AFTER yet another year of habitual turbulence, West Indies cricket starts 2012 with an issue that is potentially more damaging than any of the several others responsible for the current depressed state of the game in the region.

Without judicious handling, there have already been portents, as unimaginable as they are, that it could lead to the separation from West Indies cricket of Guyana, one of the pillars of its strength from its very beginnings.

read more at Trinidad Express

Too much at stake to fail ‎

You do not have to be a cricket fan to be proud of the fact that T&T’s, more specifically Moruga’s Merissa Ria Aguilleira, is the captain of the our national and the West Indian cricket team. The charming 26-year-old has risen through the cricketing ranks from 2002, becoming a member of the T&T senior team in 2005 (its captain from 2007) and the West Indies team in 2008 (its captain from 2009). A right-handed middle order batter (or batswoman if you prefer) as well as a wicketkeeper, she has been rated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as one of the most inspirational captains in the world, having participated in the ODI World Cup in Australia in 2009 and leading the regional team to the semi-final at the World T20 in 2009 along with the series win against world champions England in the same year.

read more at Trinidad Guardian

First lady of cricket

West Indies legend Gary Sobers believes Bermuda’s cricketers will never reach their full potential being fed an exclusive diet of limited overs cricket.

The standard of local cricket has noticeably eroded in recent years with many attributing the gradual decline to Bermuda Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to do away with open cricket.

Local cricket’s governing body scrapped the open format prior to the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada and attempts since then to reintroduce it to the domestic programme have proven to be both unsuccessful and widely unpopular among players.

read more at The Royal Gazette

Limited overs won’t help Bermuda’s progress; Sobers

West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine warned the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) against imposing sanctions against the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) that will negatively affect players' ability to practise their trade or profession.

During a news conference at WIPA headquarters on Edward Street, Port of Spain, yesterday, the WIPA boss insisted: "We will not allow a West Indies tournament to proceed or West Indies team to be selected in which the Guyana players are not considered for representation or from which a Guyana team is debarred."

read more at Trinidad Express

Ramnarine warns WICB: Tread carefully on Guyana dispute

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):Berbice officials have congratulated the government for their appointment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to supervise the affairs of cricket in the country.

This is part of the fallout from a legal challenge about the legitimacy of the current Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive after the last annual general meeting, when there was an election of officers.

read more at The Gleaner

Berbice officials support government takeover of GCB

West Indies cricket did not have a merry Christmas, with several outstanding issues in the air, most notably the love/hate relationship between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

And mediation looks like the best hope for bringing closure to most of these outstanding matters, according to WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire.

read more at TrinidadExpress

Hilaire says WICB, WIPA need third party intervention

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados defied conventional wisdom and chose Kirk Edwards to lead the national team in the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship next month.

Edwards gained the nod ahead of all-rounder Dwayne Smith for the tournament, which Barbados co-hosts with Antigua and opens on January 9.

The 27-year-old Edwards impressed for West Indies in Tests over the last year, but he has failed to make the same impact in the shorter versions of the game — and was not considered for the national side for last year's CT20.

Kirk Edwards to lead B’dos in CT20

Cricket365 looks back at the past year continues as we pick out the Quotes of the Year. Well, for the first half of 2011 anyway.

more at cric365

2011 in review: Quotes of the Year – part one

London: Noted West Indies cricket commentator Tony Cozier has been made an honorary life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for his contribution to the game for over half a century.

"Knowing the illustrious company I now join, I am truly flattered by the honour cricket's foremost club has bestowed on me," Cozier was quoted as saying in an MCC media release.

more at cricketnext

Tony Cozier made MCC life member

CHRIS Gayle can, for at least a few more days, rest easy – he still has at least one high-profile fan in the Caribbean.

Former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, has come forward in defence of the embattled Jamaican opener and has criticised the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for its handling of the protracted and still ongoing saga involving the two parties.

read more at Barbados Advocate 

Sir Viv critical of WICB’s treatment of Gayle

Twelve men accused of digging up a cricket pitch at the first international match held in Indian-administered Kashmir are acquitted – 28 years on.

Kashmir ‘pitch diggers’ acquitted

Sachin Tendulkar falls short in his bid to become the first player to score 100 international centuries, after earlier passing 15,000 runs in Tests in India’s five-wicket win against the West Indies.

Tendulkar misses out on milestone

India wrap up a 2-0 series win against West Indies after the third Test finishes in a thrilling draw.

WI earn thrilling draw with India

England announce their summer schedule for 2012, which includes tours by West Indies, Australia and South Africa.

England announce 2012 schedule

England’s summer ends on a low as they lose to the West Indies by 25 runs in the second T20 international at The Oval.

England stunned by Windies in T20

Oliver Brett reviews Fire in Babylon

When West Indies ruled the world