Sports

DEHRING NEW CEO OF CRICKET WEST INDIES

Article by David Harris

Chris Dehring is the new chief executive officer of Cricket West Indies (CWI) the Jamaican was selected from a pool of over 50 applicants representing Europe, Australia, India, Afghanistan, and the Caribbean.

He replaces Johnny Greave who step down from the position in October after seven years.

A successful businessman and entrepreneur, Dehring is the founder of SportsMax, and the co-founder of Jamaica’s first investment bank Dehring, Bunting, and Golding which grew into a financial powerhouse and was eventually acquired by Scotiabank.

His entrepreneurial portfolio includes ReadyTV Jamaica’s first digital broadcast service, and ReadyNet the country’s first satellite internet provider. Dehring also served at Cable & Wireless where he was a member of the Senior Executive Membership Team.

A former chief marketing officer of CWI, Dehring was the managing director and chief executive officer of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean.

“West Indies cricket has always held a special place in my heart. As a unifying force and a symbol of pride for our region, I am honoured to return to an organisation that holds great significance to our people. Together with the CWI team and stakeholders, I am committed to driving innovation, fostering talent, and reigniting the passion for West Indies cricket, both at home and globally”. Dehring said.

His tenure begins on February 1, he will be based at CWI headquarters at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Meanwhile, Darren Sammy has been named the coach for all senior West Indies men’s teams and will take charge of the Test side from April 1. The former West Indies captain was named the white-ball head coach in May 2023, while Andre Coley took over the reins of the Test side at the same time.

Sports

WEST INDIES LOSE FIRST ODI AGAINST ENGLAND

By David Harris

The West Indies suffered an embarrassing 238-run to England in the first One Day International (ODI) match at Edgbaston Thursday. Chasing a massive total of 401 to win the match, the West Indies were bowled out for 162 runs in 26.2 overs.

The chase was over before it began, the West Indies were stumbling at 79 for five wickets in the 15^th over as England’s bowlers dismantled the West Indies batsmen; Saqib Mahmood who captured three wickets for 32 runs ripped out the top-order; pacer Jamie Overton kept the lower-order batsmen in check with three wickets for 23 runs, and leg-spinner Ail Rashid picked up two wickets.

Fast bowler Jayden Seales batting at number 11 top scored with 29 not out, captain Shai Hope 25, and Keacy Carty 22 were the other batsmen that scored over 20 runs.

Earlier, England scored 400 (their second highest score in an ODI) after the West Indies won the toss and opted to field.

England’s batters launched a collective assault on the bowler –every batter from one to seven scored over 30 runs, but it was the Barbados-born Jacob Bethell that top scored with 82; the 21-year-old faced 53 balls and struck eight fours and five sixes, opener Ben Duckett made 60, newly appointed captain Harry Brooks got 58, and veteran batter Joe Root contributed 57.

Seales captured four wickets for 84 runs from nine expensive overs, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and Justin Greaves took two wickets apiece.

The second ODI in the three-match series will take place at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Sunday.

Sports

BARBADIAN GOLFER EMILY ODWIN IN US WOMEN’S OPEN TODAY

Article by David Harris

Barbadian golfer Emily Odwin will create history today, Thursday when she tees off in the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills Golf Course in Washington County, Wisconsin.

Odwin, 21, a junior at Southern Methodist University (SMU) will become the first Barbadian to play in a US Open golf tournament.

Odwin will play at the tournament as an amateur, she qualifies for the tournament after an outstanding performance at the prestigious Olympic Club Lake Course in San Franciso earlier this month; after delivering a composed and consistent showing across two 18-hole rounds to finish at three-under-par tying for first place with American Sarah Lim.

Spaniard Paula Martin Sampedro who finished one behind Odwin and Lim also qualified for the Open.

Odwin, a former student of St Winfred’s School and Queen’s College grew up on the West Coast in St James, she loved to swim at the age of four. Odwin enjoyed all kind of sports and even got a brown belt in karate.

She became interested in golf after watching Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth on television with her father.

At the age of 11 Odwin began to focus her attention on golf, the competitive scene for sport was limited with few official tournaments, and even fewer competitions for girls to participate in. Odwin needed to find alternatives to push herself:

“As I got older and as I got better, it was tougher for me to find competition and I had to travel outwards. I started to come to the United States, or I had to go to Europe. When I was at home, I started having to play with boys a lot. I would have to play in their division off their tees. There are not a lot of girls playing golf in Barbados and there weren’t a lot of competitive opportunities back home”, Odwin told journalists in the United States.

Odwin is proud of her culture and plans to wear an embroidered flag of Barbados on her polo shirt at the US Open.

“I just want to inspire kids back home that golf is possible. You never know how far you can go until you try”, Odwin said.