The stage of all set for the start of the 2023 West Indies Championship. The six franchises are all set for the first round which bowls off in Grenada and Antigua. The first match will see home side Windward Islands Volcanoes hosting Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Grenada National Stadium, as first-class cricket makes a welcome return to the Spice Isle.
Both Trinidad & Tobago and Windward Islands have new captains – with young left-hander Alick Athanaze at the helm for the home team and experienced left-hander Darren Bravo leading the visitors.
Athanaze said:
“It’s a huge honor to be asked to lead the team. We have a great group of players and I’m happy to lead the team. We are a strong unit and we have a very well-balanced team and playing at home in the first two matches will be an advantage. I am happy with the way we have prepared and I believe we will have a very good season.”
Bravo: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of captaining the national team. I’m sure I will do well. There is a level of experience within our set-up and we are confident going into the first match, I don’t see any reason why we won’t do well. It’s important to control the controllable, to focus on our own game and do the basics well.”
Trinidad & Tobago 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)
Windward Islands Volcanoes: Alick Athanaze (Captain), Jerlani Robinson, Kavem Hodge, Keron Cottoy, Sunil Ambris, Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott, Kenneth Dember, Preston McSween, Teddy Bishop, Daurius Martin, Kimani Melius, Ryan John; Shirley Clarke (Head Coach)
Over in Antigua, we will have two matches, starting on Wednesday. Defending champions Barbados Pride will look to make it three titles in a row when they face archrivals Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The other encounter will see Jamaica Scorpions taking on Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Coolidge Cricket Ground. The Jamaicans will be looking to do the “double” following on from their capture of the CG United Super50 title in Antigua last November.
Barbados Pride: 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, Ashmead Nedd, Shamar Joseph; 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)
Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain), Rahkeem Cornwall (Vice Captain), Mikyle Louis, Kieran Powell, Colin Archibald, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Keacy Carty, Montcin Hodge, Kofi James, Damion Williams, Sheeno Berridge, Hayden Walsh jr; Stuart Williams (Head Coach).
The first ball daily is 10 am (9 am Jamaica Time) and matches will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow each and every game from their mobile devices, computers or connected TVs, including access to live ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre.
Please see below the list of Match officials appointed for the first and second rounds of the West Indies Championship four-day first-class tournament
All matches start at 10 am Eastern Caribbean time (9amJamaica time)
GNS – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
SVRS – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
ROUND 1:
31 January to 3 February – Grenada
Windward Islands Volcanoes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at GNS
Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite, Nigel Duguid
Third umpire: Jonathan Blades
Match referee: Patrick Felix
1 to 4 February – Antigua
Barbados Pride v Guyana Harpy Eagles at SVRS
Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Patrick Gustard
Third umpire: Christopher Taylor
Match referee: Vanroy Burnes
1 to 4 February – Antigua
Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions at CCG
Umpires: Zahid Bassarath, Deighton Butler
Third umpire: Bernard Joseph
Match referee: Reon King
ROUND 2:
8 to 11 February – Grenada and Antigua
Windward Islands Volcanoes v Guyana Harpy Eagles at GNS
Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite, Jonathan Blades
Third umpire: Nigel Duguid
Match referee: Patrick Felix
Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at SVRS
Umpires: Patrick Gustard, Christopher Taylor
Third umpire: Bernard Joseph
Match referee: Vanroy Burnes
Jamaica Scorpions v Barbados Pride at CCG
Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Deighton Butler
Third umpire: Zahid Bassarath
Match referee: Reon King