West Indies Championship Preview: Guyana Harpy Eagles Vs Windward Islands Volcanoes

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A new-look 2026 West Indies Championship bursts into life on Sunday, 12 April, when the competition’s most decorated franchise of the past decade, Guyana Harpy Eagles, squares off against an ambitious Windward Islands Volcanoes unit desperate to climb from the foot of the standings.

The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will stage the first of three consecutive bilateral rounds between the sides, a scheduling quirk that allows both camps to probe for weaknesses and recalibrate in real time. For the Harpy Eagles, the objective is familiar: extend a dynasty that has already delivered eight titles in ten seasons, among them three straight championships. For the Volcanoes, the mission is to prove that last year’s wooden-spoon finish was an aberration rather than a verdict on their collective ability.

Recent history favours the champions. Guyana has not lost to the Windwards in five previous encounters, registering three wins and a draw while twice dismantling their eastern neighbours by commanding margins. Tevin Imlach, the Harpy Eagles’ captain, was central to both routs, crafting centuries in each match to keep his side on a title-bound trajectory. Speaking ahead of the opener, Imlach struck a balance between respect and resolve.

“The Windward Islands Volcanoes have a competitive bunch of players, with some young talent who are eager to showcase their skills, but I believe we have the team capable of coming out on top against them when the tournament gets going,” he said.

That talent pool includes West Indies representatives Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge, as well as fresh blood from the regional academy system. Ackeem Auguste, who made his international debut in 2025, and Teddy Bishop, former West Indies Academy captain, have been drafted in to stiffen a batting order already boasting former under-19 skipper Stephan Pascal and seasoned campaigner Sunil Ambris, a 22-cap veteran across formats.

Athanaze, entrusted with the Volcanoes’ leadership, believes the reinforcements have shifted the mood within the squad. “Players such as Ackeem Auguste and Teddy Bishop provide a good cushion to our batting line-up,” he noted. “They have shown good maturity, which I think will enable us to be a stronger team in this year’s tournament.”

The captain was equally bullish about the psychological hurdle posed by Guyana’s recent dominance. “We are not going into this viewing the opposition as impossible to defeat,” Athanaze insisted. “We are confident that we will be able to give them a challenge throughout the course of the series.”

Such optimism will be tested immediately. Round 1 runs 12-15 April at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, followed by Round 2 from 19-22 April at the same venue. The sides then shift to the Coolidge Cricket Ground for the final instalment, 26-29 April, leaving little recovery time for any frailties exposed early in the series.

Imlach, mindful that past glories count for little once the first ball is bowled, has already sounded a note of caution inside the Harpy Eagles dressing room. “It is important to remind the players that what happened years are gone,” he said. “It is time to focus on what is now while creating our own legacy and playing a brand of cricket that is enjoyable.”

With Caribbean selectors monitoring performances ahead of a packed international summer, individual incentives align neatly with team ambitions. A strong start for the champions could reassert their stranglehold on the competition; a fast start for the Volcanoes might signal that a new order is ready to emerge.

When umpires call “play” on Sunday, Antigua will host more than a season opener—it will stage a clash of narratives: the relentless pursuit of continued supremacy against the hunger for redemption.