In September 2019, the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) Ltd came on board as the official sponsor of the first division team of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, replacing Gizmos and Gadgets in this regard. Now celebrating its first anniversary, the partnership and its achievements have cemented the position of the Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team as the country’s leading cricket team, with an unmatchable list of achievements on and off the field. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said Namilco has been a strong supporter of both the first division team and the...
Harper calling for West Indies to score 600-run totals in Test matches
By Brandon Corlette In recent Test matches, the bowling has pulled its weight for the West Indies; the batting, on the other hand, has been inconsistent. During the last Test tour to England, Jermaine Blackwood was the leading run-scorer with 211 runs at an average of 35.16. The West Indies are slated to tour New Zealand, where the Test side will play two matches. Lead selector of the West Indies, Roger Harper, during his appearance on the Mason and Guest radio programme, is once more calling for an improved batting effort, with the team being able to score 600 runs...
BCB starts planning for historic semi- professional tournament in 2021
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier this year unveiled plans to host a historic semi-professional cricket tournament, but was unfortunately forced to temporarily shelve those plans because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The BCB 2020 cricket season was suspended in early March, and would likely restart in the second quarter of 2021; but, vibrant as ever, the board has used the last eight months to put into place several plans with the objective of hitting the ground running whenever the Government gives the green light for sports to restart. The BCB has meanwhile been involved in a COVID-19 response...
“Cornwall is our most potent spinner,” says Roger Harper
By Brandon Corlette When the Test squad and list of reserves was announced for the England tour, a lot of individuals had questioned the omission of Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyanese who consistently dominates Regional First-Class cricket. The WI Test squad and list of reserves for the New Zealand tour was recently announced, and Permaul has still not been selected. From all indications, the West Indies Selection Panel has kept faith with Rahkeen Cornwall and Roston Chase. On the most recent Mason and Guest radio programme, Lead selector Roger Harper disclosed that Cornwall is regarded as the most potent spinner in...
Shepherd replaces Bravo for New Zealand tour
West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of New Zealand due to a groin injury. The experienced 37-year-old sustained the injury on Saturday whilst playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bravo, the two-time T20 World Cup winner, will now return to Trinidad to continue his rehabilitation. He will be replaced by Romario Shepherd, the 25-year-old all-rounder, who made his international debut last year against Afghanistan and received his cap from Bravo himself. The defending ICC T20 World Cup champions will visit New Zealand from November 27 to December...
Pooran being seriously considered for Test-set up – Harper
By Brandon Corlette Prior to the official announcement of the Test squad to tour New Zealand, numerous calls were made for the inclusion of Nicholas Pooran However, Pooran will have to wait a bit longer to rock the West Indies Test kit since he was only named in the T20 squad for that New Zealand tour.“There was a lot of consideration given to Nicholas Pooran; we are still looking at it and I am sure as we move forward, Pooran will have the opportunity as well,” West Indies Lead Selector Roger Harper disclosed. Harper had indicated that some of the...
It’s back to the drawing board for Shai Hope
By Brandon Corlette Who executes the sweetest cover drive in the Caribbean currently? Which Caribbean batsman is as technically correct as Shai Hope? Not many names can be proffered in these respects, but after continuous failures in Test cricket, Hope has finally received the axe. In Hope’s last six Test innings, he scored 105 runs at an average of 17.5. He had similarly failed back in 2018 and in 2019 as well. West Indies Lead Selector Roger Harper, speaking about Hope’s omission from the Test squad, had this to say: “Shai is a player who I think has a tremendous...
The need for a clear head, injury and safety concerns behind declined Windies invites
Injury, concerns over safety and a need for a clear head are the reasons behind Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell’s decisions not to accept invitations to join the West Indies’ tour of New Zealand starting next month. The West Indies on Friday named a 14-man squad that is expected to play three T20 Internationals in New Zealand later this year that included Andre Fletcher who was making a return to the squad after a two-year absence as well as Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo. However, it was noticeable that Russell, Lewis and Simmons were absent. Chief selector Roger...
“Hetmyer has the ability to be one of the best batsmen in the world,” says Harper
After 16 Test matches and 30 innings for the West Indies, Guyana’s batting maestro, Shimron Hetmyer is yet to score a Test century. Despite his poor showing in the longer formats, Hetmyer has shown skill and ability on different occasions wherever he plays. However, consistency has been his issue as it is for many other Caribbean batting talents. Hetmyer has returned to both the Test and T20 squads and he will be on that jet to New Zealand. Lead selector of the West Indies, Roger Harper disclosed, during his virtual media interaction after the squad announcement, that he personally believes...
West Indies name Test and T20I squads for Tour of New Zealand
Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the two squads for the proposed tour of New Zealand which will feature three T20 Internationals and two Test matches from November 27 to December 15. Details of the tour were ratified by CWI’s Board of Directors during a teleconference on Thursday. The Board agreed to the tour in principle, subject to final details on medical and logistical protocols of CWI, New Zealand Cricket and Government of New Zealand. In the Test squad there is a return for left-handed batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, as well as all-rounder Keemo Paul. Bravo’s highest Test...