MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC):Middle-order batsman Darren Bravo says the series of defeats suffered by the West Indies in recent times is as a result of the batsmen’s lack of confidence.Bravo scored a century in the West Indies innings and 212-run loss to the Aussies in the first Test on the heels of a crushing defeat at the hands of a Rookie Cricket Australia 11.In October, the Caribbean cricketers were beaten two-nil by Sri Lanka in a Test series, where Bravo was one of only two batsmen to score 50s.”It’s just a matter of confidence,” Bravo said.”Coming in to this series, most of our batsmen didn’t really have that confidence. We lost the series in Sri Lanka; we lost the practice game as well in Brisbane. It’s a matter of confidence.”West Indies were bowled out for 223 and 148 in the first Test against Australia in Hobart, with the second-innings highlight being Kraigg Brathwaite’s 94.In their drawn warm-up match against Victoria X1, Brathwaite followed up his Test performance with a score of 78; Jermaine Blackwood rebounded from failing to get off the mark twice with a score of 69; while Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin scored 45 and 38, respectively.NEED TO STAY AT CREASEBravo is confident that the West Indies can accumulate runs against Australia once their batsmen occupy the crease.”It’s important that whenever we go to bat we spend some time out in the middle. If we spend time, we’re definitely going to score runs,” said Bravo.”Naturally, we play aggressive cricket, where batting is concerned. It’s just a matter of us spending time out in the middle and putting up a very good fight.”West Indies kicked off their training at the MCG with a session yesterday ahead of the second Test, which begins on Boxing Day.The Aussies are due to start their training today.In the meantime, Australia have added fast bowler Scott Boland to their squad as a replacement for the injured Nathan Coulter-Nile.”The Australian bowlers, they have a plan [on] exactly how they want to get us out,” he said. “You respect the good balls and put away the bad balls. Yes, they are a very good team, but at the end of the day, they are still humans,” said Bravo.”I believe the guys have that sort of resilience in them. Most of us have scored international hundreds. We have proven that we are definitely capable of playing at this level. It is just a matter of going out there and spending some time.”
playing superbly to upset the inform Kiwis.Their success has mirrored that of their men’s side who play England in the corresponding final, and Taylor underscored the importance of both sides winning on Sunday.”It would mean a lot. We’ve been talking about it, just hanging out with the guys. It’s been so good,” she said.”Words can’t really explain how much it would mean for both teams. Especially for us because we’ve never been to the final before. For us to get this one would be like a dream come true.”Taylor has been the inform batsman with nearly 200 runs in a side where the batting has not really clicked, and Britney Cooper’s career-best 61 in the semi-final was the Windies Women’s only half-century.However, their bowling has been penetrative with Taylor claiming eight wickets with her off-breaks and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher and medium pacer Deandra Dottin both taking seven wickets.Note: The match starts at 4 a.m. Jamaica time.
CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):The Australian duo of Mike Hussey and Shane Watson have congratulated St Lucia Zouks teammate Darren Sammy, following the St Lucia government’s decision to rename the Beausejour Cricket Ground in his honour.Watson, who retired from international cricket following the recent Twenty20 World Cup in India, hailed Sammy as a “great leader” and said he was looking forward to playing alongside him at the Zouks’ home ground in Gros Islet.”I knew when I first signed up for CPL how passionate the West Indies public are, but to receive this news about the St Lucia government’s decision to rename the national stadium in honour of one of their favourite sporting sons is a huge thing, especially for someone so young, who has so much top-level cricket ahead of him,” Watson said.”Darren is a great leader and a true champion in all regards, and I know how passionate he is about the Zouks. He deserves this accolade for the manner he has led the West Indies team, and this is an honour for all time.”It really excites me about being a part of CPL 2016, and I can’t wait to step out on the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium this summer.”Hussey, meanwhile, affectionately known as ‘Mr Cricket’, called the honour for Sammy an “incredible accolade”, and heaped praises on West Indies for winning the T20 World Cup.”To win a world title for your country is the ultimate accolade and I would like to offer my congratulations to fellow Zouks man Darren Sammy, coach Phil Simmons, and the West Indies team on their win last weekend in the ICC World T20,” said Hussey, who averaged 51 in 79 Tests and 48 from 185 one-dayers.Sammy led West Indies to the second T20 World Cup title when the Caribbean side beat England by four wickets in the final of the tournament in India last Sunday.
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Bolt, Digicel ‘speed at work’ – World’s fastest man is Digicel’s Chief Speed Officer
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MORE THAN A PARTNER Digicel Jamaica CEO, David Butler, said: “This man obviously has a very unique understanding of speed around the world; we are hoping some of that will rub off on us in terms of our customers, in terms of our networks, our products and our market.” Butler, while congratulating Bolt on another sprint double at the recent Rio Games, said the Jamaican was more than a “partner, but a friend” of Digicel. “Many congratulations for Rio, we are really proud to be associated with you for so long, you’ve been a great friend, partner, and thank you very much from Digicel,” he said. The Bolt-Digicel contract began 13 years ago, with the nine-time Olympic gold medallist and fastest man ever over 100 and 200 metres earmarked to work with Digicel in a charity-based capacity. He will be giving back through their future speed academies and mentorship programmes and will hopefully help uncover the next superstar. “We are absolutely delighted to have you here, in terms of us in the Digicel Jamaica business, and for Digicel across the world as well,” pointed out John Suranyi, CEO, Digicel Play Caribbean. – S.Fairman. In a partnership dubbed Speed At Work, sprint megastar Usain Bolt yesterday turned up for his first day on the job as telecommunication giant Digicel’s chief speed officer at the Digicel regional headquarters, located at 14 Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston. According to Digicel, Bolt has the partnership “for life”. His main responsibility will be to ensure customers have the latest devices and fastest technology. This makes Bolt more than Digicel’s leading brand ambassador and his new job as chief speed officer will come with a fully equipped office named The Usain Bolt Speed Lab, also located at the organisation. “Number one in the world – I am really looking forward to working with you, looking forward to it, trust me, I am excited,” Bolt remarked. “I am ready, got a new job, I am ready. It’s gonna be great for sure, great partnership. You guys are like family. I am ready,” reiterated the world’s fastest man. He also visited the customer service department, spoke with customers and rapped with Digicel staff. In true Usain Bolt ‘speed fashion’, Bolt’s home will now have the fastest broadband Internet in the world, a 10-gigabyte and 10,000-megabyte speed home Internet in partnership with Huawei.
LAST YEAR’S MATCH Last year, the Caribbean side suffered a 3-0 whitewash away to the Sri Lankans, and Holder said they were expecting a strong challenge from them again, along with a tough showing from Zimbabwe. “It’s going to be tough. Obviously, they are two good teams. Sri Lanka play good cricket, and, obviously, are of a higher rank than us, and Zimbabwe have a point to prove,” the all-rounder explained. “They are playing in their backyard as well, so they will be [familiar] with their conditions. It’s a situation where we have to assess as early as possible and go out and play some good aggressive cricket.” West Indies endured a long difficult tour of the United Arab Emirates recently, where they were trounced in the Twenty20, one-day and Test series by Pakistan. Their only success came in the final Test in Sharjah when they produced an admirable performance to win by five wickets. Holder said the camp in Potchefstroom had been a great chance for the unit to re-assess. “We had a good week in Potchefstroom. I thought the guys had a few days off to catch themselves and recuperate after the long series in Dubai,” he said. “It’s just a situation where we got what we wanted out of the training camp and moving into the [Tri-Nations Series]. I think we are much better prepared.” HARARE, Zimbabwe, (CMC): Captain Jason Holder hopes the key areas addressed during the recent one-week camp in South Africa will see West Indies turn the page on their dodgy One-Day International form in the Tri-Nations Series here, which bowled off yesterday. West Indies were swept 3-0 by Pakistan last month and have now lost 12 of their last 16 games in the last four bilateral series. They were good enough to reach the final of the Tri-Nations Series against Australia and South Africa in the Caribbean earlier this year, but lost to the Aussies. “I think it is a situation where we need to come together as a team. We’ve struggled in the last few one-day series in terms of batting the 50 overs and that is one area we have addressed,” Holder said ahead of his side’s first game tomorrow. “In terms of the bowling, we need to be a lot better in the first power play, and then we have to close in the last 10 overs. Those are the significant areas we have paid some attention to. “I think once we do that and we string some big partnerships [together]. In the past, I think we have found ourselves getting a lot of starts but not carrying on – we leave less for the middle and lower order to do.” West Indies open their campaign against Sri Lanka before taking on the hosts on Saturday in their second outing.
Anniesha McLauGhlin-Whilby believes that taking a season off helped to energise her Olympic campaign. The Sprintec athlete says resting in 2015 smothered her ongoing injury issues. Now with her 31st birthday approaching, the former Holmwood Technical star is looking forward with optimism.Speaking at the G.C. Foster College for Physical Education recently, the ever-smiling McLaughlin-Whilby said, “In 2014, I ended my season right after the Commonwealth Games, and from when I started training last season, I no longer have most of the issues.”She had bounced back from injury in the 2013 World Championships 200m semi-finals to be on the Commonwealth Games team the following year, reaching the final in Glasgow, Scotland.Except for a bout of the mosquito-borne virus ZIKV, which forced her out of the 200m and into the 400m, she has been far healthier in 2016. According to her, the rest did the trick.”I think the one-year break gave my body a lot of well-needed rest, so it’s been going good,” she said.TRACK RECORDMcLaughlin-Whilby, who moved from the MVP Track Club to the Sprintec Club run by her former Holmwood coach Maurice Wilson, set personal bests of 51.35 and 51.03 seconds en route to fifth place at the National Championships.Those times followed a run of 51.40 earlier in the season and are superior to her previous 400m lifetime best of 51.89, which was established in 2012.At the Olympics, she helped Jamaica to win the silver medal in the 4x400m relay. Her contribution was a 50.2 second stint in the heats and a sparkling 49.8 second blitz in the final.The 30-year-old McLaughlin is a Champs legend with 19 gold medals won for Holmwood and records that still stand even now, long after her last race as a school girl. Her Girls’ Championships Class 3 200m and 400m records are especially good at 23.11 and 52.52 seconds respectively, and she also holds the Class 2 200m mark of 23.13.During those days, she won five Carifta Games titles, including an Under-17 100m championship in 2002. Later that year, she was the runner-up in the World Junior Championships at 200m.During her years at the University of Technology, she placed fifth in the 200m at the 2009 World Championships and in 2011 and won gold in the 200m at the World University Games.Now fully committed to the 400m, McLaughlin-Whilby is looking ahead.”(It’s) Hard work and kind of different but I’m attacking the challenge,” she grinned. “Training has been going great so I just want to continue training and do what coach tells me to do, and I know I will get the result I desire.”
One hundred metre hurdler Megan Simmonds says that competing at the 2016 Olympics has boosted her confidence. Simmonds, a first-time Olympian in Rio de Janeiro last year, says that she is now looking ahead to better things. The pint-sized hurdler was speaking moments after playing her part in a 4×100 metre win by the MVP Track Club at the Western Relays in Montego Bay on Saturday.Simmonds zipped through the first leg to send MVP on its way to a 43.61 seconds triumph and was all smiles afterwards. Asked about the impact of being an Olympian, the 22 year-old graduate of Saint Andrew High School and the University of Technology replied, “It has really given me more confidence.”She went to Rio as Jamaican number-one, having run a personal best time of 12.79 seconds to win the National Senior Championships. In Rio, she raced strongly to take her place in the semi-finals in her first Olympic Games. “Before, I guess I wouldn’t see myself being an Olympian, being as successful as I am now,” Simmonds said, “but now that I’ve had that experience, now that I’ve been past that, I’m able to look forward to bigger and better things.”QUICKER THIS YEARShe matched spikes with her Olympic teammate Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby on the first leg of the Western Relays 4×100 and looked speedy. She listened intently to a pre-Olympic observation from Leacroft Bolt, her coach at St Andrew High, about her ability to assimilate speed training and said brightly, “and I’m even quicker this year.”The 2011 World Youth finalist sounded ready to take on the world’s best in an event where the world record was lowered to 12.21 seconds last year by American Kendra Harrison. “I’m doing as much as I can to be ready for anything that comes,” she said with a steely smile.Simmonds expects to run an indoor hurdling race in Birmingham, England, on February 18.- Hubert Lawrence
LATEST STORIES Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Police seize P68-M worth of ‘shabu’ in Pasay OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Bishop Baylon encourages faithful in Albay to help Taal evacuees Travel-weary Yemenis dream big The Philippine Basketball Association Draft pool just got its first legitimate talent who can turn a franchise around.Christian Standhardinger declared for the Draft on Monday as applications for overseas-born aspirants closed, immediately becoming the hands-down top overall prospect because of his size and exemplary attitude.ADVERTISEMENT
Hotdog’s Dennis Garcia dies MOST READ Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger, whose mother hails from Angono, Rizal, easily stands out from a bumper crop of aspirants who beat the deadline, counting former La Salle ace Jason Perkins and San Beda College’s Davon Potts.Standhardinger, 27, stood out in the Jones Cup in Taiwan, Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon and Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, where the Philippines took the gold medal.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’He is seen as someone who can dominate the middle in the PBA much like June Mar Fajardo has done for San Miguel Beer.The Draft is set on Oct. 29 with KIA Picanto likely to have the top overall pick. From among the homegrown talents, the applications of Kiefer Ravena and Bobby Ray Parks are also being keenly awaited by fans.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next National Historical team rescues Amorsolos, artifacts from Taal Search on for 5 Indonesians snatched anew in Lahad Datu View comments
Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles02:11SEA GAMES 2019: PH’s Nesthy Petecio boxing featherweight final (HIGHLIGHTS)08:07Athletes treated to a spectacle as SEA Games 2019 officially ends06:27SEA Games 2019: No surprises as Gilas Pilipinas cruises to basketball gold05:02SEA Games 2019: Philippines clinches historic gold in women’s basketball05:21Drama in karate: Tsukii ‘very sad’ over coach’s bullying, cold shoulder03:24PH’s James Palicte boxing light welterweight final (HIGHLIGHTS) MOST READ End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend Winning start A costly, catty dispute finally settled View comments Break new ground It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson
The victorious Philippine sepak takraw team at the recent welcome lunch in Makati tendered by local sponsors La Filipina Canned Meats and PLDT with their hosts (second row, starting 7th from left) La Filipina executives Danika Co and Nicasio Limjap; and Juan Alonzo IV, PLDT Senior Relationship Manager – Public Sector (10th from left).The Philippine Sepak Takraw team, which bagged two silver and two bronze medals in the recently concluded 29th Southeast Asian Games, was treated recently with a warm welcome from local sponsors La Filipina Canned Meats and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).Hosting the welcome lunch were La Filipina Canned Meats executives Danika Co and Nicasio Limjap, and Juan Alonzo IV of PLDT.ADVERTISEMENT Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES Learning about the ‘Ring of Fire’ The Philippines won the bronze medal in the men’s doubles event sharing the plum with Laos.It also disputed the gold medal with host Malaysia in the men’s chin lone (linking) but settled for the silver for its first medal of the meet.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSFederer blasts lack of communication on Australian Open smogJohn Jeffrey Morcillos, Johnjohn Bobier, Rhemwil Catana, Ronsited Gabayeron, Joeart Jumawan, and Alvin Pangan composed the team which bagged the silver medal. A costly, catty dispute finally settled Glen Rice Jr. drops triple-double as TNT nips NLEX Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college LATEST STORIES Christopher Tolkien, son of Lord of the Rings author, dies aged 95 Cloudy skies over Luzon due to amihan Jury of 7 men, 5 women selected for Harvey Weinstein rape trial Bicol riders extend help to Taal evacuees Photo from FIBA.BasketballThe Philippines bowed out of the knockout stage after taking a sound beating from Canada, 102-62, in the Fiba Under-17 World Cup at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina Thursday (Manila time).Batang Gilas, which is winless in four games, will settle for a spot in the qualification stages where the best finish they Filipinos could get is the ninth place.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Taal victims get help from Kalayaan town Superfight won’t uproot grounded UFC heavyweight star Miocic MOST READ The Canadians started off strong with a 26-7 first quarter while the Filipinos failed to score a single field goal in the opening period.It wasn’t until Carl Tamayo made a layup 1:58 into the second quarter that broke the Philippine silence but Canada already had a 34-9 lead at that point.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownGerry Abadiano had a team-high 19 points for the Philippines while Kai Sotto had 16 points and eight boards.Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe put up 22 points and 11 rebounds for Canada. In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award View comments