West Indies Domestic Cricket 2014/15

[Beamer]

Our new professional 4 day league started today. It's potentially a great thing for our cricket with an extended season involving home and away matches and higher salaries enabling the pool of professional players to be extended. Of course, it has all been paid for by unfair salary cuts for the international players, but we know all about that!

We've got some interesting new franchise names this year. The CCC have been thrown out (mainly because they were only selecting Bajan players) and the squad sizes of all the main teams have been expanded.

Teams involved are:

Barbados Pride
Guyana Jaguars
Jamaica
Leeward Islands
T & T Red Force
Windward Islanda Volcanoes

Here are the fixtures.
Here are the squads

 

[Beamer]

Day 1 has been interesting without any huge surprises. The WICB still haven't provided us with close of play scores and the video feeds stopped working half way through the day. But what I have been able to find out is:

- Kraigg Braithwaite scored the first century of the new league against T & T
- Shane Shillingford took a 6 wicket haul against Jamaica
- Narsingh Deonarine is 73 not out against Leeward Islands
- Marquino Mndley took 3 quick wickets to reduce Windward Islands to 17/3. He's a West Indies Under 19 pacer.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Are you sure it was Shilly who took the 6fer Beamer? because Cricinfo saying it's the left-arm spinner named Bobb. Shane Dowrich is also on 50 not with Kraigg on 115 not out at stumps.

The trini swing bowler Richards also has three wickets thus far himself..

All in all it was an ok day i guess...not happy with some of the line-ups tbh but hopefully more new players will get a chance in this new structure.

 

[Kippax]

Trinidad & Tobago left out Bryan Charles, Nicholas Pooran and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

T&T didn't let Pooran enter the draft, but that doesn't mean they're going to let him play in a first-string side yet either.

Jason Mohammed averages 25 from 41 FC games, but crucially bowls some spin. He gets the nod at No. 5.

 

[WindieWeathers]

T&T didn't let Pooran enter the draft, but that doesn't mean they're going to let him play in a first-string side yet either.
Jason Mohammed averages 25 from 41 FC games, but crucially bowls some spin. He gets the nod at No. 5.

Yep...that really p/sses me off mate ...the only glimmer of light is Ramdin will be departing to SA soon for the series...so young Pooran had better get a chance then.

Mindley was most certainly the surprise of the day..making the jamaican tail wag with Nikita Miller and then getting three quick wickets...he was always said to be a decent prospect so hopefully this will be his breakout season.

 

[Kippax]

Logie says watch Lewis, Pooran | West Indies Players' Association | The Voice Of The West Indian First Class Cricketers

Nicholas Pooran is not in the squad for this weekend’s opener, but he will be given an opportunity later on; Yannick Ottley has the ability to establish himself as a decent all-round player; and Akeal Hosein was good last season and we want to see his progress this coming season.

I see they went outside their 15 contracted players to play a young batting legspinner, too. They must have doubts about Pooran's temperament to be a specialist bat, which is a shame.

Cariah hits unbeaten century in final warm-up match - Stabroek News - Georgetown, Guyana

 

[Kippax]

https://www.facebook.com/TTCricketBoard

Darren Sirfly Ali
So i don't understand young pooran played well in all the practice games and still no pick for the young boy......now that is wat u call bull**** ttcb

My disappointment echoed by someone who's better placed to comment, I see.

 

[Goughy]

Our new professional 4 day league started today. It's potentially a great thing for our cricket with an extended season involving home and away matches and higher salaries enabling the pool of professional players to be extended. Of course, it has all been paid for by unfair salary cuts for the international players, but we know all about that!

We've got some interesting new franchise names this year. The CCC have been thrown out (mainly because they were only selecting Bajan players) and the squad sizes of all the main teams have been expanded.

Teams involved are:

Barbados Pride
Guyana Jaguars
Jamaica
Leeward Islands
T & T Red Force
Windward Islanda Volcanoes

Here are the fixtures.
Here are the squads

Wow, I was drinking at the Oval last night and lost of people walking around outside in red T&T shirts and blue Barbados shirts. I wondered why and this is the answer. There has been no promotion for this. I live near Queens Park Oval and love cricket and I had no idea this was happening.

I may go down today to watch day 2.

 

[Camo999]

Not happy about Marlon not being selected for Jamaica. He's in the test squad FFS and was in supreme form in India. Who gives a stuff if he missed a club game last season. Couldn't they give him a warning or something?

 

[WindieWeathers]

Not happy about Marlon not being selected for Jamaica. He's in the test squad FFS and was in supreme form in India. Who gives a stuff if he missed a club game last season. Couldn't they give him a warning or something?

Yep it's utterly ridiculous!!..and look how poorly Jamaica have batted in this current game? thankfully this new franchise league means Marlon can easily go and play for another side now...hopefully the Leewards will give him a call cause lord knows they need it.

 

[WindieWeathers]

So yesterday Jamaica won a tense battle with Winwards by just 13 runs...Chasing 260 after rolling Jamaica out cheaply in their second innings Winwards looked like they were cruising to victory after Devon Smith, Theophile and Ambris gave them a great platformover over 100 for the first three wickets but the jamaicans kept chipping away and leg-spinner Jacobs done all the damage by getting 7 wickets to snatch the win.

Also Leewards lost by an innings and 10 runs after Guyana put up over 300 and then got them out for a shameful 96. To their credit though Leewards battled hard after being asked to follow on and wicket keeper Jahmar Hamilton scored 70 odd and formed a dangerous partnership with bowler Gavin Tonge but in the end it wasn't enough and Bishoo, Permaul and Reifer got three wickets each.

Barbados and Trinidad are currently battling it out with in a rain effected game..Barbados put up a massive 360 score with Brathwaite continuing his stunning form and getting 183 runs...Trinidad folded for 90 odd in their first knock and the absence of players like Darren Bravo, Pollard and Barath looked evident but like Leewards they have battled back after also following on and Elvin Lewis's 60 set the tone for a decent start...Yannik Ottly also got a handy 40 odd and they are currently 213/5 with the rain pouring down hard so this one could still be a draw even though Trinidad are still 50 odd runs behind.

 

[Kippax]

Sarwan setback | Trinidad Express Newspaper | Sports

According to a media release by the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) yesterday, “as a result of the latest developments Sarwan will take no further part in the newly branded Professional Cricket League four-day competition.”

Wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran replaced the former Test cricketer in the Red Force team that left for St Kitts on Wednesday to try and get their campaign back on track after being wounded by the Barbados Pride.

 

[Goughy]

I went to the T&T vs Barbados game last Saturday.

It was interesting. Looked a decent standard. Roach is tiny but quick, Jason Holder is tall but nothing quicker than medium. Queen's Park Oval track has no pace or carry - though that has always been the case.

No crowd but then where does get a crowd in FC cricket?

Small things that need to change. I drive past the QP Oval every day to go to work. Nowhere was this game advertised. There isnt anywhere announcing the next match. It was almost as if this didnt happen. Also, no stadium announcer or PA system. Beautiful stadium, decent cricket but poor promotion and production values. I also walked in for free. I would have paid but no one was on the gate and nowhere to pay.

 

[cnerd123]

Any footage available of Shillingford bowling?

 

[Kippax]

Why don't you biff another one on the up to a fielder, T&T top order.

45/4, Pooran's going to feel really conflicted about whether to play his natural game in his maiden innings.

 

[Kippax]

Almost yorked for a duck, laced his flourishing slice cover drive to the fence once, attempted a crazy inside-out drive to get out for 10.

 

[Goughy]

At the Trinidad- Jamaica game today and it has been tough conditions. Only 25 overs or so played.

It is not fair to judge a player on one viewing only but watching Rayad Emrit bowl makes me want to do some sit ups and drop a few pounds. I am a realist and a decent judge of talent but if he is bowling in FC cricket then so should I. He looks great until he hits the crease and then nothing happens. The ball plops out out at barely club medium pace.

Another small thing which is annoying me about this brave new world of WI pro cricket is that the bowlers are striding out their run up. This is the 2nd game I have been to. I accept that the away bowlers may not be experienced on the home track but the T&T bowlers should have this down to a science and have the tape measure.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Nice one goughy...

The current Jam/trinidad match looks like it could be a close one. Cotterrell's spell in the first innings to get his 5fer was just stunning to watch...honestly he looked like he'd upped his game by several gears in that spell.

Beaton also had a brilliant spell for Guyana today...never got any wickets but the pace, length and hostility he bowled with clearly unsettled the bim batsmen.

Scores haven't been overly impressive but i guess that's to be expected with most of the best batsmen in the region not playing for one reason or another.

This new PCL will take a couple of years to get going but i have no doubt it will bear fruit in time.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Also in other news the CCC and west indies u19s will be taking part in our Nagico super50 competition starting on the 15th on January. Very good platform for the kids to really show their talent against senior players...and who knows, maybe a gem will emerge from the bunch?

 

[kyear2]

Nice work guys.