Reifer is Barbados’ skipper in CWI first class championship

The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) officially ended speculation on Friday, naming experienced all-rounder Raymon Reifer as captain of the Barbados Pride squad for the opening series of the 2025 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional First-Class Championship.

The Barbados Pride squad will oppose the Guyana Harpy Eagles during the period January 29th to February 1st at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana.

Kraigg Brathwaite, who is presently in charge of the West Indies men’s Test team in Pakistan, will lead the squad from Series 2, following his expected return to the Caribbean.

The 13-member squad for Series 1 was revealed by the BCA last week, with Reifer among the few players with significant play at this level.

The 33-year-old has played an even 100 First-Class fixtures since his debut in 2011 with Combined Campuses & Colleges. He has 3946 runs at an average of 27.21, with one three-figure score and 23 fifties. His left-arm seam bowling has earned him 198 wickets at a 26.01 average, and he has taken five wickets on seven occasions, with a further six fourfers.

The bulk of Reifer’s First-Class experience was actually as a member of the Guyana squad, having played for their franchise team between 2014 and 2020. He won multiple titles with the current two-time defending champions under the leadership of Leon Johnson, before returning to play with the Pride the past three seasons.

Reifer played a major role in Guyana’s run to the 2016-17 four-day title, with 36 wickets at 21.58 and 445 runs at 37.08, which earned him a maiden call up to the West Indies Test side ahead of their 2017 tour of England. He has played eight Test matches for West Indies—the last against India 18 months ago.
Following the opening clash against the Harpy Eagles, the Pride will return home for the second encounter—a day-night fixture using the pink ball against West Indies Academy at the historic Kensington Oval.

The Pride will leave for Guyana via the Grantley Adams International Airport on Sunday, and they will do so with a confident group of batters. The second three-day practice match ended on Thursday with a third century and two more half-centuries.

On Thursday, the third and final day at Queen’s Park, the Shayne Moseley XI got to 331-8 in 55 overs, responding to a total of 428-9 declared in 86.5 overs from the Raymon Reifer XI.

Leniko Boucher hit an even unbeaten 100 off 85 balls for the Moseley XI, inclusive of 13 fours and four sixes. Zachary McCaskie (103) and Kevin Wickham (100) had reached three figures earlier in the week.
Akil Greenidge and Under-19 star Zachary Carter were also amongst the runs. Greenidge retired on 70 not out off 79 balls, with 10 fours and a six. Carter added a quickfire 60 from just 56 balls, finding the boundary on 12 occasions.

Leg spinner Javed Leacock, who made his First-Class debut last season against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, took 5-91 for the Reifer XI. Playing for Sagicor Life UWI, the 25-year-old was among the standout bowlers in last year’s BCA Elite Division Championship.

Barbados Pride Squad: Raymon Reifer (captain), Kevin Wickham, Leniko Boucher, Jonathan Drakes, Matthew Forde, Chaim Holder, Chemar Holder, Matthew Jones, Javed Leacock, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Demetrius Richards, Ramon Simmonds Management Team: Vasbert Drakes (Head Coach), Ryan Hinds (Assistant Coach), Colin Bowen (Manager), Dr Jacqueline King (Physiotherapist), Alexander Forde (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Jamar Layne (analyst). (TF)