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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 2, 2019
Windies can upset the ‘big boys’, says Lloyd NOTTINGHAM, England (CMC) – If the West Indies can emulate their performance against Pakistan throughout the World Cup, legendary former captain Clive Lloyd expects them to beat some of the higher-ranked teams. In their opening match on Friday, Oshane Thomas and Andre Russell bowled with pace and accuracy to rout Pakistan for 105, their second lowest score in World Cup history. Chris Gayle then smashed a 33ball fifty as the Windies eased to a seven-wicket victory with 218 balls to spare. Lloyd lauded the regional team for their performance, especially in light of the fact that Pakistan
had proved troublesome in the past. “I think Pakistan have previously given us problems so it was a very admirable performance and I can only wish Jason Holder and the rest of the boys well for the rest of the tournament. I’m sure they will upset a few of the big boys if they play like that,” said Lloyd, the last West Indies captain to win the coveted World Cup. “This game has provef that we have some firepower and that means we can match anybody in this competition. We have to try and test out our batting now, that’s the real test going forward. We have to see how
Clive Lloyd was impressed by the West Indies’ performance against Pakistan.
Sarwan, Wallace named in Windies Selection System Task Force ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – A six-member Task Force has already commenced the process of reviewing the team selection policy of all West Indies teams. The recently appointed Selection System Task Force is chaired by Cricket West Indies (CWI) vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow and also includes CWI Director Enoch Lewis as deputy chairman; Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams; former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan; former West Indies opener Philo Wallace and Miles
Bascombe, also a former West Indies player. Dr Shallow said there was an urgent need for the selection process to be reviewed, in light of the many changes to the game of cricket over the past 10 years. “Other international bodies have advanced their selection process to be in alignment with the modernisation of the game. Cricket has changed tremendously over the last decade, with the introduction of the T20 format, which has increased the
Ramnaresh Sarwan current selection system of all West Indies teams and construct recommendations of a selection system that is best suited to West Indies cricket.
Its findings will be prepared in a final report to be presented to CWI’s Board of Directors, who will include recommendations on selection systems by September 2019.
importance of batting strike rate for results. “There is also an increase of regional and international fixtures, a reality that should be considered in the advanced environment of the game, and which requires a selection system that has comprehensive coverage,” Dr Shallow said. Within the next three months, the Task Force will, among other things, conduct a rigorous analysis into the
Philo Wallace
Sarwan, Wallace and Bascombe have all expressed their delight in being appointed to the Tas–k Force.
they do when they have to bat first and try and post a good total. “I want to see how we get on if we have to defend a total, but it’s shaping up really well at the moment and they couldn’t have asked for a better start to the tournament. Admittedly, Pakistan were not at their best but I think that was more to with the West Indies pressure as that was a good tactic,” he added. However, Lloyd said he expected a much sterner test when the Windies take on Australia in their next game on Thursday. He said it was now left to be seen if the regional side could
perform under pressure. “We just need to see what happens when the pressure is on the West Indies, but the game against Australia should do that as that will be a good test of where we are at. “Australia have got some firepower and some very good batsmen, so that should be an excellent game. That will give you an idea if West Indies can qualify or not,” Lloyd pointed out. “It’s going to be a good test and I also want to see the game against England. That too is going to be quite the contest. England have some real firepower and variety too.”
‘We achieved our goal,’ says Windies vice-captain Hayley Matthews DUBLIN, Ireland (CMC) – Fresh from scoring her maiden Twenty20 International century, West Indies Women vice-captain Hayley Matthews said she was extremely satisfied with both her performance and the team’s, during their tour of Ireland. Matthews scored an unbeaten 107 to help the Windies women post their second highestever T20 score of 188 for one against Ireland on Wednesday. They then restricted Ireland to 116 for three of their 20 overs to clinch a 3-0 victory in the series. Matthews said she was happy the Windies Women were able to achieve their goal of winning all three matches. “Coming out here we knew we had a job at hand and that was to win the series 3-0. We played some really good cricket and if you look at the scores you see that every game we improved our scores, and I guess for me too. So I was pretty happy with that and I guess the team was too,” she said. Matthews said she was also delighted at her individual achievement. She said despite being nervous when she reached the 90s, she always backed herself to score a hundred. “I kind of thought to myself
Hayley Matthews celebrates after scoring her maiden T20 International century. that I was hitting the ball clean from nought right up until 90 so don’t change anything and if they come in my area still back myself to play the same shots I’ve been playing all innings long. I think I was able to do it with a four. I backed my skill and tried not to be too nervous I guess,” Matthews said. Having struck seven boundaries and nine sixes in her knock, the opening batsman said the pitch was very good for batting. “I think the pitch was very good and there was some even bounce in the pitch which is what you always want, as well. It was coming on a lot better to the bat than last game so it was good to see that the pitch got better as the two days went on,” she said.The vice-
captain said the preparation for the upcoming tour of England was critical. Matthews said the series served as the perfect practice as they expect to face similar conditions in England. “This result was huge. We knew it was basically going to be preparation for going to England and I think the girls are going to take a lot of confidence from this series. “We’ve learnt a lot here, coming down and playing in these conditions, playing in the cold weather which will be very similar to England and hopefully we can carry all of these things into that series and learn from it,” Matthews said.