The Leeward Islands cricket team is a first class cricket team representing the member countries of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, a regional association which again is part of the West Indies Cricket Board. Contrary to the normal English definition of the Leeward Islands, Dominica is not included - for cricketing purposes Dominica is a part of the Windward Islands. As such, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten are all part of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association. The team does not take part in any international competitions (although the member nation of Antigua and Barbuda took part at the 1998 Commonwealth Games), but rather in inter-regional competitions in the Caribbean, such as the Carib Beer Cup and the KFC Cup, and the best players may be selected for the West Indies team, who plays international cricket. The Leeward Islands has won a total of ten domestic titles - four in first class cricket and six in one-day cricket, but their last title was in 1997-98 when they won the double (although the first-class title was shared with Guyana).

The list of prominent cricketers who have played for Leeward Islands includes Curtly Ambrose, Keith Arthurton, Kenny Benjamin, Winston Benjamin, Ridley Jacobs, Derick Parry, Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, Andy Roberts and Stuart Williams.

The Leeward Islands played their inaugural first-class game in 1958, and lost by an innings and 19 runs to Jamaica. However, their first win did not come until 1968-69, when they beat Guyana by 43 runs at the Warner Park Sporting Complex ground. From 1965-66 to 1980-81 the team competed as the Combined Islands in first-class cricket, along with the best cricketers from the Windward Islands. However, when regular one-day competitions began in 1975-76 the island groups were separate, and the Leeward Islands won on their third outing in 1977-78.

In 1981-82 the Leeward Islands made their debut in the Shell Shield with a 57-run win over the Windward Islands (the season after the Combined Islands had won the title), but it was to take eight seasons until they could lift the first-class trophy - which by then had been renamed the Red Stripe Cup. From 1989-90 to 1997-98, however, the Leeward Islands won five first-class titles (one shared) and four one-day titles (one shared), but since then they have failed to win any major trophy in the West Indies.

2005-06 squad

Captain Sylvester Joseph Batsmen Wilden Cornwall Shane Jeffers Steve Liburd Junie Mitchum Austin Richards Tonito Willett Runako Morton '''Wicket-keeper Alderman Lesmond

All-rounders Omari Banks Bowlers Colin Hamer Kerry Jeremy Carl Simon Gavin Tonge Maxford Pipe Curtis Roberts Adam Sanford

Roll of honour

• Domestic first-class competition winners: 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98 (shared)
• Domestic one-day competition winners: 1977-78 (shared), 1981-82, 1992-93 (shared), 1993-94, 1994-95, 1997-98

Grounds

The Leeward Islands play cricket on all the islands, though the only ground to have seen Test cricket (and also the ground with the most home matches, with 50 first-class games) is the Antigua Recreation Ground. However, their last match at the ARG was in January 2001, while another traditional ground, Warner Park in St Kitts, with 28 first-class games with Leeward Islands, saw its last game in January 1994, although it is currently revamped for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. In the 2004-05 season, the Leeward Islands played their home games at Salem Oval (Montserrat), Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex (St Kitts), Carib Ground (St Maarten), Addelita Cancryn Junior High School Ground (St. Thomas) and Grove Park (Nevis).

References

External links

• Cricinfo
• CricketArchive
• 2005-06 KFC Cup Squad from Cricinfo
• Leeward Islands Cricket - Info from West Indies Cricket Board