T&T Cricket Board (T&TCB) is basking in the afterglow of the historic achievements of Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine, who were recently named the top two spin bowlers in the world in T20 cricket.The ICC, the world governing body for cricket, in their latest rankings have placed Badree and Narine as the two leading bowlers in the shortest format of the game.Badree, 33, is a leg-spin bowler who was given the top spot among the world's T20 bowlers after an impressive performance for the West Indies in the recent ICC T20 Championship in Bangladesh.
The defending champions, West Indies, were beaten by Sri Lanka in the semi-final, after rain interrupted their reply to Sri Lanka. West Indies was undone by the Duckworth/Lewis method, which found them short of their opponent's total at that stage of the innings.Badree has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, and has also featured for the T&T Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the West Indies "A" team. He also had the distinction of being named in the 2014 ICC T20 Championship All Star Team. Badree has played 20 T20 internationals taking 36 wickets, with best figures of 4/12, while he has accumulated 887 wickets from 87 T20 matches.
And though better internationally recognised, Narine was rated number one by the ICC in T20 cricket going into the world tournament. Narine slipped into second following a not so spectacular bowling performance in contrast to Badree who had an outstanding World T20.Narine, 25, has played in the IPL for the Kolkota Knightriders, for the Barisal Burners in the Bangladesh T20 League, the Cape Cobras in the South Africa T20, the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL and for the West Indies Under-19s. He has played 29 T20 internationals taking 38 wickets with best individual bowling figures of 4/12, while he has grabbed 145 scalps in 112 Twenty20s with 5/19 being his best returns.
President of the T&TCB Azim Bassarath yesterday extended congratulations on behalf of his executive to Badree and Narine, saying they had brought pride and joy to T&T with their exploits on the cricket field.Bassarath said the ICC's recognition of the duo is of historic importance, since it is the first time that two local spinners have been elevated to such lofty heights."The T&TCB is justifiably proud of the achievements of both Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine and it stands testimony of their talent, commitment and dedication. It also validates the support and encouragement that both have received from the T&TCB during their career," said Bassarath.
He said the T&TCB hopes that young cricketers with their eyes fixed on reaching the highest levels of the game could use both Badree and Narine as examples and role models if they are to succeed.While Badree and Narine are being celebrated for their latest achievements, former national captain Rangy Nanan and Amit Jaggernauth remains the most successful in the regional four-day game.Nanan is eighth-placed among the top ten regional bowlers with 256 wickets in 64 matches, while Jaggernauth is tenth with 251 wickets in 63 matches. Top of the heap is Guyana's Mahendra Nagamottoo who has 325 wickets in 80 matches.