Cricket

Alzarri Joseph has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the final three matches of their T20I series against England, replacing Shamar Joseph. Joseph was suspended for two matches after leaving the field without permission during the third ODI against England. Andre Russell has been ruled out of the series with a left ankle sprain, with Shamar Springer coming in as his replacement.West Indies are 2-0 down in the series heading into the final leg in St Lucia. They need to win the third T20I on Thursday to keep the series alive.Joseph's return is a boost for the West Indies, who have struggled with their bowling in the first two matches. They have conceded 159 and 183 runs respectively, losing just five wickets across both fixtures in Barbados.Springer, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka last month, gives West Indies captain Rovman Powell more options to work with.The loss of Russell is a blow to the West Indies, who are already without several key players, including Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, and Fabian Allen.Russell suffered the injury during the first T20I, and his absence will be a major setback for the West Indies. He is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, and his bowling can also be very effective.West Indies T20I squad:* Rovman Powell (capt)* Roston Chase* Matthew Forde* Shimron Hetmyer* Terrance Hinds* Shai Hope* Akeal Hosein* Alzarri Joseph* Brandon King* Evin Lewis* Gudakesh Motie* Nicholas Pooran* Sherfane Rutherford* Romario Shepherd* Shamar Springer

West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been handed a two-match suspension for storming off the field during the series-clinching ODI win over England. The incident occurred during Wednesday's game at Kensington Oval in Barbados, shortly after Joseph took the wicket of Jordan Cox in the fourth over.Joseph's departure left West Indies briefly down to 10 players before he returned for the sixth over. Cricket West Indies (CWI) has since released a statement condemning Joseph's behavior, stating that it "fell short of CWI's standards of professionalism.""Alzarri's behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds," said CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe. "Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged."Joseph has since apologized for his actions, saying that "my passion got the best of me.""I have personally apologized to captain Shai Hope and my teammates and management," said Joseph. "I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans. I understand that even a brief lapse in judgment can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused."The suspension means that Joseph will miss the remaining two ODIs of the series against England. It is a significant blow to the West Indies, who are looking to build on their series win.Joseph's suspension is a reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism on the field. Players are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values of the sport and their team. Joseph's actions have not only let down his team but also the fans who support them.

Alzarri Joseph's Bizarre Exit Overshadows West Indies' Series-Clinching VictoryIn a bizarre turn of events, West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph abruptly left the field during the third ODI against England at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The incident occurred early in the innings after Joseph bowled his second over, despite taking a wicket in it.The disagreement between Joseph and captain Shai Hope began after the first delivery of Joseph's over, when they had an extended discussion about field placement. England were at 10/1, and Joseph appeared frustrated with the field setup, specifically pointing toward the slips in visible frustration.Despite the apparent tension, Joseph continued to bowl and delivered a 148.2 kph short ball, which resulted in the dismissal of England's Jordan Cox, who gloved the ball to the wicketkeeper. However, rather than celebrating the wicket, Joseph left the field without speaking to Hope after completing a wicket-maiden.West Indies coach Darren Sammy attempted to calm Joseph outside the boundary, but the fast bowler remained adamant and went to sit in the dugout. After a brief sit-out, Joseph rejoined the match without further incident, but he resumed bowling later in the 12th over only.Joseph finished with figures of 2 for 45 in his 10 overs, as England posted 263/8 in their 50 overs. The unusual episode did not affect West Indies' overall performance, as they cruised to an eight-wicket victory. Keacy Carty (128*), and Evin Lewis (102) led the successful run chase, reaching the target with 42 balls to spare, sealing a series win for the hosts.The incident between Joseph and Hope remains a talking point, but the West Indies’ dominant performance overshadowed the controversy on the field.

Alzarri Joseph's Frustration Boils Over in Intense CPL ClashIn a thrilling Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 encounter between the Saint Lucia Kings and the Guyana Amazon Warriors, tempers flared as Alzarri Joseph's frustration reached boiling point.With Guyana closing in on victory, Joseph bowled to Shimron Hetmyer in the ninth over. Hetmyer backed away and punched the ball straight back to the bowler. In a moment of visible frustration, Joseph grabbed the ball and angrily hurled it down towards the batter's end, followed by a sharp stare at Hetmyer.The intensity of the moment was palpable as Guyana needed less than 10 runs to secure victory. However, Hetmyer had the perfect response. On the very next ball, he stepped back and unleashed a monstrous six over long-on, almost sealing the game in style for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.The powerful shot not only brought the chasing side to the brink of ending the match but also served as the perfect answer to Joseph's earlier outburst. In the very next over, the Warriors won by six wickets, chasing down Saint Lucia's modest total of 101 in just 10 overs. Hetmyer remained unbeaten with eight off three balls.The brief but fiery exchange highlighted the competitive spirit of the CPL and left fans talking about the intense clash between bowler and batter. Joseph's frustration was understandable, given the pressure he was under, but Hetmyer's response was a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.

Kemar Roach is set to make a triumphant return to the West Indies Test side for their upcoming home series against South Africa. The experienced fast bowler missed the recent tour of England due to a knee injury sustained during the County Championship.Roach's return bolsters a West Indies bowling attack that has been depleted by the absence of Alzarri Joseph, who has been rested for this series. Wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva has been appointed as the new vice-captain in Joseph's stead."We have decided to rest our vice-captain Alzarri Joseph for this series," explained head coach Andre Coley. "Alzarri has had a considerable workload recently, and this break will allow him to recuperate and return to peak performance."Coley has emphasized the importance of managing Joseph's workload, stating that "it always helps to have a period of time away from the game to work on your individual skills."Offspin-bowling allrounder Kevin Sinclair remains sidelined due to a fractured left forearm suffered during the England tour. However, uncapped offspinner Bryan Charles, pace-bowling allrounder Justin Greaves, and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican have been included in the 15-member squad.Jeremiah Louis and Akeem Jordan, who were both part of the England tour, have been omitted from the squad. Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, and Akeem Jordan have also been left out."The selection process for this squad was led by our Head Coach, Andre Coley," said Miles Bascombe, CWI's director of cricket. "This is pending the implementation of our new selection process, which will be rolled out in the coming days."West Indies will be eager to bounce back from their 3-0 whitewash in England, which has left them languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. The two Tests against South Africa will be played in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, from August 7 to 11 and in Providence, Guyana, from August 15 to 19.

In a thrilling encounter at Tarouba, West Indies secured their berth in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with a hard-fought 13-run victory over New Zealand.Sherfane Rutherford emerged as the hero for the hosts, smashing an unbeaten 68 off just 39 deliveries. His innings, which included six towering sixes and two boundaries, propelled West Indies to a competitive total of 149 for 9 after they had slumped to 76 for 7 in the 12th over.In response, New Zealand's chase was derailed by the brilliance of Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie. Joseph, the pacer, claimed 4 for 19, while Motie, the left-arm spinner, returned with impressive figures of 3 for 25.New Zealand's openers, Devon Conway and Finn Allen, were dismissed cheaply in the powerplay. Motie then played a pivotal role, dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession. Glenn Phillips kept the Kiwis in the hunt with a 33-ball 40, but Joseph's late burst of wickets extinguished their hopes.With three consecutive wins, West Indies have booked their place in the Super Eight stage. New Zealand, on the other hand, are on the brink of elimination after suffering back-to-back defeats.