Year In Review: 2013 – A Year Of Landmark Changes In West Indies Cricket

St John’s, Antigua – In reviewing 2013 it is evident that the year was one of landmark changes for West Indies cricket. The year was characterized by the institutionalization of several developmental initiatives along with a solidifying of a collaborative approach towards the management and development of the game in the region.

Newly elected WICB President Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron and Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan. Photo: WICB Media photo/Randy Brooks

Most significantly 2013 was an election year for the West Indies Cricket Board. The Annual General Meeting was held on March 27th in Barbados. At the election, which followed the AGM, then incumbent Vice President Mr. Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron prevailed by a vote of 7-5 over the then incumbent Dr. Julian Hunte for the Presidency of the WICB. Mr. Emmanuel Nathan won the Vice Presidency by a vote of 8-4 over Mr. Joel Garner. Subsequent meetings of the Board of Directors for the year were held in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica and St Kitts.

One major appointment aimed towards the strengthening of the development of the game was that of new Director of Cricket, Mr. Richard Pybus. Mr. Pybus’ mandate is to ensure that a complete and comprehensive structure for development is in place for the future success of West Indies cricket.

West Indies Men’s Team Head Coach Ottis Gibson and Team Manager Richie Richardson had their contracts renewed for three year terms.

On the recommendation of the Selection Panel chaired by Mr. Clyde Butts, the Board approved that Mr. Dwayne Bravo be appointed captain of the West Indies One Day Team, taking over responsibilities from Mr. Darren Sammy who remains captain of the West Indies Test and T20 teams.

Seven new Directors were appointed to the Board of Directors during the year, namely:
Mr. Julian Charles
Mr. Deighton Smith
Mr. Anand Kalladeen
Mr. Anand Sanasie (previously served as WICB director)
Hon. Richard Skerritt
Mr. Don Wehby
Mr. Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven
Dr. Donovan Bennett

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles declined reappointment to the Board of Directors while the appointments of Mr. Conde Riley, Mr. Lyndel Wright, Mr. Milton Henry, Mr. Gregory Shillingford ended.

The Cricket Committee was reconstituted and is chaired by Mr. Julian Charles. The other members of the committee are:
Mr. Joel Garner
Mr. Nehemiah Perry
Mr. Lyndel Wright
Mr. Courtney Walsh
Mr. Richard Pybus
Mr. Ottis Gibson
Mr. Clyde Butts
Hon. Emmanuel Nanthan (ex-officio)
Mr. Michael Muirhead (ex-officio)

The Marketing and Business Development Committee was reconstituted and is chaired by Mr. Baldath Mahabir. The other members of the committee are:
Mr. Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron
Hon. Emmanuel Nanthan
Mr. Clive Lloyd
Hon. Richard Skerritt
Mr. Calvin Hope
Mr. Roopchand Chadeesingh
Mr. Dennis Harris
Mr. Imtiaz Rahaman
Mr. Michael Muirhead (ex-officio)
Ms. Verlyn Faustin (ex-officio)
Ms. Nelecia Yeates (ex-officio)

A full list of committees can be found here: http://windiescricket.com/wicb/staff

Another significant landmark was the WICB’s announcement of the formation of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation (WIRPF), a joint initiative with the West Indies Players’ Association. Mr. Brian George was appointed Chairman of the WIRPF. The WICB appointed members are Delano Franklyn and Dr. Nigel Camacho. The West Indies Players Association appointed members are former West Indies and Jamaica player and WIPA President Wavell Hinds and Nixon McLean, former Windward Islands and West Indies player and WIPA treasurer.

A major milestone was achieved when the West Indies 2013 award ceremony was, for the first time, hosted jointly by the WICB and WIPA. At this ceremony each member of the winning ICC World Twenty20 Team was presented with a special commemorative winner’s ring.

Caribbean Premier League was launched.

One area where the collaborative approach towards management of West Indies cricket proved successful was in WICB and WIPA making significant advances towards realising a new Collective Bargaining Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding. Discussions commenced in May and WICB and WIPA agreed a base document. WICB sent its comments to WIPA in August along with suggesting a process and timelines for negotiations. WICB is currently awaiting WIPA’s response.

The WICB also reconstituted the Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee which is chaired by Sir Dennis Byron and includes Her Excellency, Ambassador Menissa Rambally, President Cameron, Vice President Nanthan and WICB Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin.

The inaugural edition of the WICB licensed Caribbean Premier League was played in 2013 to mostly sold out crowds and with much success across the region. The tournament was won by the Jamaica Tallawahs who defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final which was played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

After a year of international cricket being absent from Guyana, the West Indies team played Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium to the usual excellent turnout from the Guyanese cricket fans.

The Regional 4 Day and Super50 tournaments were played in tandem across the region at the international venues. The curtains came down on the Caribbean Twenty20, with the final edition being won by Trinidad and Tobago who defeated Guyana in the final which was played in St Lucia. The CT20 was superseded by the CPL. Trinidad and Tobago went on to represent the region at the Champions League.

A full menu of developmental programmes was executed by the WICB, inclusive of the WICB Grassroots Cricket Programme, the WICB Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Programme, the WICB Sandals Foundation Under 15 High Performance Camps along with the annual regional Under 19, Under 17 and Under 15 tournaments. The WICB also hosted development and preparatory camps for the West Indies Under 19 team which will compete in the ICC Under 19 World Cup this year. The West Indies Under 19 also played a seven match series in Guyana against the visiting Bangladesh Under 19 team.

A highlight of the WICB development programme for the year was the hugely successful Spin Clinic at the West Indies SAGICOR High Performance Centre in Barbados with legendary former Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The Spin Clinic was held for both male and female senior and junior players and the performances of players were significantly improved immediately following the clinic.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul leaps to celebrate reaching his 29th Test hundred. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/photosport.co.nz

List of winners of regional tournaments:
Regional Men’s 4 Day: Barbados
Regional Men’s Super50: Windwards
Caribbean T20: Trinidad & Tobago
Under-19s 3 Day: Jamaica
Under-19s 50 overs: Jamaica
Under-17s: Trinidad & Tobago
Women’s 50 over: Jamaica
Women’s T20: Jamaica

List of notable West Indies Men’s, Women’s and A Teams series/tournament results
West Indies 2-0 Test series win vs Zimbabwe at home
West Indies 3-0 ODI series win vs Zimbabwe at home
West Indies 2-0 T20 series win vs Zimbabwe at home
West Indies Women 2-0 T20 series win vs SA at home
West Indies Women 2nd at ICC Cricket World Cup
West Indies Women 2-1 ODI series win vs Sri Lanka away
West Indies Women 4-1 T20 Series win vs Sri Lanka away
West Indies Women 2-1 ODI Series win vs New Zealand at home
West Indies Women – champions Tri-nation T20 Series at home
West Indies A Team 1-0 T20 Series win vs Sri Lanka A Team at home
West Indies A Team 2-1 ODI Series win vs Sri Lanka A Team at home
West Indies A Team 2-1 ODI Series win vs India A Team away
West Indies A Team 1-1 ‘Test Series’ draw vs India A Team away

List of notable performances, highlights and achievements for 2013
Marlon Samuels: Wisden Cricketer of the Year Award (award for performances in 2012, presented in May 2013)

Shivnarine Chanderpaul:
150th Test matches vs India, Mumbai (also achieved 300th first-class match: Derbyshire vs Sussex)
11,000 Test runs vs New Zealand, Hamilton

Darren Bravo:
maiden Test match double century – 218 vs NZ, Dunedin
reached Top 20 in Test match Batting rankings

Shane Shillingford five consecutive five-wicket hauls:
vs Zimbabwe, Barbados
vs Zimbabwe, Dominica (2)
vs India, Calcutta
vs India, Mumbai

Shillingford also entered top 20 in ICC Test match bowling rankings

Sunil Narine: Number 1 bowler in ICC T20 and ODI rankings
Kemar Roach: Top 20 in Men’s ODI and Test match bowling rankings
Ravi Rampaul: reached Top 20 ODI bowling rankings

Stafanie Taylor: first player in history to be Number 1 in Batting, Bowling and Allrounder rankings
Shanel Daley: Number 1 bowling in T20 rankings; Top 10 in ODI bowling rankings
Anisa Mohammed: Top 10 in ODI bowling, T20 bowling rankings
Deandra Dottin: Top 10 in ODI batting, T20 batting rankings
Shaquana Quintyne: Top 10 T20 bowling rankings
Tremayne Smartt: Top 20 bowling rankings
Andre Russell: beaver-trick for West Indies A vs India A, T20 in Bangalore

List of Men’s players on Central Retainer Contracts 2013-2014 (with category)
Dwayne Bravo (A)
Shiv Chanderpaul (A)
Chris Gayle (A)
Sunil Narine (A)
Darren Sammy (A)
Marlon Samuels (A)
Kemar Roach (B)
Tino Best (C)
Darren Bravo (C)
Johnson Charles (C)
Kirk Edwards (C)
Kieran Powell (C)
Denesh Ramdin (C)
Ravi Rampaul (C)
Shane Shillingford (C)

List of Women’s Players on Central Retainer Contracts 2013-2014 (with category)
Shanel Daley (A)
Anisa Mohammed (A)
Deandra Dottin (A)
Stafanie Taylor (A)
Merissa Aguilleira (B)
Shemaine Campbell (B)
Subrina Munroe (B)
Shaquana Quintyne (B)
Shakera Selman (B)
Tremayne Smartt (B)