Parkite Sports Magazine (Vol.19 No.1 — July 2019)

The official magazine of the

queen ’s park cricket club

Vol.19 No.1 / July 2019

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

A

T h e of f i c i al m a g azi n e of the

queen ’s park cricket club

Vol.19 No.1 • July 2019

94 Tragarete Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel. (868) 622-4325, 622-2295 • Fax (868) 622-3787 www.qpcc.com

Produced for QPCC by MEP Publishers (Media & Editorial Projects Limited)

6 Prospect Avenue, Maraval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel. (868) 622-3821 • Fax: (868) 628-0639 www.meppublishers.com • email: info@meppublishers.com

Editor Sheldon Waithe Consulting editor Jeremy Taylor General manager Halcyon Salazar Design Kriston Chen Online editor Caroline Taylor Advertising Evelyn Chung, Tracy Farrag, Mark-Jason Ramesar Production Jacqueline Smith Editorial assistants Shelly-Ann Inniss, Kristine de Abreu

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in PARKITE Sports are those of the authors, and not necessarily of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, MEP Publishers, or their partners or associates.

Courtesy CPL T20 Ltd. 2019

COPYRIGHT PARKITE Sports magazine is published quarterly by the Queen’s Park Cricket Club. It is available online at www.qpcc.com. © 2019 QPCC. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Contents

On the cover:

TKR skipper Dwayne Bravo.

Photo: Graham Denholm — CA/Getty Images

P.10

P.09 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

PHOTO GALLERY

Sheldon Waithe introduces the new-look PARKITE Sports

The Caribbean’s passion for sport is dramatised in these iconic images

Cricket: CPL Preview

P.16

PUT YOUR MONEY ON THE TKR! Renaldo Matadeen previews the 2019 Caribbean Premier League which bowls off at the Queen’s Park Oval on September 4

TENNIS PROFILE

P.22

CRICKET PROFILE

P.28

FOOTBALL : THE GREAT DIVIDE

P.34

A quiet racquet Caroline Taylor profiles the half-Caribbean star who shot to the number one ranking in women’s tennis last year

the champion’s mindset PARKITE Sports editor Sheldon Waithe talks to Dwayne Bravo as he prepares to defend the Trinbago Knight Riders’ CPL title

which side are you on?

Ronaldo, Messi . . . you can like one or the other, but not both, Sheldon Waithe looks at one of the rivalries of contemporary sport

P.38

Notes from queen’s park News updates on table tennis and football

6

ONE-DAY CRICKET

P.40

CRICKET: NOSTALGIA

P.42

West indies vs india preview

P.46

health & FITNESS

P.48

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

A new vitality in the 50-0ver game There were some significant advances in this year’s edition of the ICC World Cup, Sheldon Waithe assesses the changes

The repeat performance Nasser Khan looks back wistfully at the dramatic 1979 final of the cricket World Cup, and the Windies team that would rule the cricket world for years to come

INDIAN ARRIVAL Sheldon Waithe weighs the Windies’ chances against the powerful Indian touring team

Football fitness in four weeks Don’t believe it? Dexter Simon explains how

Residential Pest Management Commercial Pest Management

“Because Service Matters”

Industrial Pest Management Marine Pest Management

Call us now for a Free Inspection Corner Gloria Avenue & Crystal Stream Road, Petit Valley • Tel: 633–7378 (PEST); 633–3335 • Fax: 633–0495 Email: csr@pestextt.com • troy_alcantara@pestextt.com • Website: pestextt.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Sport and the Caribbean are intrinsically linked.

Geographically and topographically, the region is perfect for most global games, with a climate sought after by athletes the world over.

Performance-wise, these tiny islands punch well above their weight, and excel against nations with a hundred times their population and a thousand times the sporting infrastructure.

In the heat of international competition there is some Caribbean spark, some unexplained ability and desire within, that makes us worldbeaters, year upon year, in a variety of sports. And, given our unique culture, when we do it, we do it in style!

It’s that marriage of sports, passion and culture that we are tapping into with parkite Sports: global sports coverage from a Caribbean perspective, all done with the standards of excellence that emanate from the Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC).

The Club is now entering its 128th year. That’s a lot of runs, wickets, catches, goals, saves, races won, serves, volleys, flicks, hung Jacks, full hands, slams, drop shots and knockouts to draw upon. But at some time or other all these occurred within the walls of the Oval, and formed part of our regional sporting legacy.

That pedigree and love for all things sport is the launch-pad for this magazine, which is global in its outlook, diversified in its coverage, and fanatical about its content. Quite simply, this is a 21st-century publication for a sports-mad audience.

Each issue will present topical issues affecting sport, together with profiles of the world’s best athletes and teams, articles that will inspire debate, previews and reviews of the biggest competitions, homage to majestic performances of the past, and insight about the emerging stars who will help chart the future of their sport.

An exclusive interview with QPCC’s own Dwayne Bravo, the best CPL preview around, and an in-depth profile of tennis star Naomi Osaka, are just some of the highlights in this issue, together with the best high definition images to capture the dynamism and action that generate our love of sport and its personalities. parkite Sports starts now, with the bang of a starter’s pistol; stay in your lane and – as is most important with sports – enjoy!

Sheldon Waithe

PARKITE Sports / July 2019 PARKITE Sports / July 2019 9

G A L L E R Y

Where the passion begins . . .

Image: Carole Ann Ferris

G A L L E R Y

Another edition of the Biggest Party In Sport is about to engulf the Caribbean.

Image courtesy: CPL T20 Ltd. 2019

G A L L E R Y

Eyes on the prize: Runners tackle the 5km event at the Massy Rainbow Cup in Tobago, June 2019 Image courtesy: Rainbow Cup Tobago (www.rainbowcuptobago.com)

CPL IEW PREV

PUT YOUR MONEY ON THE TKR! TEXT: renaldo matadeen

It’s CPL time again, and the Trinbago Knight Riders will be going for a hat-trick of victories. Renaldo Matadeen considers their chances, and looks at the long-term health of the CPL, which is fantastically popular but in need of better infrastructure to ensure its survival

Courtesy CPL T20 Ltd. 2019

Courtesy CPL T20 Ltd. 2019

 USA’s Ali Khan will be hoping for a repeat of his 2018 form  2019's dark horse? Chris Green leads the Amazon Warriors again

T

he 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will bowl off at the Queen’s Park Oval on September 4 and run until October 12. Many are looking forward to the packed stadiums, drinks, overzealous commentary, brands plugging the field with ludicrous mascots, and of course the cheerleaders.

But enthusiasts, pundits, and purists are simply wondering if the current champions’ stranglehold on the tournament will be broken.

Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images

Trinbago Knight Riders The Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) are once more poised to dominate, as evidenced by Dwayne Bravo returning as skipper. Along with power players such as Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Denesh Ramdin, and Darren Bravo, a hattrick of titles could be a mere formality.

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Kieron Pollard joining the ranks will undoubtedly make up for the leading wicket-taker from last year, Fawad Ahmed, going to the St Lucia Stars and Shadab Khan running out for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Of course,

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

The Trinbago Knight Riders are once more poised to dominate Narine will have a lot more load to tote, but with fellow Queen’s Park Cricket Club spinners Khary Pierre and Akeal Hosein in the line-up, the team has a strong spin presence.

With the 2015 title (won as the Red Steel) and the last two trophies in the bag, all on home soil, victory does seem likely, especially as “DJ47” and “Polly” wowed in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) by taking their teams to a title fight.

Jamaica Tallawahs The only team which will be able to muster resistance is the Jamaica Tallawahs. Talisman Chris Gayle returns from the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to lead, and when you factor in Andre Russell, whose IPL form was nothing short of monstrous, and Rovman Powell alongside him, we expect this side to break the competition’s record for sixes.

They also have some pretty monumental X-factors such as Chadwick Walton, who can be just as lethal as Gayle on his day, and the leg-spinner Imran Khan, a new signing who knows the turn of regional pitches like the back of his hand. They also have a new pacer on the block in Oshane Thomas, so while they may not have the depth of TKR, they’ll be contenders for sure.

Apart from these two teams, it’s a toss-up to see who else makes it to the quarters in a draft that really doesn’t have a swath of quality names.

It’s understandable, as Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn will be plying their trades in a European Twenty20 League that clashes with the CPL calendar, and Aussies such as Steve Smith and David Warner are no longer in international exile so their focus isn’t on sun, sand, sea, and soca cricket. Sadly, the big international names are few and far between in terms of who’ll catch your eye.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Guyana may produce a commendable effort with Shimron Hetmyer, Nicolas Pooran, Keemo Paul, Shoaib Malik, and Chris Green, the Aussie international who

Trinbago Knight Riders (3)

Jamaica Tallawahs (2)

MOST WINS

Barbados Tridents (1)

CPL RECORDS MOST FINALS

MOST WICKETS

Guyana Amazon Warriors (4)

Dwayne Bravo (97)

MOST RUNS

Chris Gayle (2,111)

We expect the Tallawahs to break the competition’s record for sixes captained them last year, at the fore. But seeing as they’ve lost all four finals they’ve made so far, there’s not much confidence in them finishing strong.

St Lucia Stars Nonetheless, we expect to see Guyana in the final four, along with Daren Sammy’s St Lucia franchise. The skipper’s been reinvigorated by the change in West Indies presidency, and may be using this, like so many other players, to earn a way back from the wilderness into the maroon for the T20 World Cup defence next year.

With Lasith Malinga, Andre Fletcher, Andre McCarthy, Thisara Perera, Kesrick Williams, John Campbell, and the burly Rahkeem Cornwall, there seems to be just enough fuel in the tank to take St Lucia over the line, despite Shane Watson also leaving for Europe.

Barbados Tridents Barbados has Alex Hales, currently banished by England

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

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Ashley Allen – CPL T20/Getty Images

 Darren Sammy is under the spotlight to improve the St Lucia Stars' fortunes

A proper window to optimise availability needs to be put in place, and if it takes more money to get illustrious names, so be it

for drug issues, along with long-format West Indies stars such as Jason Holder (captain) and Shai Hope. That alone indicates a lack of T20 star power, and it’s hard to see them making the knockouts with this problem.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots As for St Kitts, with Evin Lewis, Carlos Brathwaite and Rayad Emrit, you have some heavy hitters and experienced players on the circuit, but again, a lack of depth.

One has to wonder why players such as Samuel Badree and Lendl Simmons were left by the wayside, while Sri Lankan Isuru Udana – a player still cutting his teeth – got a first-round pick. It seems these teams have a strategy not even the experts are intelligent enough to know.

A good bet The good thing is that the West Indian fringe players will get a shot to showcase their talents, setting up the CPL’s boast of boosting the local economy “with millions” once more.

Ultimately, this year’s CPL model has several regional players along with Associate Member players, so much

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

so that it feels like the Caribbean T20 tournament that the CPL and West Indies Cricket Board erased in order to lift the tournament to an international product with foreign names.

The problem is there aren’t enough stars of notable calibre from Australia, England, South Africa, and Pakistan to gawk at. India didn’t even release their players, and their Test and One Day tours here resulted in a shift so the CPL wouldn’t clash with them.

A proper window to optimise availability needs to be put in place, and if it takes more money to get illustrious names, so be it.

However, given the CPL’s constant mantra of “we’re not making a profit”, it remains to be seen what will come of this. As it stands, this year looks decent enough, and a safe bet would be to put your money on TKR at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on October 12.

SPLITS THE SCENE! COLD PRESENTATION ����� a bountiful selection of salad items, chilled market greens, påté, dressings and condiments

LI�E CAR�ERY ����� featured Hot Roast selection supported by seafood and poultry dishes and an array of side dishes

�AFFA�S FULL SPREAD ����� Help yourself to some of everything on offer!

Each choice includes a visit to the Soup Bar and Dessert Display and a Complimentary House Wine or Cocktail

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY �����AM TO ����PM Level 2 Pavilion, 94 Tragarete Road Queen’s Park Oval Port of Spain, Trinidad Tel� ��� ���� or ��� ����

One thing is a totally safe bet, though – the party will be as loud as ever! S

*All prices are subject to VAT and are per person

A QUIET RACQUET

Samuel Elias/Unsplash

TEXT: CAROLINE TAYLOR

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She’s based in the US, but her parents are Haitian and Japanese.

Naomi Osaka is at the forefront of the changing of the guard in women’s tennis, with an unflappable nature that served her well in last year’s US Open final.

Caroline Taylor charts her dramatic rise to fame

F

rom the moment she made her WTA main draw debut as a qualifier at the 2014 Stanford Classic – knocking out former US Open Champion Sam Stosur – Naomi Osaka was marked as one to watch.

She was 16, ranked 406th in the world, and only in her second year on the tour. But with serves clocking in at 120mph and a blistering 100mph forehand (Federer’s averages 76mph), fans and pundits sat up and took notice.

Though her ambitious goal of winning a major and being world number one by 18 didn’t materialise, she won the WTA Rising Stars Invitational in 2015 and the WTA Newcomer of the Year award in 2016, by which time her ranking had climbed to number 48. In 2017, she recorded two impressive victories against top-ten players, both former grand slam champions – Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams.

But her real breakthrough came in March 2018 at Indian Wells, one of the most coveted titles outside the majors.

She dropped just one set en route to lifting the trophy, clinically dismantling her opposition, which included two former number-one players (Maria Sharapova and Karolina Pliskova) as well as then number one Simona Halep.

Osaka struggled to find her form after Indian Wells, entering the US Open on a three-match losing streak.

But then something magical happened for her. She went in with the pressure off, no expectations, and the freedom

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

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“I feel like my career has just started. I’ve always dreamed about being number one” to enjoy each moment on the big stage of a grand slam – just the way she likes it.

She barrelled through the draw, only dropping one set on her way to a showdown against her idol Serena Williams, who was one win away from a record-tying 24th grand slam title. Osaka dominated before the infamous altercations between chair umpire Carlos Ramos and an increasingly overwrought Serena, and eventually she took the final in straight sets.

The road to number one With Osaka now beginning to grasp the potential that had been on show since her WTA debut, the immediate question was whether this incredibly talented but also tremendously introverted young player could back up her success, handle the glare of the spotlight, and become the breakout, next-generation star the sport hungered for. Grand slam champions in recent years had routinely struggled to maintain form after their breakthrough majors. Could Osaka be the exception?

She had the talent and the drive. She had a quirky personality that endeared her to fans and media alike through press conferences and social media posts that were often candid, insightful, and full of dead-pan humour. And she had a special multi-cultural backstory: born in Japan to Haitian and Japanese parents, she had grown up in New York and Florida. Fans, sponsors, the

NAOMI OSAKA P L AY E R S TAT S born:

16 October, 1997 c i t i z e n s h i p : Japan; USA 5'11" p l a y s : Right-handed p l a y i n g s t y l e : Aggressive baseline p r i z e m o n e y : US$11,366,358 (career) w i n / l o s s r e c o r d : 199/126 (singles, career) c o a c h : Jermaine Jenkins height:

Data as of 26 June, 2019

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Osaka's abhorrence of clay continued at this year's French Open

25 Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Janet McIntyre/Shutterstock

 Power play: Osaka's on-court strength is one of her main weapons

media, and the WTA saw a rising star with virtually unmatched international appeal.

In the following months, Osaka had to learn quickly to navigate both the intense off-court attention and the on-court pressure of having a target on her back. She made deep runs into a series of tournaments between the US Open and Australian Open, and entered the 2019 Australian ranked number four in the world. But she had not regained the form that she’d shown at Indian Wells and the US Open the year before.

She had a much tougher road to the Australian Open finals, battling through four three-set matches, and a gruelling final against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

But this is where those difficult earlier rounds became a gift: she had the belief and the confidence that she could turn it around. In doing so, she became the first woman since Jennifer Capriati to win her first two grand slam titles back to back. She also claimed the number one ranking – the first Japanese- or Haitian-descended player

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

She dropped just one set en route to lifting the trophy to do so. Osaka held the position for 21 weeks, until being dethroned in late June by French Open champion, Ash Barty.

The role model The months after the Australian were full of change.

Osaka unexpectedly parted ways with the coach who’d been credited as instrumental to her 2018 success. She struggled through the rest of the hard-court season, cutting it short to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca ahead of the clay court season. In 2018, her winloss record on clay was 5-4; in 2019 it improved to 9-2.

And – as big sponsorship deals rolled in with the likes of Nike and MasterCard – she was also coming to terms with what it meant to suddenly be seen as a role model for black, Japanese, Haitian, and mixed-race young people around the world. When Barbie released their Shero line in March, one of the dolls was designed in her likeness. “In athletics they have this statistic that girls

drop out of sports quicker than boys,” Osaka said when it was launched. “I hope that girls feel inspired, and I hope they somehow see a lot of possibilities when they look at all the dolls.”

Amid all the change and attention, Osaka remains hungry and focused on improving and achieving — even as she grappled publicly with the newfound fame and expectations. Her success in 2018 came in no small part from adding critical skills to her arsenal: conditioning, movement, patience, and shot selection. In 2019, she’s displayed an impressive ability to problem-solve on court and to seal wins after being well behind, making her among the most resilient in the game. And there’s still massive room for growth, particularly on clay and grass.

She became the first woman since Jennifer Capriati to win her first two grand slam titles back to back. She also claimed the number one ranking

“I have always felt like I could be an all-court player,” she’s said. “I always tell myself I don’t like clay, so I never really embrace anything about it ... and the same goes for a grass court, because I see people slide and slip and it is a little bit frightening for me. So I think I have to change that.”  Taking it all in stride: expect more trophies from Osaka

Prospects As the hard court season rolls around once more, Osaka will likely continue to work on beefing up her serve percentage (especially her second serve); improving her feel at the net; and continuing to develop a patient, positive mindset. Come the US Open in August (26-September 8), she’ll be hoping for a return to form as she begins mounting the first of two straight Grand Slam title defences before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – where, unlike in the US, she’ll be the hometown favourite.

If we’re lucky, Naomi Osaka will continue to combine her power game with an unusual emotional literacy and willingness to authentically share her journey with the world. “I feel like my career has just started. I’ve always dreamed about being number one … and of course I have other goals now. The only thing I can do is keep moving forward and keep trying my best.”

Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock

Once she stays healthy and learns to consistently alchemise the on-court and off-court pressures — the transition from underdog to target, from player to brand — this half-Caribbean star may well be the face of women’s tennis for years to come. S

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

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THE CHAMPION’S MINDSET TEXT: SHELDON WAITHE

Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo led the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel to victory in the 2015 CPL, and (as Trinbago Knight Riders) to consecutive wins in 2017 and 2018. As he prepares to defend the title, he sat down with PARKITE Sports editor Sheldon Waithe for a frank interview at the Queen’s Park Oval Bowler. Batsman. Fielder extraordinaire.

Singer. Dancer. Multi-tasker. Entertainer. Hero.

Champion.

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“I think I was born to play cricket, it’s my gift.” Dwayne John Bravo is laid back for our chat, inside the walls of the Queen’s Park Oval (QPCC) that honed that gift and where he would have toiled away perfecting his cricket, no doubt with his trademark smile the entire time.

Despite his hectic globe-trotting schedule and the demands on his time, “DJ” is as enthusiastic as ever about the game, his passions, and laying foundations for the future, for both himself and the children of T&T. This isn’t public relations spiel; kids who approach him are greeted with a smile and given the same piece of advice – “Stay out of trouble.” It’s advice based on sincerity and honesty, which are exactly the sentiments that Bravo exudes on a number of topics.

He’s in a post-IPL chill zone – his efforts have helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to the final – before gearing up for the pressures of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and leading the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in their defence of the title.

The 2019 IPL saw him near to his best with the ball. “It was a better bowling performance, like the old me. Last year I was recovering from a hamstring injury that took me ten months to get back into full flow. This year I got injured again and missed four games, but I came

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Ashley Allen - CPL T20/Getty Images

Greg Wood/Getty Images

 This iconic catch (against Australia, 2005) helped to cement Dwayne's place among the world's best all-rounders

back feeling stronger. It’s also a matter of experience and understanding my game a lot more now.”

Lifestyle Which leads on to the lingering questions all athletes must face regarding age, particularly for an all-rounder involved in all facets of the game (including celebratory dancing).

At 35 years old Bravo has confidence in a lifestyle geared towards extending his career. “I stay away from alcohol, smoking, gambling, I take my fitness very seriously.

There are some injuries that you cannot prevent no matter how fit you are, you just have to accept that.

Why 47? Everyone always asks that. There’s no deeper meaning, it was just that when Ian Bradshaw and I made the Windies ODI squad he got number 46 and I got number 47. It was given to me and I turned it into the ‘23’ (Michael Jordan) of cricket . . . or the CR7 [laughs].

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

“I’m a very level-headed individual, I don’t fluctuate with success or failure” “It also helps how I manage the way I play the game.

Early on in my career I would stand at backward point, cover point, extra cover; now I will stand at mid-on or mid-off. If the field is spread, maybe I’ll go to long off or deep backward square, where the ball won’t come too often [laughs].

“I don’t want to be in hotspots in the later stages of the game when I also have to bowl. MS (Dhoni, the CSK captain) is aware of that, and he doesn’t want me to dive or chase balls unnecessarily because the two overs that I have left to bowl are more important than saving four runs in the field.”

Bravo mentions Dhoni several times, not just because of their roles as Super Kings team-mates, but due to a connection that runs much deeper. “MS and I have

Andrea De Silva Viarruel

developed a relationship where we now call ourselves a ‘brother from another mother’.

“My career turned for the better when I joined CSK back in 2011. I realised the trust he had in my ability – say, for example, where death bowling is concerned. For someone like him, one of the best captains in the world, to trust in my ability as a finisher ... it gave me a lot of confidence. I enjoy time with him on the field, off the field; the respect is mutual.”

Leadership The former Indian captain has spoken of the pressures of captaincy in a cricket-mad nation, something his pseudo-sibling Bravo also has to cope with annually at CPL time. On the days after a TKR match, social media is filled with criticism of his leadership, his bowling or field placement, and often this is following a narrow win!

Lose, and it is magnified a hundredfold.

Does he feel the strain? “Definitely! In Trinidad I feel it the most. It’s strange, despite all my achievements over the years, the amount of pressure I receive when I play here for TKR. As someone mentioned to me, it’s a kind of love/hate relationship. They see me as the hero to deliver.

“Once you’re in QPCC you already have one foot down on the runway” “Obviously, if I don’t deliver, the passionate fans let you know [laughs]. We as a people don’t shy away from telling our players how we feel about their performance.

You see the likes of Stern John, Kenwyne Jones on the receiving end, Brian Lara at some point. As the captain I try to shoulder it and protect the other players, I take the heat and jamming and the responsibility. I enjoy representing the red, white & black and playing for TKR, and always try to have a positive impact and make a difference to the nation.”

Favourite catch? It was the caught-and-bowled against Shane Warne in 2005. It was a Test match in Australia and getting six wickets in that game was a great achievement.

 True all-rounder Dwayne wows them on and off the pitch

When he looks around the 2019 TKR dressing room, Bravo could be forgiven for thinking that he was running out for his alma mater, QPCC. The addition of Kieron Pollard to the list of Parkites – Sunil Narine, Khary Pierre, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein and Darren “Lil” Bravo – is no doubt a boon.

It’s going to be the next big thing. It’s one hour of non-stop entertainment, and once you have the best players it will take off.

How will T10 evolve on the world stage?

“It’s a big, big bonus. He’s one of the best players in the world in this format, he has a great cricketing brain; we have a great relationship. Apart from all of that it’s another superstar in the squad. It was a great move by the TKR management to get Pollard to play for us.”

And who does Bravo see himself, Pollard & Co. battling for the CPL title? Here he assumes all the diplomacy of a seasoned press officer.

“In this format anyone can beat anyone on any given day.

All games are big games because all the other five teams

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

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“It’s strange, despite all my achievements over the years, the amount of pressure I receive when I play here for TKR”

DWAYNE BRAVO S T A T S : B A TTIN G Matches

Runs

Highest score

Average

100s

50s

Tests

40

2200

113

31.42

3

13

ODIs

164

2968

112

25.36

2

10

T20Is

66

1142

66*

24.29

0

4

T20

450

6298

70*

23.94

0

20

S T A T S : BOW L IN G & FI E L DIN G Heroes & favourite teams outside cricket? As kids we always wanted to be Ato Boldon, Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke. We all tried to emulate them at some point . . . My favourite football team is Manchester United because of Dwighty, and I continued to back them after he left. I’m also a big Cristiano Ronaldo fan. In World Cup terms I’m a Brazil fan. In basketball I back the Lakers because of Kobe’s (Bryant) time there.

have match winners. The biggest games will always be Trinidad v. Jamaica: Trinidad v. Guyana is also a big one, but for me and TKR, we respect every opposition.”

Early days It’s evident that his beginnings in Santa Cruz keep Bravo grounded amid the adulation, stress and criticism that come from being an in-demand T20 star. There’s a deep sense of fondness when he recalls his early days in the sport, something that he clearly carries with him every time he crosses that boundary rope to play.

“As a kid, I used to call myself the right-handed Lara. My dad used to pick up all the kids between ages 11 and 14 in Santa Cruz and take them to Harvard Coaching Clinic every Sunday morning. I used to tag along. Then one day when I was five I tried to register – but I think they only allowed from six years of age, so my dad changed my date of birth and they took me in [laughs].

“When I was eight years old, QPCC were playing Santa Cruz and a gentleman called Charles Guillen saw me and said, ‘I want you to come and join Queen’s Park Cricket Club’. We couldn’t afford for me to attend, but Charles

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Matches

Wickets

Best Bowling

Average

Catches

Tests

40

86

6 for 55

39.83

41

ODIs

164

199

6 for 43

29.51

73

T20Is

66

52

4 for 28

28.26

35

T20

450

490

5 for 23

24.61

221

said that he would sort it with the Club. My dad said, ‘Now your career will go in a different direction. Once you’re in QPCC you already have one foot down on the runway.’ That’s where it all started, at age eight.”

Retirement It’s not yet full circle for his playing career, but Bravo is aware of the sportsman’s bane of retirement. “Everyone wishes that they can play forever, but I’m going to allow my body to dictate when I leave the game, especially at the highest level. As long as my performances are good and I’m in demand I’ll continue, but one thing is for sure, I will not cheat myself by trying to stay in it too long.”

Bravo has the cushion of already scoring major success in another field, with 2016’s catchy anthem “Champion”.

Surely this is the retirement plan?

“Obviously I have a serious passion for music, and currently I have a music studio being built; I believe that sports and culture go hand in hand: entertainment.”

When asked if we will soon see him collaborating with the big music icons of the Caribbean, he takes a different turn, in line with his philosophy about uplifting the

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

 Always involved: it's difficult to keep "DJ" out of the game

“As long as my performances are good and I’m in demand I’ll continue”

young. “I would love to (collaborate), but I’m a big fan of helping the underdogs. So the unknown artistes, the ones not as big as the Machels (Montano) and the Bunjis (Garlin), I wanna work with them and try to create an avenue and a platform for them, expose them. T&T is one place, but there’s the outside world. I’m also aware that I have a very big kid’s audience, so I’ll continue putting out happy, positive, inspirational music.”

Bravo has struck the perfect balance between mature professionalism and child-like enthusiasm, which is why he endures in cricket. When allied to his skill, it makes him box-office material. And it’s all genuine – “I’m a very level-headed individual, I don’t fluctuate with success or failure” – from the guile of his slower balls taking wickets at the death of a game to his playful dancing in front of losing Tridents captain Kieron Pollard in last year’s CPL. If DJ Bravo is all about the kids, he’s setting a fine example, and maybe the adults could learn from him as well. Let’s enjoy him while he’s still on the field, because Dwayne Bravo is certainly enjoying himself. S

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

33

WHICH

we ’ re privileged to have both of them play in our era .

YOU ON? it ’ s great that they spur each other on to new heights .

actually i like them both ...

Football fans across the islands are split into two camps: Messi or Ronaldo. There is no in-between, nor (perish the thought) mutual appreciation. If you like one, then you have to dislike the other. Sheldon Waithe takes a tongue-in-cheek look at Caribbean attitudes towards two big lions of world football TEXT: SHELDON WAITHE ILLUSTRATIONS: Samrit pholjan

“We’re privileged to have both of them play in our era.”

“It’s great that they spur each other on to new heights.”

“Actually I like them both!”

t

hese are not words uttered by many of our readers. After all, this is not an article on the friendly rivalry of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. No, this is a continuation of a decade-long argument that pops up at least once a week in bars, in front of televisions, and at the local kickabout. It has been incredibly consistent over the years, bombarding us with legendary skills on a weekly basis. At least in some minds.

Football fans across the Caribbean are split into two camps, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. There is no half-way house, no admiring both. If you like one, then naturally you dislike the other.

There is no place for statistics, studies, or analyses to justify one’s argument. The time for that passed a long

time ago. Attempts at providing evidence to show that “my player is better” are met with a stereotypical West Indian shrug of nonchalance. This debate is in the realm of religion and politics: it is deeply embedded, and neither side can be convinced otherwise.

To be labelled a fan of one or the other is to be guilty of sharing that player’s characteristics, which explains your gravitation towards that icon. We’re not saying which is which, but it’s seen as an exercise in arrogance versus humility, team player versus individualist, flam (flamboyant) versus chilled. You can work out which qualities relate to the Portuguese and which to the Argentinian.

Rampant Ronaldo Ronaldo fans affectionately refer to him as CR7. They’ll know that last night he was rocking designer suits on a red carpet after exiting his latest Lamborghini. With incredible dedication they follow his infamous fitness routine to build up their legs like Cristiano’s tree-trunks.

Best of all, if any of these fans score in a friendly five-aside, they will mimic Cristiano’s jump towards the corner

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

35

Messi’s short stature perhaps subliminally adds to the notion of being close to the ground and therefore close to the people flag (not that Caribbean five-a-sides generally have corner flags), legs and arms akimbo. Yes, CR7, imitation is the best form of flattery.

Only CR7 fans think that it’s cool to roll up already short shorts before taking a free kick. But – as they quickly point out when faced with picong of the highest order – this gesture is often followed by the ball finding the back of the net.

And that’s what is often overlooked in the great divide that is the fans’ rivalry: they both still exceed what is the norm for other players.

Miraculous Messi Messi’s moniker – “the Messiah” – may not have the same marketability as his rival’s. But he certainly enjoys godlike status in the minds of the faithful.

They champion his fellowship approach at Barcelona, his loyalty to one club, and they claim it is a sense of genuineness sadly lacking in the modern sportsman.

Messi’s short stature provides his remarkable balance and centre of gravity, and perhaps subliminally adds to the notion of being close to the ground and therefore close to the people.

In the same five-a-side scenario, the Messi fan seeks out his team-mates when he scores, hugging and smiling for the imaginary cameras. He takes as much pleasure from the great assist – which he will mention for months to anyone who will listen – as he does from scoring himself.

Remember too that the assist was so good that his teammate was bound to score.

Common ground?

Common ground is attained only with the prospects of each player for the forthcoming season.

Fail to win a particular trophy and “Messi is losing it, getting old”. Suffer an injury that sidelines him for a few

CHRISTI RONALDANO O

LIONEL MESSI

P L AY E

TATS P L AY E R S

entina z e n s h i p : Arg

citi 24 June, 1987 na m c l u b : Barcelo h e i g h t : 1.7 na a m : Argenti national te e r : 10 shirt numb s ): $127m elve month w t t s a l ( earnings 614 l s ( c l u b ): career goa y ): 83 ls (countr career goa s : 10 eague title domestic l es: 4 league titl champions 14 up titles: domestic c cup: 3 club world d d a l s : 1 Gol olymp ic m e ’or: 5 fa ballon d

born:

R STAT S

born:

5 February , 1985 c i t izenship 1.87m c l u : Portugal b : J u v e n nationa tu s l team: Portugal shirt nu mber: 7 earning s (last t welve m onths): career g $109m oals (c lub): 6 0 1 career g oals (co untry): 88 domesti c leagu e titles :6 champio ns leag ue title s :5 domesti c cup ti t l e s : 11 club wo rld cup :4 europea n champ ion: 1 fifa bal lon d’o r: 5 height:

fi

weeks and “Ronaldo is finished, his body cannot handle it any more.” There’s a certain glee in the comments, as though this is a further competition to see which player’s career comes to an end first.

Best of all are the contrasting views and attitudes when one of the players does something extraordinary (which, as we have ascertained, is fairly often).

It starts with a generic approach: “Man, you saw Messi’s free kick?!” (Best non-interested face.) “Oh ... did he play today?”

Cue start of argument.

It’s seen as an exercise in arrogance versus humility, team player versus individualist, flamboyant versus chilled

One can imagine the meltdown that would occur if the dream scenario of Portugal v. Argentina in a World Cup final arose, with these two titans going head-to-head for the greatest prize of them all. Would that seal the argument once and for all?

Well, only for the winning side.

The next World Cup Given their aging bodies and the state of their national squads, Qatar 2022 won’t offer the world the ultimate match-up of this football era. But we can dream. The 2018/19 season provided plenty of evidence that the two men have no intention of slowing down any time soon, not with their voracious appetite for more goals, titles, and trophies.

Which means a welcome extension of a decade of comparisons concerning skill, magic, and that X-factor incumbent in geniuses.

But then again, only half of you will agree with that.

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

S

37

NOT E S

F R O M

Q U E E N ’ S

P A R K

TABLE TENNIS: in growth mode TEXT: RONALD MURRAY

The QPCC table tennis section has evolved from being purely recreational into a balanced mix with competitive play and a formidable team on the national landscape.

The game is now headquartered at the QPCC Indoor Racquet Centre, with two tables and one squash court at its disposal.

Using space under the Duprey Stand, the section has created the first and only dedicated table tennis Youth Development Facility in the entire Caribbean. The equipment – four competition boards, nets, rackets, balls and a ball robot, largely sponsored – allow the Club to derive rental from members.

Achievements Inspired by the section captain, the evergreen Merle Baggoo, the section has introduced a ranking system for members, an inter-team tournament, and, together with our certified Level Three coach Aaron Edwards, has attracted top-ranked local and regional players.

In fact, the youthful QPCC team, all but one of the players under 21, emerged winners of the recent Caroni North Zone inaugural league tournament against thirteen teams from across the island.

The host of upcoming players augurs well for the club’s future prospects. Our Youth Academy development programme is in expansion mode, and vacation camps will focus on a series of outreach programmes to expose a wider cross-section of our population to the sport.

Members are encouraged to enlist family and friends in the four-days-a-week coaching programme.

At national level, QPCC was represented by the eventual

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winners in the male and female categories of the National Super Singles Tournament, Brittany Joseph and Shemar Britton, both of whom are students at UWI. Earlier this year, our top players competed at the Caribbean Seniors Championships in Guyana, with ample returns. Our current stable of titles includes: Shemar Britoon

TO - Under 21 & Super Singles champion (2018) Caribbean U21 Gold (2018) Caribbean U21 Silver (2019)

Brittany Joseph

TTO Top Ranked Female Player (2018) TTO U21 Female Gold (2018) Caribbean U21 Silver (2018))

Derron Douglas

Caribbean U21 Silver (2018) Caribbean U51 Gold (2018) TTO U18 Gold (2019)

Along with coach Aaron Edwards, Brittany and Shemar also featured in the ITTF Pan Am Qualifiers on 24 and 25 May in Guatemala.

Coming events In the coming months, action continues with: DATE

EVENT

Last Friday of each month

The inter-team monthly tournament

Oct/Nov

The Annual Hamper Tournament

Weekly/July

Coaching programme in the YDF and the July vacation camp.

17 Nov

5th Ceramic Trinidad Limited Rummy Tournament

Nov

The section will once again oversee the Club Fund-Raiser “Pots O’Gold” cookout, with proceeds going to the QPCC Benevolent Fund.

NOT E S

F R O M

Q U E E N ’ S

P A R K

INDOOR SPORTS

FOOTBALL:

the new T-league TEXT: matthew leach

TEXT: richard commisSIOng

The QPCC men’s senior football team started its 2019/2020 season on 12 July by competing in the inaugural Ascension Invitational Tournament for a period of 12 weeks, with matches played weekly.

The QPCC Indoor Rummy calendar started in earnest on Sunday 28 April under the administration of a new committee comprising Raphael Culpepper, Richard Commissiong, Sam Salloum, Douglas Clarke, and Joseph Lynch.

The team then starts its league campaign by participating in the newly formed T-League. This was formed through an agreement between the Pro League, Super League and the TTFA, whereby the existing leagues (Pro League and Super League) are consolidated into one structure comprising two tiers.

Our coaching staff and club management know that the team’s composition is significantly different from the successful team of 2018 (where we finished second in the league and the knockout competition) due to the departure of key players to the professional leagues in Iceland and Canada. However, we remain confident that the current complement of players will represent the club with similar efforts on and off the field.

Ladies’ team Our ladies’ football team is marking its fifth competitive year, and started the Wolf football league on 8 June. The team has been fortunate to retain the services of its core players and has added some experienced newcomers to the roster.

The league this year will consist of one round of games where the top teams enter into a “big four” play-off. We intend to better our fourth-place league finish last year, and we thank Seaboard Marine (Trinidad) Limited for their partnership.

As we move into another keenly anticipated season for both teams, we look forward to increased support from the QPCC faithful. Most specifically, our search continues for a funding partnership to assist with the short- and long-term objectives of the teams.

This tournament was the first of the five being sponsored

by Ceramic Trinidad Limited, and the committee again wishes to extend their gratitude to Mr Roger Hadeed for his continued support.

This year the member with the highest accumulated scores in all Ceramic Trinidad-sponsored tournaments will be crowned the Ceramic Trinidad Rummy Player of the Year.

Forty members participated in the year’s first event.

Cordell Mitchell emerged the victor, with 111.83 points, followed by Mark Jardine and Brian Laurayne in second (101 pts) and third (99 pts) place respectively.

The second tournament on 19 May again attracted a large field of players; Kwesi Bekoe won this time with 105 points, with Frankie Stone and Lincoln Fraites tying for second with 98 points.

Coming events Upcoming tournaments for the rest of the year are as follows: DATE

EVENT

21 July

3rd Ceramic Trinidad Limited Rummy Tournament

18 Aug

4th Ceramic Trinidad Limited Rummy Tournament

20 Oct

The Gerard Jardine Memorial Rummy Tournament

17 Nov

5th Ceramic Trinidad Limited Rummy Tournament

8 Dec

Annual Christmas Hamper Rummy Tournament

There will also be three All Fours Tournaments, scheduled for 23 June, 29 September, and 10 November.

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

39

A NEW VITALITY IN THE 50 - 0VER GAME The 12th Cricket World Cup surpassed expectations and renewed interest in the One-Day International format. Sheldon Waithe looks at the reasons for the dynamism at cricket’s showpiece event

T

hey said that the 50-over game was dead. Nails hammered into its coffin by the upstart younger sibling that is T20 cricket. We were supposedly spoiled by the glut of T20s filling up the cricket calendar, and by extension our screens; there was no way that our attention spans could go back to a seven-hour limited-overs match, right?

But there was something about this year’s edition of the World Cup, some X-factor that stimulated interest again in what is now considered a longer format of the sport.

It was the culmination of a number of factors: excellent marketing of the tournament, the collection of a sizeable number of true superstars in this year’s competition, the absence of minnow teams, the round-robin format, the T20 effect on scoring rates, the return of raw pace, and, finally, the game’s return to its birthplace, England (even allowing for an abundance of dreaded rain).

Every team present had at least one big-name attraction Anticipation and implementation Those clever-clogs in marketing had us eager for the World Cup a full month before the start, with funky blanket advertising and an approach that made the format feel younger, sexier, in vogue, and modern.

There was no formal opening ceremony on the field; instead we were treated to the captains gracing The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, amongst the fans. This emphasised the notion of 50-over cricket being familiar, with everyone invited back into the sport.

Come game time, whatever residue of stuffiness that survived in the 21st-century game was blown away.

The studios now displayed gender equality, with female commentators in the stable of star pundits making up a veritable who’s-who of the past 50 years of cricket.

Editor’s note: This article was written during the third week of the 2019 Cricket World Cup

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Intelligent use of social media provided interaction on unprecedented levels and sparked constant interest beyond the boundary. There was intimate coverage before and after, as well as during, matches. A washedout game still maintained the interest because a social media platform provided in-studio antics or a player’s interaction with fans.

Those clever-clogs in marketing had us eager for the World Cup a full month before the start Starry-eyed Every team present had at least one big-name attraction.

They might be exclusively from the T20 world, like Andre Russell, or players who shine in all formats, like Virat Kohli; but it meant that the gathering was boxoffice material.

This World Cup came hot off the heels of another scintillating edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the aura of fast-paced action carried over to England & Wales, the players maintaining the standard witnessed in India in May. Only the best In the past, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had sought to expand the game globally with the inclusion of so-called “minnow” teams, to give them exposure and a foothold on the world’s cricket ladder. While some played with aplomb, defeating Test-playing teams, this led to the tournament having dead days, and a sense of being prolonged with unnecessary matches.

Up to a decade ago, slightly (and massively) overweight players took to the field at the World Cup, comfortable that they could ease themselves into an innings, not taking every run available, and then rev up their play later on.

Now every ball is an opportunity for brisk running, acrobatic fielding, and the chance to create something out of nothing. There is no longer the lull in run rates that usually happened between overs 25 and 40. T20 has the players fitter and faster – and it shows!

Pace like fire With all due respect to the wizardry of spin bowlers, the sultans of swing that conjure magic with movement through the air, and the stock medium pacers who drop the ball on a dime all day long ... nothing beats the sight of raw pace terrorising batsmen.

It’s been a while since the World Cup could boast more than two or three tearaways itching to put down a few 90mph deliveries. It’s also been a while since teams were willing to unleash them in the face of carefully prepared bowling plans. Now raw pace is the plan!

Nothing beats the sight of raw pace terrorising batsmen

The Windies are back to a four-pronged pace attack, with South Africa, Australia, and England close behind. At the time of going to press (halfway through the round robin stage), nine of the top ten wicket-takers were pacers, with six of them classed as out-and-out fast bowlers (90+mph).

Great for the spectators; not so great for the batsmen.

Wisely, this year the ICC used its plethora of lower-grade tournaments as qualifiers for the World Cup proper, thus ensuring a high standard for all matches in the competition. The message was clear: only the very best take part (our very own West Indies needed to qualify via these tournaments for the 2019 World Cup).

Coming home The spiritual home of cricket is also its literal home, which counts for a lot when staging a sport as steeped in history as cricket is.

Everyone plays everyone The reduction to ten teams allowed the ICC to do away with separate groups and create a true test of consistency and endurance, which is what a world title in any sport should evoke: you’ve faced them all and you still won.

The melting-pot society of the United Kingdom means that all the teams have fervent support there, as though they were playing at home. It lends itself to full stadia, friendly banter in and out of the grounds, and a great atmosphere that resonates in the televised coverage. So the event was already onto a winner before a ball was bowled.

Athleticism, innovation, and fitness There’s no room for anything but peak performance in the T20 world, and that is now the case in 50-over cricket.

If we’re talking tradition and legacy, a World Cup final at Lord’s is as perfect as it gets. S

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

41

THE T A E P E R

NOST n o s t Aa L lGgI iA a

TEXT: nasser khan

40 years ago, the most complete team ever to play the game of cricket won the ICC World Cup in the UK. Nasser Khan takes a look at the West Indies’ “Bomb Squad” that devastated the opposition as they defended their title in 1979

Winning the inaugural ODI-format World Cup Tournament in England in 1975 was quite an achievement for the West Indies and their fans. But it was their phenomenal repeat four years later in 1979 that made this “Bomb Squad” seem invincible.

As in 1975, the team was led by the indomitable Clive Lloyd (“most valued player” in the 1975 final against Australia), more than ably assisted by the experienced and thoughtful wicket-keeper, Deryck Murray, former QPCC President. Clyde Walcott, one of the legendary Three W’s, was the all-important Manager. The supporting cast featured Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Alvin Kallicharran, Collis King and Andy Roberts, with new players in Joel Garner, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Larry Gomes, Colin Croft, Malcolm Marshall, and Faoud Bacchus.

This was a team filled with the pride and passion of representing the “maroon” on the world stage. It ruthlessly demolished all challengers, and skipper Lloyd was able once again to lift the coveted trophy on the balcony of the pavilion at Lord’s, loudly cheered by the team’s adoring fans among the sold-out crowd.

A majestic performance to ignite the innings: Collis King reigned at Lord's, the home of cricket 42

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Phil Sheldon/Popperfoto via Getty Images

Skipper Lloyd was able once again to lift the coveted trophy on the balcony of the pavilion at Lord’s Dream team This was essentially the dream team that would rule the cricketing world for the next 15 years. There were attacking and dependable batsmen (Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Gomes, Kallicharran, Lloyd, King), genuine fast bowlers (Roberts, Holding, Garner, Croft, with Marshall as back up), and athletic fieldsmen with powerful arms (the entire team).

The West Indies’ emphatic victory was due in large part to the fifth-wicket stand of 139 between Viv Richards (138 not out) and Collis King (86), and the tight spells of bowling. Among the bowlers, Joel Garner took 5-38 off 11 overs to lead the pack, with Roberts, Holding, Croft and Richards just as miserly.

If Viv was mighty and majestic, then “King” Collis was regal, smashing a 67-ball 86 including ten fours and three sixes.

The West Indies’ emphatic victory was due in large part to the fifth-wicket stand of 139 between Richards and King West Indies were 125 for 4 at lunch, King on 19. It was after the break that the King mayhem started, as he twice smashed Wayne Larkins for six in an over, and then clipped Boycott off his toes for another big one. His blitz ended when he tried to pull Phil Edmonds to the square-leg boundary, at which point Richards continued the carnage.

Powerless Richards’ 37 in the last 42 runs included an unforgettably nonchalant final-ball flick for six over square leg. England skipper Mike Brearley admitted that he felt powerless in the face of King’s and Richards’ brutal onslaught.

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THE 1979 WORLD CUP FINAL 23 June 1979 v e n u e : Lord’s u m p i r e s : Dickie Bird, Barrie Meyer a t t e n d a n c e : 32,000 m a n o f t h e m a t c h : Vivian Richards date:

West Indies

286/9

England

(60 overs)

194

(51 overs)

West Indies won by 92 runs In their turn at the crease, England went from 129-0 to 183-2 to 194 all out, losing the last 8 wickets for 11 runs. Garner’s figures included 5 for 4 off 11 balls, which remain the best bowling figures in a World Cup final.

From tottering aimlessly on 186-6, Garner effectively finished off England’s tail, bowling Wayne Larkins and Chris Old for ducks and then, with the last ball of his 11th over, having Bob Taylor caught behind, also for 0.

An interesting moment in the match was the seemingly tactical “dropped catch”, a dolly, by skipper Lloyd, normally the safest of hands, off typically slow-going Geoff Boycott.

The young and talented Malcolm Marshall, who was an understudy to the “big boys” in 1979, went on to become one of the best fast bowlers of all time.

This was essentially the dream team that would rule the cricketing world for the next 15 years This memorable final will live on in the hearts and minds of West Indian cricket fans, who could never have envisaged, back then, that it would be the last time they would lift the trophy. S

Scorecard West Indies innings

CG Greenidge

run out (Randall)

9

DL Haynes

c Hendrick, b Old

20

IVA Richards

not out

138

AI Kallicharran

b Hendrick

4

CH Lloyd (c)

c & b Old

13

CL King

c Randall, b Edmonds

86

DL Murray

c Gower, b Edmonds

5

AME Roberts

c Brearley, b Hendrick

0

J Garner

c Taylor, b Botham

0

MA Holding

b Botham

0

CEH Croft

not out

0

Extras

11

TOTAL

286/9

West Indies bowling

England bowling

AME Roberts

0 – 33

IT Botham

2 – 44

MA Holding

2 – 16

M Hendrick

2 – 50

CEH Croft

3 – 42

CM Old

2 – 55

J Garner

5 – 38

G Boycott

0 – 38

IVA Richards

0 – 35

PH Edmonds

2 – 40

CL King

0 – 13

GA Gooch

2 – 27

W Larkins

0 – 21

England innings

c King, b Holding

64

G Boycott

c Kallicharran, b Holding

57

DW Randall

b Croft

15

GA Gooch

b Garner

32

DI Gower

b Garner

0

IT Botham

c Richards, b Croft

4

W Larkins

b Garner

0

PH Edmonds

not out

5

CM Old

b Garner

0

DW Taylor

c Murray, b Garner

0

M Hendrick

b Croft

0

Extras

17

TOTAL

194

Scorecard edited from http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8039/scorecard/65063/ england-vs-west-indies-final-prudential-world-cup-1979

Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images

JM Brearley (c)

David Rogers/Getty Images

INDIAN ARRIVAL

The all-conquering Indian team arrives in the West Indies to play two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20s, with two of the matches at the Queen’s Park Oval. Sheldon Waithe considers whether a recently resurgent Windies can beat the world’s top-ranked Test team

HEAD TO HEAD: India v. West Indies

 The series offers Jason Holder the opportunity to reset the Windies after an abysmal World Cup campaign

C

ould it be that 11 and 14 August will see the newly crowned world champions playing at the Queen’s Park Oval in the same 50-over Cup format?

The two teams will be going at it in front of eager fans who have had their appetites whetted by the recently concluded six-week World Cup tournament. One of the squads is the epitome of consistency, while the other is a sporadic machine that can blow away any opposition on their day. It’s just that “their day” does not come round nearly enough.

46

TOTAL PLAYED

INDIA WINS

WI WINS

DRAWN

TIED

NO RESULT

Test matches

96

20

30

46

–

–

ODIs

126

59

62

–

2

3

T20s

11

5

5

–

–

1

Bat versus ball And so to the familiarity of a visiting team that was here in 2016 and 2017. Does the frequent acquaintance provide the Windies with the means to beat India in the Test series, as they so memorably did with the last three visitors – England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh?

The ubiquitous “on paper” answer is that it will end in a draw. This will very much be a bat (India) versus ball (Windies) battle, and if the Caribbean curators prepare pitches with pace and bounce, then we’re in for a seesawing treat.

Those QPCC dates will be part of India’s tour of the Caribbean, beginning with T20s from 3 August in Florida and ending in Jamaica with the second of two Test matches on 3 September.

However, if placid pitches are the order of the day, expect the Indian batsmen to get stuck in, fill their boots, and then unleash their mastery of spin upon weary West Indian players.

The tour is part of the seemingly relentless schedule that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) puts its star-studded team through, though it must be noted that its packed calendar is also the reason that India does not release its players to any tournament bar the Indian Premier League.

To have any chance of winning the Test series, the West Indies will need to blow away India not only cheaply, but quickly. The tactic worked against England in January, and there’s every reason why, under Jason Holder, it can work for a second time in 2019.

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

 Both teams will be weary from the ODI World Cup

This will very much be a bat (India) versus ball (Windies) battle, and if the Caribbean curators prepare pitches with pace and bounce, then we’re in for a seesawing treat Advantage India?

And what of the ODI series? Both teams will be drained from the World Cup, but at least that brings some equivalency on the pitch.

The Indian team may take the opportunity to blood new players in what is the beginning of a new four-year cycle until the next World Cup (in India). It’s unlikely that the Windies will do the same, though an injection of fresh, young talent could be just the tonic required as they head to the tail end of a long season.

Given their proficiency at this level, their ability to grind out a win from the dead periods of a game, India will just get their noses in front in the ODIs. Regardless, home fans have a mass of cricket to look forward to after the World Cup, with this series leading

FULL SCHEDULE West Indies v India DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

3 Aug

1st T20I

Florida

4 Aug

2nd T20I

Florida

6 Aug

3rd T20I

Guyana

8 Aug

1st ODI

Guyana

11 Aug

2nd ODI

Trinidad

14 Aug

3rd ODI

Trinidad

22-26 Aug

1st Test

Antigua

30 Aug - 3 Sept

2nd Test

Jamaica

on to the Caribbean Premier League. Recent results have brought back the fans’ interest, so expect good crowds, the best lime and plenty of noise, as the Windies seek to end India’s dominance in the Caribbean. S

PARKITE Sports / July 2019

47

H E A L TH

&

FITN E SS

Football fitness in 4 weeks Every year injuries take place at the QPCC 8-a-side football tournament, often due to lack of fitness. Stay ahead of the game with our guide to building a fitness base – in time to come out roaring for our most popular event. Dexter Simon tells you how It’s heading towards that time of the year when we get ready for the QPCC 8-a-side tournament. The guys and girls are sending out the usual old talk with bets and challenges.

Everyone wants to be a part of the competition, for the lime and the vibes. But then along comes the ego.

WEEK 3: INSTRUCTION Increase your runs to 1.5 times the duration of your typical game, and include two sessions of hill sprints of 25M on a slight gradient or hill of no more than 15 -20 degrees.

You know footballers, full of ego! It’s always competition between them.

Monitor your weight loss and maintain your core work.

Push-ups

There is one key factor which determines a favourable outcome and a memorable experience. It’s called “Preparation”.

It’s important to start at least a month before, grooming your body to go back into the arena and fight together with your team-mates. Football is a dynamic sport, with lots of contact, and it has some key pre-requisites: • • • • •

Fitness Flexibility Conditioning Optimal weight-to-strength ratio An acute awareness of your current ability.

Let’s examine a typical prep month leading up to an event like this.

WEEK 1: INSTRUCTION

DURATION

Focus on easy jogging and stretching for periods approximating the duration of the game, with stretching and some core work also.

3-4 times/week

Add some non-impact cardio, e.g. a stationary bike

WEEK 4: INSTRUCTION Split your 4 sessions into: • • • •

Some gym sessions are advisable It’s now time for your tournament, and you are well prepared to have a memorable experience with less risk of injury and a stress-free time at the end of it all.

SOME KEY KEY TIPS • •

Drink lots of water and eliminate your carbohydrate intake.

Nightly

Sleep.

7-8 hours

WEEK 2: INSTRUCTION

DURATION

Start to include some stamina workouts made up of short sprints (25M) with jogs between, for the duration of a typical game.

3-4 times/week

Maintain a good diet, eliminating sugars throughout the day and starches at night.

Nightly

Incorporate morning sit-ups and push-ups for additional motion support and general strength.

Each morning

• • •

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1 speed cardio session (short sprints) 1 non-impact cardio session (bike riding) 1 steady jog session 1 session where you incorporate the football in your workout, with ball control and turns, change of speed, and dynamic moves similar to your game situation.

Always warm up your muscles before stretching.

Pre-game stretching should be done dynamically to prepare for the activity at hand.

Static stretching should be done after workouts.

Always keep hydrated before, during and after workouts.

It’s advisable to get a massage 2-3 times during this preparation phase, to ease tight muscles that lack the proper range of motion to avoid injuries.

You can visit dextersimon.com or WhatsApp me on 620-6388 for a one-month strength programme and/or diet plan that will help you “make a lasting memory”.