A Perfect Record for Jamaica

14 Tuesday 24th April, 2012 world in terms of quality, and Barbados were champions of a strong West Indies. Ponting secure for A perfect record In 2012, although it is look- ing up, West Indies cricket is below expectations, the home summer - Clarke regional tournament is weak, one of the weakest in the Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain, has for Jamaica all but guaranteed Ricky Ponting his place world, and Jamaica are cham- Between 1976 and 1980 pions of a disappointing West in the team’s next Test assignment, at Barbados won the regional Indies. home against South Africa in November. four-day competition for a And the statistics speak for Ponting has looked in good touch in the record five times in succession themselves. Caribbean despite not making many runs after winning it in 1976, 1977, In the 21 matches of the and Clarke, who is also a selector, indicat- 1978, 1979, and in 1980, and preliminary round, three last- ed Ponting’s place would be safe for the this year, Jamaica matched ed for two days - including the first Test of the home summer, more than them by making it five victo- match between the CCC and six months away. ries in a row after victories in the Leeward Islands in which Having staved off a run of slim scores 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and in the CCC scored 167 and defeat- in Sri Lanka and South Africa before 2012. ed the Leeward Island by an enjoying a storming series at home Jamaica’s feat, however, innings and 15 runs - and nine against India, Ponting joined the majority was a new record, for the sim- finished inside three days. of his fellow batsmen in struggling to ple reason that while In the 80 innings played make a major score in the West Indies. Barbados shared the title in during the preliminary Only one century was made in two Tests, 1976 with Trinidad and rounds, nine times teams did by Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Barbados, Tobago before going four not reach 100 runs, including and Clarke said Ponting was arguably the times alone, Jamaica did it man most likely to make one should the the Leeward Islands, who Michael Clarke has backed former captain five times without sharing it made 39 in 22.2 overs on the Dominica pitch offer a little more encour- with anyone. first morning of the match agement to stroke play. Ricky Ponting, who has not made a big It is also interesting to note against the CCC, Barbados, “He’s hitting the ball well, probably has- contribution in the current Test series that while Barbados won the who made 58 in 28 overs n’t got that big score that he’d like but against West Indies. five-team competition of none of us have. Conditions haven’t been against Guyana and 85 against “Not yet no, one more game here,” he said Barbados, Trinidad and the Windward Islands, the great for making big hundreds,” Clarke Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, and said of Ponting. “If you wanted to make when asked about retirement thoughts. Windward Islands, who made “We’ll wait and see how many I get this the Combined Islands in 1980 73 against Barbados, the runs here you had to bat for a hell of a by winning all four matches, Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller had an impressive season for Jamaica long time, and need a bit of luck as well week, if I get 200 this week you probably Leeward Islands, who made 81 won’t be asking me that question.” Jamaica also won the seven- in the West Indies Regional Four Day Competition. against Trinidad and Tobago, along the way.Ricky’s one of the guys that team competition of has put the team above himself and sacri- Seven months and 13 Tests since he led and Trinidad and Tobago, who Australia onto the field in Sri Lanka, Barbados, Trinidad and Barbados by 121, the Leeward Cavalier and Jamaica foot- made 84 against Barbados. ficed his wicket or tried to take the game Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, the Islands by 201, Guyana by baller. forward because we’ve needed to, to try Clarke called for one final push from his Leeward Islands, the eight wickets, Trinidad and In congratulating Lambert and help us win the game. men to ensure the series against West Embarrassing totals “If he continues to play the way he’s Indies was won. He also pointed to the fact Windward Islands, and the Tobago by 192, and the and his team on a job well In what must have been an Combined Campuses and Combined Campuses and done, however, it is difficult played throughout the last 12 months, he that so many of his men will be going embarrassment, the Leeward had a wonderful summer, then I see no rea- direct from the Caribbean to the IPL as a Colleges (CCC) in 2012 by win- Colleges by 154 runs, plus not to mention that the quality Islands totalled 39, 81, 98, ning all six matches in the Guyana by 133 in the semi- of play this season, especially son he won’t be in the team come the first reminder that fatigue should not be a prob- and 99 in four of their Test against South Africa. There’s a lot of lem as they play at Roseau’s Windsor Park preliminary round plus the finals and Barbados by 139 in in batting, was way below the matches, Barbados 58, 85, semi-final and the final. the final. expected standard, and cricket to be played from now until then. for the first time. and 90 in three matches, the Ricky’s not currently in our one-day squad For the first time, Clarke will be joining This was indeed a satisfy- although one cannot blame Windward Islands 73 and 90 Satisfying season for Jamaica ing season for Jamaica, for Jamaica for the lack of quali- but we also have some first-class cricket them, having signed with Sourav in two matches, and Ganguly’s Pune. The IPL will reduce the In 1980, Barbados were awe- captain Tamar Lambert and ty in the opposition, in the leading up to that first Test so I’m confi- Trinidad and Tobago 84 in break available for those playing both Test some, beating Guyana by 10 his team, especially his interest of West Indies cricket, dent Ricky’s batting well and he’s not far one match. and limited-overs cricket, before the wickets, Trinidad and Tobago bowlers, Nikita Miller and in the interest of the West away from a big score. If we get a decent On top of that, on 37 occa- Australians start travelling again on a 20- by five wickets, Jamaica by an Odean Brown, Andrew Indies team, the lack of quali- wicket here I wouldn’t be surprised if he sions teams did not reach month odyssey that will take them to innings and six runs, and the Richardson and David ty must be addressed. finished the summer on a very high note.” 200, 15 times teams did not England and India twice each, either side Combined Islands by an Bernard Jr, more so for spin In 1980 West Indies was For his part, Ponting has no thoughts of reach 300, and only three of home Tests against South Africa and ii d18 dthi b l Mill d B t th W t I di t the finish line proving it by staying on at.

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