Sport CHRONICLE
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Holder replaces Ramdin as West Indies Test captain
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has been axed as Test captain after just 15 months in charge and replaced by rising star and One-Day skipper Jason Holder, for the tour of Sri Lanka next month. The 23-year-old, who has played eight Tests and 33 One-Day Internationals in his fledgling career, will lead a 15-man squad for the October 14 to November 12 series which comprises two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s. Long identified as a future leader, Holder was handed the reins of the One-Day team last January and managed to impress with the way he handled the unit. As a result, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said yesterday the recommendation by the Clive Lloyd-chaired selection panel to make him Test captain, had been “endorsed unanimously” by directors, during a teleconference last Wednesday. “The directors discussed the recommendation put forward by the selectors. We have all seen Jason’s clear leadership potential and believe he can perform an excellent job for West Indies cricket over many years. We congratulate him on his appointment,” Cameron said in a release.
Taylor named new West Indies Women’s captain
“We would like to thank Denesh for taking on the responsibility of leading the Test side over the last 15 months. He remains an integral part of West Indies cricket and will continue to have a vital role in our Test side.” Under fire after replacing veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as ODI skipper, Holder endured a further baptism of fire when West Indies were hammered 4-1 in the five-match ODI series in South Africa last January. Holder also had a rough start at the ICC World Cup the following month when the Windies were upset by Ireland in their opening match but his performance proved pivotal as they came back strongly to reach the quarter-finals. A lanky seamer and right-handed batsman, Holder showed his mettle with both bat and ball during the tournament and Lloyd said he had done enough during his short stint to prove he was fit to lead the Test unit. “He is a young man that all of the selectors, people in the Caribbean and worldwide believe has several of the qualities that can take our team forward,” the legendary former West Indies skipper said in the release.
New West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Marquee batsman Stafanie Taylor has been appointed the new captain of West Indies Women, replacing the long-serving Merissa Aguilleira. The change was announced by the West Indies Cricket Board yesterday, as it named the 18-member training squad for the home series against Pakistan start-
ing next month. Aguilleira led the side for six years, during which time they managed to reach the final of the ICC World Cup in 2013 and the semi-finals of the last three Twenty20 World Cups. However, chief selector Clive Lloyd said the time had come for a change. “Merissa has been there for a long time and did a
pretty good job, but we feel the time is right for a new leader and we have chosen Stafanie,” he said. “She has done well for Windies Women with bat and ball, and has led Jamaica Women successfully, so leading the team would not be alien to her.” He added: “It’s a change that we hope will bring new energy to the team and take it from strength to strength.
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CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Denesh Ramdin (left) has been replaced by Jason Holder as West Indies Test captain.
“We felt the time was right for a change and we feel he will do as well as he did when he was elevated to the position of One-day International captain ahead of the World Cup. “We had a number of detractors when he was appointed ODI captain, but he showed during the ODI series in South Africa and the World Cup that he had the qualities that were needed to take our team forward.” Though he broke into the team as a seamer, Holder’s batting has improved significantly in the longer version where he has already scored a Test hundred and two half-centuries, and averages 34. His unbeaten 103 against England last April came in difficult circumstances on the last day of the opening Test in Antigua when he managed to scramble a draw for the Windies. And last June, he stroked a flamboyant unbeaten 82 from just 63 balls in the second Test to prop up the West Indies batting. We believe we can develop a pretty good women’s team for the future and we see Stafanie as the person that could give us that impetus for the future. “Stafanie has played quite a lot, she has been ICC Player-of-the-Year and she will be able to lead by example.” Taylor has been one of the most prolific batsmen in the women’s game in recent years. The 24-yearold right-hander has garnered 3 115 runs from 84 One-Day International, already with five centuries and 20 half-centuries. In 62 Twenty20s she has managed 1 814 runs at an average of 36, with 16 half-centuries. In contrast, Aguilleira has struggled with the bat, especially in recent times. She has not scored a half-century in over three years and managed only 69 runs from ten ODI outings last year and 86 runs from 12 T20 innings. WICB president Dave
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The 30-year-old Ramdin, meanwhile, was appointed to the role in May last year, replacing the long-serving Darren Sammy. He led West Indies in 13 Tests – winning four, losing seven and drawing two. As captain, he managed 472 runs at an average of 22, and a highest score of 57. Lloyd said the decision to remove Ramdin was with the view of getting more from the player with the bat, and said he had spoken to the veteran of 69 Tests about his new role in the side. “I have spoken to Denesh and he understood the situation and there was no animosity,” said Lloyd. “We just want him to perform a little bit better right now, particularly with the bat, and give of his best and support the new captain.” Barbados left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican is the only new face in the side,
Cameron said he believed the changes would be “in the best interests” of the squad. “The directors have confidence in the decision made by the selectors and accept that it has been made in the best interests of the women’s team,” he said. “Stafanie has held a senior role in our women’s team for some time and has been a good role model for the younger players. She is someone who we believe can take on more responsibility and we congratulate her on this appointment.” He added: “We also would like to thank Merissa for her leadership of the Windies Women over the last six years, a period during which she helped to establish the side as one of most competitive in the world. “She was the longest-serving West Indies Women’s captain, leading the team to the Final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2013 in India and the
See page 27 semi-finals of the last three ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup.” Meanwhile, 20-year-old off-spinner Karishma Ramharack has been included in the training squad as the only new face, while Kyshona Knight, Chedean Nation and Vanessa Watts have been recalled. Seamer Shakera Selman and leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne have also returned to the set-up following injury. The squad will be in camp in Barbados later this month for two weeks. TRAINING SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor (captain), Shakera Selman (vice-captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shaquana Quintyne, Karishma Ramharack, Tremayne Smartt, Vanessa Watts. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015