Check out these precious cricketing moments.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Darren Sammy - Best Windies Cricket Debutant Since Valentine
by Dexter Theodore
Long-suffering West Indian cricket fans finally got something to cheer about today! Debutant Darren Sammy produced a memorable spell of bowling on the third afternoon at Old Trafford to finish with the remarkable figures of 21.3-2-66-7! He was the first West Indian cricketer to capture seven or more wickets on debut since Alf Valentine snatched 8 for 104 on the same ground fifty-seven years ago.
Sammy was the most economical West Indian bowler in England's first innings, but not even his most ardent supporter could have anticipated the masterly performance which was to come! It is true that he and Bravo had distinguished themselves in the field from the start of the cricket match while their colleagues struggled, but Old Trafford's rock-hard surface was not expected to offer much assistance to a medium-pacer and Windies pacer Fidel Edwards and England's Steve Harmison with their 90 mph missiles were expected to take the lime light. In fact West Indian great, Michael Holding had, on the first day of the Test match, bitterly criticized Sammy's inclusion ahead of Jamaican speedster Darren Powell and the mercurial Marlon Samuels. During the course of the match English television cricket commentator, Nasser Hussain had described Sammy as a "bits-and-pieces cricketer". Would Sammy ever smear egg on those gurus' faces!
Sammy began by taking a stupendous one-handed catch on his follow-through to dismiss England's bemused captain, Michael Vaughn for 40. But it was not until later in the afternoon that he was to really weave his magic around the mesmerised English cricketers. Sammy, whose stock delivery is an off-cutter in the corridor of uncertainty outside a right-hander's off-stump, suddenly bowled one to Bell which touched down on off stump and straightened. Bell groped uncertainly at the delivery and snicked the ball to a delighted Ramdin behind the stumps!
That brought in wicket-keeper Matthew Prior, whose batting has been a revelation for England in the cricket series. Sammy was in no mood to take any prisoners, however! He greeted the English glove-man with another beauty on off-stump which held its own as Prior felt for it and he could do no more than get a feather on it and Ramdin did the rest. Darren Sammy, the twenty-three year old from the rural community of Micoud in Saint Lucia was on a hat-trick!
In to the wicket walked Plunkett. Windies acting cricket captain Ganga crowded the new batsman who waited nervously as Sammy ran in and bowled yet another pearler which kissed the pitched just outside the off stump and again straightened. Plunkett had to offer the bat, but he was not good enough to touch the ball which flew past his outside edge into Ramdin's gloves once more.
Sammy had been denied the hat trick on debut, but he was to have the last laugh when moments later, in the same over, he got rid of Plunkett, caught by who else but the effervescent Bravo. And Sammy wasn't done yet!
He completed his virtually single-handed demolition of England by snapping up the wickets of Harmison, Cook and Panesar in quick time on an afternoon that saw England collapse from 265 for 3 to 313 all out, leaving the West Indies a victory target of 455.
Sammy's exploits in England today, the 9th of June 2007, have already resulted in calls in his homeland Saint Lucia for the Beausejour Cricket Ground there to be renamed after him.
Long-suffering West Indian cricket fans finally got something to cheer about today! Debutant Darren Sammy produced a memorable spell of bowling on the third afternoon at Old Trafford to finish with the remarkable figures of 21.3-2-66-7! He was the first West Indian cricketer to capture seven or more wickets on debut since Alf Valentine snatched 8 for 104 on the same ground fifty-seven years ago.
Sammy was the most economical West Indian bowler in England's first innings, but not even his most ardent supporter could have anticipated the masterly performance which was to come! It is true that he and Bravo had distinguished themselves in the field from the start of the cricket match while their colleagues struggled, but Old Trafford's rock-hard surface was not expected to offer much assistance to a medium-pacer and Windies pacer Fidel Edwards and England's Steve Harmison with their 90 mph missiles were expected to take the lime light. In fact West Indian great, Michael Holding had, on the first day of the Test match, bitterly criticized Sammy's inclusion ahead of Jamaican speedster Darren Powell and the mercurial Marlon Samuels. During the course of the match English television cricket commentator, Nasser Hussain had described Sammy as a "bits-and-pieces cricketer". Would Sammy ever smear egg on those gurus' faces!
Sammy began by taking a stupendous one-handed catch on his follow-through to dismiss England's bemused captain, Michael Vaughn for 40. But it was not until later in the afternoon that he was to really weave his magic around the mesmerised English cricketers. Sammy, whose stock delivery is an off-cutter in the corridor of uncertainty outside a right-hander's off-stump, suddenly bowled one to Bell which touched down on off stump and straightened. Bell groped uncertainly at the delivery and snicked the ball to a delighted Ramdin behind the stumps!
That brought in wicket-keeper Matthew Prior, whose batting has been a revelation for England in the cricket series. Sammy was in no mood to take any prisoners, however! He greeted the English glove-man with another beauty on off-stump which held its own as Prior felt for it and he could do no more than get a feather on it and Ramdin did the rest. Darren Sammy, the twenty-three year old from the rural community of Micoud in Saint Lucia was on a hat-trick!
In to the wicket walked Plunkett. Windies acting cricket captain Ganga crowded the new batsman who waited nervously as Sammy ran in and bowled yet another pearler which kissed the pitched just outside the off stump and again straightened. Plunkett had to offer the bat, but he was not good enough to touch the ball which flew past his outside edge into Ramdin's gloves once more.
Sammy had been denied the hat trick on debut, but he was to have the last laugh when moments later, in the same over, he got rid of Plunkett, caught by who else but the effervescent Bravo. And Sammy wasn't done yet!
He completed his virtually single-handed demolition of England by snapping up the wickets of Harmison, Cook and Panesar in quick time on an afternoon that saw England collapse from 265 for 3 to 313 all out, leaving the West Indies a victory target of 455.
Sammy's exploits in England today, the 9th of June 2007, have already resulted in calls in his homeland Saint Lucia for the Beausejour Cricket Ground there to be renamed after him.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Darren Sammy - First Saint Lucian to Play Test Cricket
by Dexter Theodore
Twenty-three year old all-rounder, Darren Sammy, made cricketing history at Old Trafford yesterday when he became the first Saint Lucian ever to play test cricket.
England won the toss and decided to bat and progressed quite smoothly, after losing Strauss early.
Eventually it was the turn of the debutant to take the ball. Sammy started with a nervous first over, then followed that with a maiden which helped to get rid of the butterflies in his stomach. Thereafter he settled into a disciplined line and length which soon reaped rich reward when he had Cook caught at backward point, flailing at a delivery which nipped away and peeled off his outside edge.
Sammy finished his first day in Test cricket with the well-deserved figures of 17-7-32-1 and the distinction of being the most economical West Indian bowler on show, with an economy rate of 1.88.
Twenty-three year old all-rounder, Darren Sammy, made cricketing history at Old Trafford yesterday when he became the first Saint Lucian ever to play test cricket.
England won the toss and decided to bat and progressed quite smoothly, after losing Strauss early.
Eventually it was the turn of the debutant to take the ball. Sammy started with a nervous first over, then followed that with a maiden which helped to get rid of the butterflies in his stomach. Thereafter he settled into a disciplined line and length which soon reaped rich reward when he had Cook caught at backward point, flailing at a delivery which nipped away and peeled off his outside edge.
Sammy finished his first day in Test cricket with the well-deserved figures of 17-7-32-1 and the distinction of being the most economical West Indian bowler on show, with an economy rate of 1.88.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
West Indies Perform Creditably in First Test
by Dexter Theodore
The West Indies fought back bravely in the First Test match at Lord's after England posted a first innings score of 553 for 5 declared. In reply the men from the Caribbean smashed 437 runs, with Chanderpaul leading the way with 74, but with everyone making a worthwhile contribution.
England faltered to 284 for 8 before declaring, setting the Windies a challenging 401 run-chase for victory.
The West Indies rattled up 89 runs in even time at over 4 runs per over before the inclement weather resulted in the abandonment of play.
It was a spirited cricket match and fans are looking forward to the second test match which starts on Friday at Headingley in Leeds.
The West Indies fought back bravely in the First Test match at Lord's after England posted a first innings score of 553 for 5 declared. In reply the men from the Caribbean smashed 437 runs, with Chanderpaul leading the way with 74, but with everyone making a worthwhile contribution.
England faltered to 284 for 8 before declaring, setting the Windies a challenging 401 run-chase for victory.
The West Indies rattled up 89 runs in even time at over 4 runs per over before the inclement weather resulted in the abandonment of play.
It was a spirited cricket match and fans are looking forward to the second test match which starts on Friday at Headingley in Leeds.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
West Indies Make a Disastrous Start To Super 8's
The West Indies have made a disastrous start to the Super Eight phase of the Cricket World Cup 2007 by losing their first match against Australia on Tuesday and their second against New Zealand the following day.
The Governance Committee of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has, with uncanny timimg, now inviting the public to make recommendations which will help the Board "to identify the mechanisms and processes that will return the West Indies to the pinnacle of world cricket and thereafter sustain the region's ascendancy in the game. The aim is to restore and maintain pride in West Indies cricket, thereby strengthening the bond between the people of the Caribbean and the game".
The problem is that we do not properly target the youth. It is imperative that we organise cricket at the under 13, under 11, under 9, and even under 7 level. We need to inculcate into our infant school students the fundamentals of the game like the virtues of stepping out to the pitch of the ball and hitting from a sideways-on position with a still head. Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon cricket clinics need to be set up in all of our islands manned by coaches following a programme approved by the WICB.
It has proved to be a losing proposition to get most of our senior cricketers to adhere to the basics, no doubt because their bad technique has become ingrained owing to years of bad habits.
I'm afraid that unless we focus on the youth we shall be doomed to mediocrity and failure on the world stage.
The Governance Committee of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has, with uncanny timimg, now inviting the public to make recommendations which will help the Board "to identify the mechanisms and processes that will return the West Indies to the pinnacle of world cricket and thereafter sustain the region's ascendancy in the game. The aim is to restore and maintain pride in West Indies cricket, thereby strengthening the bond between the people of the Caribbean and the game".
The problem is that we do not properly target the youth. It is imperative that we organise cricket at the under 13, under 11, under 9, and even under 7 level. We need to inculcate into our infant school students the fundamentals of the game like the virtues of stepping out to the pitch of the ball and hitting from a sideways-on position with a still head. Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon cricket clinics need to be set up in all of our islands manned by coaches following a programme approved by the WICB.
It has proved to be a losing proposition to get most of our senior cricketers to adhere to the basics, no doubt because their bad technique has become ingrained owing to years of bad habits.
I'm afraid that unless we focus on the youth we shall be doomed to mediocrity and failure on the world stage.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Windward Islands Qualify for KFC Cup
by Dexter Theodore
The Windward Islands joined Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana in the semi-finals of the KFC Cricket Cup in the West Indies with a victory over the Leeward Islands in St. Maarten yesterday.
The Leewards batted first and compiled a respectable 203 in 49.3 overs with Autin Richards top-scoring with 46. Dennis George tore through their middle order to return career best figures of 5 for 39 off 9 overs.
At their turn at bat the Windwards cruised to 206 for 4 with 7.2 overs to spare, thanks to a sparkling 85 from Andre Fletcher, a swashbucking 53 from West Indian opening batsman Devon Smith and a mature 28 not out from Saint Lucian allrounder Darren Sammy.
The KFC Cup Final Four series bowls off on February 15 at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.
The Windward Islands joined Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana in the semi-finals of the KFC Cricket Cup in the West Indies with a victory over the Leeward Islands in St. Maarten yesterday.
The Leewards batted first and compiled a respectable 203 in 49.3 overs with Autin Richards top-scoring with 46. Dennis George tore through their middle order to return career best figures of 5 for 39 off 9 overs.
At their turn at bat the Windwards cruised to 206 for 4 with 7.2 overs to spare, thanks to a sparkling 85 from Andre Fletcher, a swashbucking 53 from West Indian opening batsman Devon Smith and a mature 28 not out from Saint Lucian allrounder Darren Sammy.
The KFC Cup Final Four series bowls off on February 15 at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.
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