Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy - Victory for Big Bird's boys

Date September 22, 2005

IT WAS a nostalgic occasion at the Three Ws Oval yesterday as former West Indies fast bowler Joel "Big Bird" Garner rolled back the years in a limited overs cricket match as part of Senior Citizens Month.

Garner's Barbados Cricket Association's team lifted the Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy for the second straight year, defeating a Barbados Cricket League (BCL) by 30 runs in the 25-over-a-side encounter.

One of the star performers in the game, organised by the National Assistance Board, was former Barbados selector Clinton St Hill, who smashed three sixes and five fours in a knock of 57, including 28 runs in one over off spin bowler Leroy Leach.

Reproduced compliments of The Nation News

by TONY COZIER in Kandy Tuesday July 26th 2005

OH NO!: West Indies skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught by Mahela Jayawardene for 24 yesterday.

THE TENACITY that kept the overwhelmingly outclassed West Indies competitive for much of the series was finally and emphatically broken by two Kandy men over the last two days as the second Test, and the series, came to their predictable end.

In a defiant, unbeaten 157 that started on his old Trinity College ground on Saturday afternoon and carried through until yesterday morning, the left-handed Kumar Sangakkara converted the virtually deadlocked first innings totals into a certain winning position for Sri Lanka. < Read more>

It was a day to remember for the new-look West Indies cricket team. Wavell Wayne Hinds (right), spearheaded a fightback from the home team with an authoritative unbeaten 188 that crippled the South African bowling attack.
When he reached his hundred, Hinds, 28, was deservedly congratulated by the new man at the helm, Shiv Chanderpaul, who finished a rewarding day for the West Indies with a century of his own on his home ground at Bourda, Guyana. < Read more >

Cricket in the West Indies, particularly test match cricket, draws legions of fans local, regional, and international. West Indians love their cricket and this passion ensures that visitors travelling in the Caribbean for a cricket holiday are assured of good play under sunny skies, a great combination.

The mighty Barmy Army and other British fans partied in the streets of Bridgetown into the wee hours of the morning – drinking beer and rum – all 10 000 of them celebrating one of modern sports’ major achievement.

When one reflects on our teams of the 80’s and early 90’s; their professionalism, fitness and excellence, it becomes a bitter pill to swallow, not only the fact of defeat but also the absence of fight and determination, which hitherto had extracted every ounce of energy from our opponents.

It is incomprehensible that a region such as the Caribbean which boasts of so many outstanding records, could find itself languishing with two of the minions of international cricket, at the bottom of the ratings.

How can we explain this is the region which gave us Sir Everton Weekes and his five consecutive Test centuries as well as one of the better opening partnerships known to Test cricket – Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge?

As though not to be ever undone, we claimed as a son of West Indian soil, the holder of the highest

Test score, not once but twice in the persons of Brian Lara and Garfield Sobers (now Sir Garry.)

What has contributed to our fall from glory?

How much longer will it last?

What can the West Indies Cricket Board do to restore what for us was equilibrium?

But the West Indies captain has vowed he will not raise the white flag, that he will soldier on amidst the personal and team battles.

In this series the champion left-hander’s personal form has matched that of the West Indies team as a whole, and with his men trailing 0 -3 in the series many feel he should step aside.

“I have another Test match to focus on,” he said, “so the time for assessing my position of captain is not now,” he told Saturday’s media conference before returning to the dressing room where he wept openly.

“The next five days are very important in terms of my future as captain,” he said prior to the match. “No captain, no team, wants to go down for the first time in their history as losing all their Test matches at home.”

But he had travelled the same rocky path before and he k the way out.

AS he did five years ago, Brian Lara, this Easter week end, once more transformed a situation of deep personal and team crisis into one of critical revival and triumph at the scene of his most celebrated innings.

Lara, the modern game’s greatest exponent of batsmanship took the burden of all his West Indian people on his shoulders and transformed despair into a triumph.

SEALED WITH A KISS. West Indies captain Brian Lara kissing the ground in celebration of his record-breaking score on the third day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday.

(Picture by Brooks LaTouche Photography.)

All cricketdom arose yesterday to proclaim Brian Charles Lara as the all-conquering king of cricket.

Homage was paid to the Trinidadian left-hander for his super-human batting performance at the Antigua Recreation Ground, where he first reclaimed the record for the highest score in a Test innings and then became the first man in Test history to make a quadruple-century.

His 400 not out off 582 balls came in just under 13 hours and included 43 fours and four sixes. In doing so, he eclipsed the previous batting record of 380 established just six months ago by Australia’s Matthew Hayden.

Caribbean Cricket

Sporting islands

Back in 2003 Brian Lara, the West Indies captain, seen here, spoke at the Barbados Cricket Association's Awards ceremony

"I see the West Indies' first Test series victory in 1950 against England as the renaissance in the history of West Indies cricket, the rebirth of West Indies cricket,

During that period in the 50s and 60s, at the same time, we were seeking independence as small Caribbean islands from Britain. Cricket represented freedom. It exemplified freedom.
It gave us dignity and it gave us pride. It also was the unifying force back in the 50s and 60s for all West Indian people."
Brian Lara

In the 60's The Windies were the kings of the game and ruled international cricket for two decades with the awesome force of its fast bowlers and powerful batsmen.

Joel Garner or 'Big Bird' to his fans, seen here in action (click to purchase this original signed limited edition poster on line,) Andy Roberts, the Jamaican Michael Holding, Colin Croft and the late, great Malcolm Marshall were names whose mere mention could strike fear into batsmen the world over!

From Robert's arrival (seen here in action) in the early 70's to Marshall's retirement in 1991, the pace of International Test cricket was set by the West Indies' fast bowlers. Between them they took 1211 Test wickets at a superb combined average of 22.5 runs apiece. Marshall, who died in his homeland, Barbados, 1999 led the gang with 376 scalps!
(Click on picture to purchase this poster on line)

001 Vivian Richards	002 Vivian Richards	003 Vivian Richards	005 Andy Roberts
006 Desmond Haynes	007 Joel Garner	008 Gordon Greenidge	012 Curtly Ambrose
013 Sir Garfield Sobers	014 Michael Holding	016 Clive Lloyd

Cricket holidays


All wrapped up with your cricket package is not just the sport but the partying that goes on afterwards. Whether it's test cricket or a Sunday afternoon with a few friends watching at a local club, you can bet there is going to be a great party to follow. all are welcome.

It's not whether you win or lose but what you drink after that matters!




Our tour packages are customized to suit your needs and are available in a wide range of disciplines, year round. As a result all associated tour costs vary with the type of sport, number of fixtures required, numbers traveling and proposed travel dates.
Due to special arrangements with local suppliers, we are able to offer discounted rates or special concessions to touring teams for popular interest trips and excursions which are only available when booked through Caribzones Tours.

· Accommodation arrangements (where necessary) - Reservations
· Ground Handling - Act as the local Rep for the group in any dealings with local suppliers.
· Meet and Greet the Group on arrival and escort to accommodation and oversee check-in.
· All transportation Arrangements - Preparation and Co-ordination of Schedules, liaising with suppliers
· All fixture arrangements and co-ordinatioon - Officials, Training Sessions, etc.


· Excursion Bookings - Island Tours, Party Cruises, Beach Parties, etc.
· Co-ordination of Special Events (Birthday Parties, Weddings, Presentation Receptions, etc.)
. Dual island cricket holidays Barbados one week and Carriacou the next.

Great competition in fabulous locations!

Check out our Cricket Tour Itinerary

Click here

Request more information