:

Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados (43/19)

The Kensington Oval first hosted a Test match in 1930. It played host to the first-ever Test triple century, Andy Sandham's 325. Currently with a capacity of 15,000 it is being redeveloped for the 2007 World Cup, when its capacity will be 28,000. It will host the World Cup final.

Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad (54/42)

The Queen's Park Oval first hosted a Test match in 1930. It has a capacity of 25,000.

Bourda in Georgetown, Guyana (30/10)

Bourda first hosted a Test match in 1930. It is the only Test ground in South America, and the only one below sea level. It has a capacity of around 22,000.

Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica (41/17)

Sabina Park first hosted a Test match in 1930. The Blue Mountains, which are famed for their coffee, form the backdrop. Sabina Park played host to Garry Sobers' then world-record 365 not out. In 1998 the Test against England was abandoned here on the opening day because the pitch was too dangerous. It has a capacity of 15,000.

Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda (20/6)

Antigua Recreation Ground first hosted a Test in 1981. Three Test triple centuries have been scored on this ground: Chris Gayle's 317 in 2005, and Brian Lara's world record scores of 375 in 1994 and 400 not out in 2004. The historic stadium hosted its final international cricket match in June 2006, to make way for the island's new cricket stadium, being constructed 3 miles outside the capital city expected to be completed in time for its hosting of matches for Cricket World Cup 2007.

Arnos Vale Ground in Arnos Vale, Kingstown, St Vincent (1/16)

The Arnos Vale Ground first hosted a Test in 1997.
National Cricket Stadium in St George's, Grenada (1/8)
The National Cricket Stadium first hosted a Test in 2002.
Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia (2/7)
The Beausejour Stadium first hosted a Test in 2003. It has a capacity of 12,000.
Warner Park Stadium in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis (1/1)

The Warner Park Sporting Complex hosted its first one day international on May 23rd, 2006 and its first test match on the 22nd of June 2006. The stadium has a permanent capacity of 8,000, with provisions for temporary stands to enable the hosting figure to past 10,000.

Three further stadium have been used for one-day internationals, but not Test matches. The number of one-day internationals played at each venue is in brackets:

Albion Sports Complex in Albion, Berbice, Guyana (5)
Mindoo Phillip Park in Castries, St Lucia (2)
The old ground of Queen's Park in St George's, Grenada (1)

Recent form:

Though the preparations for the World Cup was not great for Windies after they lost the series in India, but they have been doing well in the past few months by going to ICC Champions Trophy final and winning the home series against India. They are looking good for the World Cup under the captaincy of Brian Charles Lara.

Records:

Test matches

Innings totals above 700

For: 790 for 3 declared against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58; 751 for 5 declared against England in St John's in 2003-04; 747 all out against South Africa in St John's in 2004-05
Against: 849 by England in Kingston in 1929-30; 758 for 8 declared by Australia in Kingston in 1954-55

Innings totals below 60

For: 47 against England in Kingston in 2003-04; 51 against Australia in Port of Spain in 1998-99; 53 against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 1986-87; 54 against England at Lord's in 2000
Against: 46 by England in Port of Spain in 1993-94

Triple centuries scored for the Windies

400 not out by Brian Lara against England at St John's in 2003-04;
375 by Brian Lara against England at St John's in 1993-94;
365 not out by Garry Sobers against Pakistan at Kingston in 1957-58;
317 by Chris Gayle against South Africa at St John's in 2004-05;
302 by Lawrence Rowe against England at Bridgetown in 1973-74

Twelve or more wickets taken for the Windies in a Test match

14 for the cost of 149 runs by Michael Holding against England at the Oval in 1976; 13 for 55 by Courtney Walsh against New Zealand in Wellington in 1994-95; 12 for 121 by Andy Roberts against India in Madras in 1974-75

One Day matches

Hat-trick

The first and only ever hat-trick performance was made by Jerome Taylor on October 19, 2006 at Mumbai in an ICC Champions Trophy league match against Australia.

Current Squad:

Captain Brian Lara Trinidad and Tobago LHB, LBG 3 4
Wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin Trinidad and Tobago RHB 3 5

Opening batsmen

Devon Smith Windward Islands LHB, OB 3 5
Chris Gayle Jamaica LHB, OB 2 4
Wavell Hinds Jamaica LHB, RM 1 2

Specialist middle-order batsmen

Shivnarine Chanderpaul Guyana LHB, LB 3 5
Ramnaresh Sarwan Guyana RHB, LB 3 5
Marlon Samuels Jamaica RHB, OB 2 4
Dwayne Smith Barbados RHB, RM 1 2

All-rounder

Dwayne Bravo Trinidad and Tobago RHB, RMF 2 4

Fast bowlers

Tino Best Barbados RHB, RF 0 2
Corey Collymore Barbados RHB, RFM 3 3
Fidel Edwards Barbados RHB, RF 3 4
Jermaine Taylor Jamaica RHB, RFM 1 2
Daren Powell Jamaica RHB, RFM 3 4

Famous players:

A list the most notable players, by decade in which they first represented the West Indies, is below: 1920s: Learie Constantine
1930s: George Headley, Manny Martindale
1940s: Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell (collectively known as the Three W's)
1950s: Basil Butcher, Lance Gibbs, Wes Hall, Conrad Hunte, Rohan Kanhai, Sonny Ramadhin, Garry Sobers, Alfred Valentine 1960s: Charlie Griffith, Vanburn Holder, Clive Lloyd, Seymour Nurse
1970s: Colin Croft, Joel Garner, Larry Gomes, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Alvin Kallicharran, Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Lawrence Rowe
1980s: Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Jeff Dujon, Carl Hooper, Richie Richardson, Courtney Walsh
1990s: Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mervyn Dillon, Ridley Jacobs, Brian Lara
2000s: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle

Honors:

Cricket World Cup (this is the leading international one-day tournament, held approximately every four years since 1975): titles: 2 1975, 1979
ICC Champions Trophy (this is the only other one-day tournament featuring all the top international cricket teams, held every two years since 1998): titles: 1 2004

Players to Watch:

Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Bravo, Taylor, Chanderpul

World Cup Group D:

Ireland
Pakistan
Zimbabwe

World Cup like results:

With a good side they can make it up to Semis this time as Home support might help them and they are in good form too. 1st round match with Pakistan would be interesting indeed cant predict what will happen. Other matches are cake wake especially at home. Would be great if Aussies are defeated by them in super 8.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2007