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Cricket in the West Indies
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In the sport of cricket, the West Indies is a sporting confederation of fifteen mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries and territories, many of which historically formed the British West Indies. It consists of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands. The governing body for the confederation is Cricket West Indies (CWI), which is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC); beneath the CWI are six territorial governing bodies covering different nations and regions of the confederation. The CWI organises the West Indies cricket team, which represents the confederation in international cricket, as well as administering domestic cricket competitions across the West Indies.
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The West Indies cricket team, nicknamed "The Windies", are one of the twelve Test cricket teams, having gained Test status in 1928. They were considered amongst the strongest Test teams from the 1960s, ushering a golden age in which they were undisputed champions for the latter part of the 1970s to the mid 1990s. In One Day International cricket, they have won the World Cup twice and the ICC Trophy once. They have also won the World Twenty20 twice.
Domestic competitions organised across the whole of the West Indies include the Regional Four Day Competition (First-class), the Regional Super50 (List A) and the Caribbean Premier League (Twenty20).
Cricket is also played in other Caribbean nations and territories such as the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize, Suriname, and Cuba who are associate members of the ICC. As such, these teams do not form part of the West Indies for cricketing purposes, and field their own separate national teams.
Originally introduced to the West Indies by British soldiers, cricket's popularity spread to the black population and it is traditionally considered one of the most popular team sport in the West Indies and a major part of West Indian culture, although others sports such as association football and basketball have challenged its popularity since the 1990s. Major international cricket competitions hosted by the West Indies include the 2007 World Cup, the 2010 World Twenty20, and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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History
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Origin
Cricket originally spread to the West Indies via the British military. Military officials established cricket clubs, including the St. Annes Garrison Club, and integrated cricket pitches into garrisons in the Caribbean. The first known reference to cricket in the West Indies is believed to be from June 1806, in the Barbados Mercury and Bridgetown Gazette.[1] Two years later, a cricket match was held between the officers of the Royal West Indies Rangers and the officers of the Third West India Regiment. It is believed that the military was a major influencing force behind the drive to begin playing cricket porting this, there were known to be cricket pitches located in many garrisons all around the Caribbean.[2]
Expansion of cricket
During the period of colonial rule, cricket began to be played by the black population of the British West Indies. This adoption was a consequence of constant positive reinforcement from their masters for participating in activities that were familiar such as cricket, and abstaining from those that were perceived as taboo. Eventually, slaves were granted permission to play with military officers (who at one point only played cricket amongst themselves) in restricted roles. Foremost, they were allowed to prepare the wicket before matches, although some were permitted to bowl or retrieve batted balls.[3]
As official cricket clubs began to form, some black players were given the opportunity to play for white-majority clubs. However, many cricket clubs remained exclusively white, which led black players to establish their own clubs that would only allow other blacks to join. Clubs such as the Barbados Cricket Committee (BCC), which was established in the late nineteenth century, adhered to the policy of an all-white team, while Jamaica's Melbourne Cricket Club was composed of only professional black cricketeers.[2] The first inter-island competition took place in 1865 between Demerara and Barbados, at the Garrison Savannah.[4] However, these matches were at first "organized and played almost exclusively by whites."[2] Over time, integrated matches became increasingly more common, as integrated cricket teams competed at first in an attempt to prove their dominance over the other teams of other colonies. Some segregation still existed, for instance the fact that black players were often excluded "from clubhouse refreshment breaks during and after the game".[2] Gradually, blacks began to be employed on professional teams, marking the start of full racial integration in the sport.[2]
The English were eager to promote cricket throughout the British Empire, and on 31 May 1926 the West Indian Cricket Board, along with their New Zealand and Indian counterparts, was elected to the Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC), which previously consisted of the English and representatives of Australia and South Africa.[18] Election to full membership of the ICC meant the West Indies could play official Test matches,[19] which is the designation given to the most important international games, and the Windies became the fourth team actually to play a recognised Test match on 23 June 1928 when they took on England at Lord's in London.[2]
Societal impact
Cricket has traditionally been the most popular sport in the West Indies, both before and after independence.[1] The inclusion of black players into West Indian cricket teams marked a moment of racial integration in West Indian society. Talented black players helped to overturn existing attitudes of white superiority.[5] Cricket helped to serve a dual purpose for the West Indies- before slavery was abolished in 1833, cricket was considered as a constructive pastime for blacks. In that same time period, it was also considered a way for the whites to exhibit their loyalty to the Crown.[6]
Two noteworthy West Indian cricketers are George Headley, who captained the West Indies in the first test against the touring MCC team in 1947-48, and Barbadian Sir Frank Worrell, who was captain of the West Indies team against Australia in 1960-61. In 2009, Both Headley and Worrell were inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[7] The early 1970s to mid-1990s showed a major increase in the dominance of the West Indian cricket team. The general historical consensus is that this is due to an increase in fast bowling, backed up by some of the best batsmen in the world. In 1976, fast bowler Michael Holding took 14/149 in The Oval Test against England, setting a record which still stands for best bowling figures in a Test by a West Indies bowler.[8][9][5]
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Administration
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the West Indies. It was originally formed in the early 1920s as the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (and is still sometimes referred by that name), but changed its name in 1996. The Board has its headquarters in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.
The CWI has been a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 1926 and is also a member of Americas Cricket Association. It operates the West Indies cricket team and West Indies A cricket team, organising Test tours and one-day internationals with other teams.
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National teams
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The West Indies cricket team is governed by the Cricket West Indies (CWI). Since 1926, the CWI has been affiliated with ICC, the international governing body for world cricket.
Performance
The following list includes the performance of all of West Indies's national teams at major competitions.
Men's senior team
The West Indies senior national team had several successes and is considered No. 1 team in Americas and was one of the best team in the world cricket. The national team's highest achievement is winning Cricket World Cups.
Women's senior team
Men's U-19 team
Women's U-19 team
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Organisation of cricket in modern West Indies
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International cricket
Cricket in West Indies is managed by the Cricket West Indies (CWI)
Men's Team
The West Indies Cricket Team represents West Indies in international cricket matches.
West Indies have been participating in international cricket since 1926 and competed in international tournament since the first ever the 1975 Cricket World Cup. The West Indies cricket team has also provided some of the greatest players to the world, the biggest example of which is Viv Richards. West Indies cricket has a rich history. The West Indies men's team is currently ranked No. 8 in Tests, No. 10 in ODIs and at 3rd position in T20Is. India won two World Championship cups in 1975 and 1979 consequently under the captaincy of Sir Clive Lloyd.
- Test International- West Indies made their debut as a Test playing nation in 1928 against England. They have played 582 test match till now.
- One Day International-West Indies played their first ODI International in 1973 against England. They were able to participate in first edition of Cricket World Cup and have almost clinch the title consequently in 1975 Cricket World Cup and 1979 Cricket World Cup.
- T20 International- West Indies played their first T20 International in 2006 against New Zealand. West Indies Men's have made great impact in T20 international from their early day of this format. They have clinch the title two times in 2012 World Twenty20 and 2016 World Twenty20.
Women's National Team
The West Indies women's cricket team represents West Indies in international women's cricket matches.
West Indies have been participating in international cricket since 1976 and competed in international tournament since the fifth 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup. They are the most successful women's cricket team in Americas. The West Indies Women's team is also currently ranked No. 6 in ODIs and at 6th position in T20Is.
- Test International- West Indies made their debut as a Test playing nation in 1976 against Australia. In past time, West Indies women's rarely play test and won it.
- One Day International-West Indies played their first ODI International in 1979 against England. They were not able to participate in first five edition of Women's Cricket World Cup. But in late 19s they have reached to ODI world cup consequently and in latest 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup they have reached semis.
- T20 International- West Indies played their first T20 International in 2008 against Ireland. West Indies Women's have made great impact in T20 international from their early day of this format. They have clinch the title of ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2016.
Domestic Cricket
Men's Domestic Cricket
First class competitions
Limited overs competitions
Twenty20 competitions
Women's Domestic Cricket
Limited overs competitions
Twenty20 competitions
Youth competitions
- TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge
- TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge Limited Overs Series
- CLICO West Indies Under-15 competition
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Stadiums
Active Stadiums
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International competitions hosted
| Competition | Edition | Winner | Final | Runners-up | West Indies's position | Venues | Final venue | Stadium | |
| Men's senior competitions | |||||||||
| ICC Men's Cricket World Cup | 2007 Cricket World Cup |  Australia |
281/4 (38 overs) – 215/8 (36 overs) |
 Sri Lanka |
Super 8 | 8 (in 8 countries) | Kensington Oval |  | |
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup | 2010 World Twenty20 |  England |
147/6 (20 overs) – 148/3 (17 overs) |
Australia |
Super 8 | 3 ( in 3 countries) | Kensington Oval | | |
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup | 2024 Men's T20 World Cup |  India |
176/7 (20 overs) – 169/8 (20 overs) |
 South Africa |
Super 8 | 9 (in 7 countries) | Kensington Oval | | |
| Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup | 2022 Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup | India |
189 (44.5 overs) – 195/6 (47.4 overs) |
England |
First round | 8 (in 5 countries) | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium |  | |
| Women's senior competitions | |||||||||
| Women's T20 World Cup | 2010 Women's World Twenty20 | Australia |
106/8 (20 overs) – 103/6 (20 overs) |
 New Zealand |
Semi-final | 3 (in 3 countries) | Kensington Oval | | |
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Performance in international competitions
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A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within West Indies
| Champions | |
| Runners-up | |
| Semi-finals | |
Men's team
ICC World Test Championship
ICC Cricket World Cup
ICC T20 World Cup
ICC Champions Trophy
ICC World Cup Qualifier
Women's team
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Men's U-19 team
U-19 World Cup
Women's U-19 team
Under-19 Women's World Cup
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References
Bibliography
External links
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