SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force open their 2023 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Championship campaign against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Grenada National Stadium in River Road from January 31 to February 3.
The Darren Bravo-led side finished fourth in last year’s edition but remain determined to end their 22-year first-class four-day title drought after winning the competition for the first time last in 2005.
First round matches continue on February 1 when defending champions Barbados Pride begin their bid for a third straight title against the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS), Antigua.
The third contest will see the Leeward Islands Hurricanes host the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from February 1 to 4.
The second round will be played from February 8-11 when the Red Force travel to face the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at SVRS, Barbados Pride meet the Jamaica Scorpions at Coolidge while the Guyana Harpy Eagles take on the Islands Volcanoes Windward to Grenada.
The third round of the West Indies Championship resumes on March 15 with the final round ending on April 1, when the champions will be crowned and presented with the Headley Weeks Trophy.
The final three rounds will all be played in Trinidad and the venues will be announced at a later date.
Roland Holder, CWI’s cricket operations manager said they were delighted to announce the fixture schedule and venues for the first two rounds of the championship, “our flagship regional tournament in the annual calendar”.
“The six teams have been preparing hard for next season and we expect to see some strong competition this year as they battle for the Headley Weekes trophy.
“From the tournament, the top performers also have the reward of playing for Team Weeks and Team Headley in the newly announced CWI tournament scheduled for April and May,” said Holder.
The new Headley Weeks Series will follow the West Indies Championship and will feature three matches and three teams.
Team Headley and Team Weeks will be selected from the tour’s best players and bowlers outside the West Indies opening Test XI. The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team in the new series.
Team Headley and Team Weeks are named after West Indies pioneers and legendary betting greats George Headley and Sir Everton Weeks, whose names are also honored on the championship winners’ trophy. All three games will be played from April to May 6 in Coolidge.
CWI Championship Teams (Rounds 1 and 2)
TT Red Force: Darren Bravo (Captain), Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Terrance Hinds, Jyd Goolie, Jeremy Solozano, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Vikash Mohan, Uthman Muhammad, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre; David Furlonge (Head Coach)
Pride of Barbados: Shane Dowrich (captain) Camarie Boyce, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Jair McAllister, Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Shamar Springer, Kevin Wickham; Vasbert Drakes (head coach)
Guyana Harpy Eagles: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmemar N. Ryan Hercules ( head coach)
Jamaica Scorpions: Paul Palmer Jr (Captain), Jamie Merchant, Alwyn Williams, Aldaine Thomas, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Romaine Morris, Abhijau Mansingh, Patrick Harty, Akim Fraser, Marquino Mindley, Gordon Bryan, Ojay Shields; Andrew Richardson (head coach)
Windward Islands Volcanoes: Alick Athanaze (capt), Jerlani Robinson, Kavem Hodge, Keron Cottoy, Sunil Ambris, Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott, Kenneth Dember, Preston McSween, Teddy Bishop, Daurius Martin, Kimani Melius, Nicklaus Redhead; Shirley Clarke (head coach)
Leeward Islands Hurricanes (provisional squad): Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Mikyle Louis, Kieran Powell, Colin Archibald, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Keacy Carty, Ross Powell, Kofi James, Damion Williams, Kelvin Pitman, Hayden Walsh jr., Rahkeem Cornwall; Stuart Williams (head coach).
