By Marlon Joseph and S.Browne. Updated 5:44 p.m., Monday , July 28, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
One News SVG is a partner promoting the Emancipation Cricket Festival. The following is promotional content.
The Emancipation Cricket Festival presents, Clive Lloyd, living legend and captain of 2 world cup winning West Indies teams
It is not possible to talk about the halcyon days of West Indies Cricket without mentioning Clive Lloyd.
The astute, bespectacled West Indies captain from Guyana led West Indies to consecutive ODI World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979. Eloquent in the press, authoritative in the dressing room, revered by the public, decisive on the field of play as a tactician and elite cricketer, he was the archetypal captain.
Frank Worrell bolstered the global reputation of West Indies cricket with a talented team in that iconic 1960-61 series in Australia but it is Lloyd who is often credited for initiating the West Indian dominance of world cricket which lasted from late 1970s to the mid-1990s.
Although West Indies were 1975 world champions, they were battered by Australia in 1975-76 in Australia, losing 0-5 in the Test series. This ignominious thrashing spearheaded by Australia’s implacable fast-bowling pair of Thompson and Lillee, ignited a light-bulb in Lloyd’s head.
Lloyd concluded that the successful infrastructure of West Indies cricket had to be founded on 4 pillars of pace. Thus was born, the fearsome foursome of Roberts, Marshall, Holding, Garner, and Croft and others as alternates. Lloyd’s insistence on pace, aggression, professionalism and commitment to playing for Caribbean pride, brought unprecedented success.
As captain, his record of 25 consecutive Tests without defeat, including 11 consecutive wins, makes him one of the most successful captains in the history of cricket.
Lloyd’s imperious record as captain is such a stand-alone qualifier of his greatness that there is a persistent risk of diminishing the fact that he was also one of the best batsmen of his generation. Physically imposing, he combined flamboyance and power as a left-handed batsman of devastating ilk.
In 1971, he was named Wisden Cricketer of the year following a prolific season of first-class and international cricket.
Clive Lloyd’s talismanic leadership inaugurated the golden era of West Indies cricket. His all-conquering teams set the premium standard for international cricket not only for future West Indies teams, but for all of cricket.
Winning the inaugural 1975 and subsequent 1979 world cups back to back, empowered self-belief and pride in an immediate post-colonial Caribbean.
50 years after that 1975 triumph, the Emancipation Cricket Festival honors this peerless leader who epitomizes West Indian excellence.
SVG Emancipation Cricket Festival. Something legendary. Cricket meets culture. Freedom meets fire. A celebration 50 years in the making.
July 31-August 3, Arnosvale stadium, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The matches
The matches will begin on Thursday, July 31st, 2025 when Leeward Lions will face Kingstown Kings at 7:00 p.m.
Then, on Friday, August 1, Emancipation Day, Stubbs Masters will face SVG Hairouners at 3:30 p.m., and Grenadines Whalers will face Windward Warriors at 7:00 p.m.
On Saturday, August 2, there will be the third-place play-offs at 7:00 p.m., then on Sunday, August 3rd, Northern Girls will face Southern Girls at 3:30 p.m.
Then the finals which will be between Game 1 and Game 2 winners will take place at 7:00 p.m.
All matches will be held at the Arnos Vale Stadium.
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