West Indies Cricket News May 2006

India batsmen secure warm-up draw

Four players scored half-centuries as India drew their two-day tour match against Antigua and Barbuda.
India bowled the hosts out for 300 on day one before replying with 311-9 on the second day of the match.
Vangipurappu Laxman top scored with 72, while Wasin Jaffer (52), Mohammad Kaif (53) and Mahendra Dhoni (60 not out) were also in the runs.
Spinner Justin Athanaze was the pick of the Antigua and Barbuda attack, taking 3-79 in 21 overs.
Having lost the one-day series 4-1, India are looking for a better performance in the four Tests, the first of which starts on Friday.
India have not won a Test series in the Caribbean for 35 years and were beaten 2-1 on their last tour in 2002 after going 1-0 up with victory in Trinidad.

Tour match, Antigua, day two (close): Antigua & Barbuda 300 drew with India 311-9

Indian bowlers toil in warmup game

India's bowlers toiled for almost the whole first day to dismiss Antigua and Barbuda in their two-day warm-up match on Tuesday.
Antigua and Barbuda were eventually dismissed for 300 and India scored 33 in 10 overs before the close, losing the wicket of Virender Sehwag for six.
Former West Indies batsman Sylvester Joseph scored 128 not out after defying the Indian attack for over four hours.
India's bowlers stuck to their task on a sluggish pitch with seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth taking three late wickets to finish with three for 46 in 15 overs.

Tour match, Antigua, day one (close): Antigua & Barbuda 300; India 33-1

Ramnaresh Sarwan jumps to No.2 in ODI rankings

West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has made a leap up the International Cricket Council's One Day International rankings, jumping nine places to number two.
The 25-year old right-hander had an outstanding series against India in the five-match series, scoring 273 runs at an average of 91, to capture the Man-of-the-Series award.
Sarwan scored one of the three centuries of the tour, a brilliant, unbeaten 115 in the third ODI in St Kitts.
This follows up a good series against Zimbabwe where the talented Guyanese player scored 254 runs at an average of 50.80 to break into the top ten for the first time.
While Adam Gilchrist remains at the top of the batting standings, Mahendra Dhoni has slipped two places to number four after moderate performances in the series against the West Indies.
Indian opener Virender Sehwag, who finished with 237 runs in the just-concluded series to be the team's leading run-scorer, has moved six places up in the standings to 18th spot.

Brian Lara ready to floor India with green tracks in Tests

West Indian skipper Brian Lara has said that after bringing down the Indians in the one-day series with slow tracks, the hosts were ready to repeat the dose in the Tests by rolling out green wickets.
Lara said that Indias world class spin attack would be a difficult propostion for his batsmen on wearing pitches while bouncier ones could thwart the visitors strong batting line-up.
Indian skipper Rahul Dravid for his part said the visitors would be keen to shrug aside the one-day debacle and bounce back in the four-Test series starting with the first at Antigua on June 2.
Lara was pleased with the fact that the hosts rested key players and still dominated India, who went into the series as world No 2 and favourites.
Man-of-the series Ramnaresh Sarwan said the Sunday win would give his team the psychological edge.

West Indies announces squad for first Test

Left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed was recalled as West Indies selectors largely retained the triumphant one-day squad for the first cricket Test against India beginning in Antigua on Friday.
The two players who were left out were Dwayne Smith and Sewnarine Chattergoon who was castled for a duck in the last one-dayer yesterday, the only look-in he got in the five-match series which West Indies clinched 4-1.
The 26-year-old Mohammed, who last played for West Indies in 2004, was rewarded for his consistent first-class performances and his match-winning show in Carib Beer Challenge.
The wicketkeeper's slot was given to 21-year-old Denesh Ramdin ahead of Jamaica's Carlton Baugh Junior, according to a statemen from the West Indies Cricket Board.
Ramdin was dropped for the third and fourth matches of the one-day series but the selectors retained faith in his services in the longer format of the game.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who missed the final two one-day internationals in Trinidad due to a hamstring injury, is back along with Daren Ganga, the Test opener, who toured New Zealand recently. Test Squad: Brian Lara (Captain), Christopher Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (Wicket Keeper), Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Dave Mohammed.

Pace and spin sweep West Indies to victory

West Indies struck with pace and spin to take the last six wickets for 66 runs and win the fifth and final one-day international against India by 19 runs on Sunday.
India, chasing West Indies' score of 255 for six, were all out for 236 in 48 overs to hand the hosts their fourth successive victory in the series after India had won the first match.
Opening batsman Virender Sehwag had put India in control with his innings of 95 off 103 deliveries but new-ball bowler Jerome Taylor then returned to the attack with a burst of three for eight in four overs to wrestle the West Indies back into the game.
Earlier, a second successive unbeaten half-century by Dwayne Bravo boosted the West Indies after the hosts were sent into bat first by India.

Fifth One-day international, Trinidad: West Indies 255-6 (50 overs) bt India 236 (48 overs) by 19 runs

Lara wants to extend winning streak

Windies cricket captain Brian Lara has vowed that todays final Digicel One-Day International series contest against India, at the Queens Park Oval in Port-of-Spain would not produce a complacent display by his side.
Since he was reappointed as the Windies skipper a month ago, Lara led the regional team to a 5-0 triumph over Zimbabwe in a recent home one-day contest. He declared on Thursday that this weekends matches would be his last international appearances in front of his home crowd.
Windies Test squad: Brian Lara (Captain), Christopher Gayle, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Denesh Ramdin, Dave Mohammed, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor
India Test squad: AB Agarkar, MS Dhoni, R Dravid (Captain), Harbhajan Singh, M Kaif, MM Patel, SK Raina, V Sehwag, S Sreesanth, AR Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh

Lara leads Windies to series win

Brian Lara hit 69 to help the West Indies clinch the one-day series against India with a six-wicket win on his home ground in Trinidad. The West Indies captain hit his runs off 97 balls as his side won with six overs to spare to take a 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
West Indies put India into bat and restricted them to 217-7 before replying with 218-4 in 44 overs. The tourists slumped to 47-3, with captain Rahul Dravid among the early casualties, before Mohammad Kaif (62) and Yuvraj Singh (52) put on 80 for the fourth wicket.

One-day international, Trinidad: India 217-7 lost to West Indies 218-4 by 6 wickets

Windies Looks For ODI Series Win Over India

Windies cricket fans across the world are hoping the Brian Lara-led team can seize victory in the final two One Day International match-up against India.
The Windies are set to face the cricket worlds ranked number three, India, in the final two ODIs of the Digicel home series at a sold-out match at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad today, May 26, and on Sunday, May 28.
The Windies are 2-1 into the series after the back-to-back thrillers at Sabina Park in Jamaica and Warner Park in St. Kitts recently.
The West Indies has replaced Wavell Hinds and Sewnarine Chattergoon with injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Runako Morton for this weekend matches.

Wavell Hinds to replace Chanderpaul in last two ODIs

Wavell Hinds and Sewnarine Chattergoon will replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Runako Morton in the West Indies squad for the last two ODIs against India.
Chanderpaul has pulled a hamstring, however, he will remain with the team, Windies media manager said. Runako has been dropped on account of his poor show in the series.
He refused comment whether Chanderpaul will be fit for the Test series.
Hinds has opened with Chris Gayle in the one dayers. A two ODI veteran Sewnarine Chattergoon is a left-hand opening batsman. West Indies Squad : Brian Lara (Captain), Christopher Gayle, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh Jr., (wicketkeeper), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw and Dave Mohammed.

India call up Suresh Raina for Tests

Suresh Raina has earned a call up to the India Test side after selectors included the stylish left-handed batsman in a 16-man squad yesterday for next months four-match series in the West Indies.
After impressing in the one-day team, the uncapped 19-year-old was promoted to the Test squad after Sachin Tendulkar ruled himself out of the series on Tuesday, the premier batsman failing to recover completely from shoulder surgery.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar also earned a place in the squad based on his impressive one-day performances, the uncapped 28-year-old named as a third slow bowler along with Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Opting for youth over experience, fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh was given the nod ahead of the tried and tested all round skills of Ajit Agarkar.
Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthick made a comeback into the squad as the second gloveman after Dhoni. India Test squad: R Dravid (Captain), V Sehwag, W Jaffer, VVS Laxman, Y Singh, M Kaif, S Raina, MS Dhoni, D Karthik, I Pathan, S Sreesanth, M Patel, VR Singh, A Kumble, H Singh, R Powar.

West Indies bt India by 4 wickets in the 3rd ODI

Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a century in his 100th one-day international as West Indies beat India with a single ball to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Chasing 246 in the first international ever in St Kitts, Sarwan (115no) put on 106 with Shiv Chanderpaul (58) and the West Indies got home by four wickets.
After Rahul Dravid fell early, Virender Sehwag (96) put on 61 with Suresh Raina and 112 with Mohammad Kaif. But six wickets, including three run-outs, fell for 33 runs in 12 overs.
Warner Park, the small, scenic, intimate ground that has undergone a fascinating transformation for Cricket World Cup 2007, hosted its first international match and to mark the grand occasion, the Government declared a public holiday for the third Digicel One-Day International.
West Indies Cricket Squad: Brian Lara (Captain), Christopher Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh Jr., Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards.
India Cricket Squad: Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Mohammed Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Venugopal Rao, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel.

One-day international, St Kitts: West Indies 248-6 (49.5 overs) beat India 245-9 (50 overs) by four wickets

Windies name unchanged squad

West Indies named an unchanged 14-man squad for the third one-dayer against visiting India to be played in St Kitts today.
The hosts scored a dramatic one-run victory in the second one-dayer on Saturday to level the five-match series 1-1.
India won the opening match by five wickets. The final two one-dayers will be played in Trinidad on May 26 and May 28.
West Indies Squad: Brian Lara (Captain), Christopher Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh Jr (wicketkeeper), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo and Dave Mohammed.

India loses by one run in the 2nd ODI

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo bowled Yuvraj Singh with two balls to spare and West Indies defeated India by one run in a thrilling second one-day cricket international at Sabina Park on Saturday.
Yuvraj had steered the visitors chase with a brilliant 93 but he was last out as India was bowled for 197 off 49.4 overs. West Indies totaled 198 for nine off 50 overs on the back of a gritty, unbeaten 98 from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was named man of the match. Indias bowlers were impressive with the new-ball pair of Ajit Agarkar (two for 25) and Irfan Pathan (3-45) setting back West Indies early. Offspinners Ramesh Powar (2-38) and Harbhajan Singh (1-32) helped maintain Indias stranglehold throughout the innings.
Samuels, whose 19 took 53 balls, eventually edged to Dhoni off Yuvrajs spin. Dwayne Bravo followed for a duck, clipping Powar to a diving Raina at midwicket. Carlton Baugh injected some life in the innings with 21 off 17 balls and Sarwan accelerated toward the end as West Indies scored 71 runs off the last 10 overs. The 25-year-old Sarwan, in his 99th match, struck seven fours and one six but just missed out on reaching his third one-day century
Team India: Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel.
Team West Indies: Brian Lara (Captain), Chris Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh Jr, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bradshaw.

One-day international, Kingston: West Indies 198 for 9 (50.0 overs) beat India 197 all out (49.4 overs) by 1 run

India beat West Indies by 5 wickets in First ODI

Indian captain Rahul Dravid cracked 105 off 102 balls to lead his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory in the rain-hit first one-dayer against West Indies on Thursday.
Dravid scored his 12th one-day hundred and shared in a 123-run fourth wicket partnership with Mohammad Kaif, who struck the winning boundary with one ball to spare to finish unbeaten on 66 after being dropped twice.
India reached 254 for five in 44.5 overs chasing the hosts' total of 251 for six. West Indies were put into bat in a game reduced to 45 overs-a-side after rain delayed the start.
India extended their world record for most consecutive one-day international victories chasing a target to 17.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle stroked 123 studded with 18 fours and two sixes, dominating India's largely inexperienced pace attack in the morning.
The Jamaican left-hander mixed caution with brute power on a Sabina Park pitch affording early seam movement, adding 87 runs for the first wicket with Runako Morton (23) and 82 with captain Brian Lara (35) for the third.
The second game of the five-match series is due to be played at Sabina Park on Saturday.

One-day international, Kingston: West Indies 251-6 (45/45 overs) lost to India 254-5 (44.5 overs)

India to take on West Indies in First ODI

Rahul Dravid's men are all set to take on West Indies in the first one day international in Kingston on Thursday.
India have already started their tour on a high note, winning the opening match against Jamiaca with ease. But the Kingston pitch is green and fast, and is expected to help the West Indian speedsters. Meanwhile, Dravid has said the team is feeling the absence of Ramesh Powar and Shreesanth, who are suffering from injuries, but that will not affect the team's morale.
Ramesh Powar had twisted his ankle during practice on Monday, while Sreesanth is carrying a bruised heel from the games in Abu Dhabi last month. Team India: Rahul Dravid (Capt.), Virender Shewag , Yuvraj Singh , Suresh Raina , Venugopal Rao , Mohammad Kaif , Mahendra Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Irfan Pathan , Ajit Agarkar , Harbhajan Singh , Rudra Pratap Singh , Munaf Patel and Robin Uthappa
Team West Indies: Brian Lara (Capt.), Christopher Henry Gayle , Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan , Shivnarine Chanderpaul , Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh (Wicket Keeper), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Dave Mohammad.

Denesh Ramdin left out for the first 2 ODI's

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has been again left out of the West Indies 14-man squad for the first two One Day Internationals against India scheduled for Sabina Park, Jamaica tomorrow and Saturday...

Ramesh Powar out of two ODIs

The Indian cricket team had a major injury worry at the start of the West Indies tour with off-spinner Ramesh Powar being rendered unfit for the first one-day internationals and fast bowler Sreesanth too looking a doubtful starter...

India claim easy win over Jamaica

India began their tour of the West Indies with a thumping 116-run victory over Jamaica in a warm-up match in Montego Bay on Tuesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Indians hit up 289-7 and then bowled out the home side for 173 in 45 overs.
Suresh Raina put the visitors on course for a big score with an entertaining 50 before retiring. Mohammad Kaif and Mahendra Dhoni, who hit three sixes, then tore apart the home attack, scoring 49 each.
Jamaica were always under pressure after the loss of two early wickets.
Seamer Munaf Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming three wickets for 33 runs.
The first of five One-Day Internationals is on Thursday in Kingston.

India in West Indies : Practice Match, Montego Bay India 289-7 beat Jamaica 173 by 116 runs

India must adapt quickly

India's coach Greg Chappell believes the key to success in the one-day cricket series against West Indies would lie in how quickly his team adapts to the conditions in the Caribbean. ..

Lara satisfied with West Indies Team

West Indies captain Brian Lara has labelled his team's shutout of Zimbabwe an encouraging build-up to face India in their series starting later this week in Jamaica...

Bowling, fielding to decide series

As the one-day international series against Zimbabwe draws to a close in the Caribbean this weekend, the West Indies team will be turning their attention to the upcoming five ODIs against their next opponents India. This will be a completely different kettle of fish for the Windies. While Zimbabwe linger at the bottom of both Test and ODI rankings, India have been proving their worth in both forms of the game, and not just on home soil...

Sehwag not going to take too many risks in West Indies

Virender Sehwag is not on the lookout for a quick fix. Its been known for a while that one-dayers arent Sehwags favourite version of the game...

Indian team leaves for West Indies

The Indian team left for a 55-day tour of the West Indies on Thursday night with an aim to re-write the history books...

Wavell Hinds will lead the Jamaican Team

Wavell Hinds will lead a strong 15-member Jamaican team, with eight Test players in the ranks, in the one-day match against the Rahul Dravid-led team India at Jarrett Park on Tuesday...

Dravid Looks Forward To Windies

India's cricket captain says the test tour of West Indies starting this week is an excellent opportunity to end a 20-year run without a major series victory outside the sub-continent...

Sreesanth hoping to bag more wickets on West Indies tour

Upbeat after his success in recent one-dayers, India's new pace find S Sreesanth is hoping to reap a good harvest in the upcoming West Indies tour...

Brian Lara, Hayden are toughest to dismiss: Harbhajan

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who thinks West Indies skipper Brian Lara is one of the toughest batsman to bowl to along with Aussie opener Matthew Hayden, said the upcoming tour of the West Indies would help India prepare well for the World Cup in the Caribbean next year as it would be able to assess beforehand the pitch and weather conditions there...

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India, West Indies and Australia - Tri Series 2006 in Kuala Lumpur

Schedule

2006 India West Indies Cricket Series