The Windward Islands cricket team is a composite team representing the member associations of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control, which itself is a member association of the larger West Indies Cricket Board. The team incorporates players from several small islands in the Lesser Antilles, an island arc in the Caribbean Sea. These countries are Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which, from 1940, made up the British Windward Islands colony (sustained until 1958).Dominica is geographically part of the Leeward Islands chain, but from 1940 was associated with the Windwards colony both politically and in cricketing terms. Barbados, although geographically part of the Windward Islands chain, was made a separate colony in 1885, and competes as a separate team in West Indian domestic cricket. Although matches were played in the islands from the late 19th century,Dixon, Loshaun (2013). A historical perspective of 100 years of cricket in Leeward Islands – SKNVibes. Published 5 February 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013. a combined team was not formed until the early 1950s, when semi-annual matches against a representative Leeward Islands team commenced.Other matches played by Windward Islands – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 June 2013. The Windwards played its first match at first-class level in December 1959, against a touring English side.First-class matches played by Windward Islands – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
For the inaugural 1965–66 season of the Shell Shield, the Leewards and Windwards associations together entered a "Combined Islands" team, an arrangement which persisted on and off until the 1981–82 season, when the associations began to consistently enter separate teams.West Indies domestic cricket: First-class domestic competitions – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2013. However, the Windwards still played regularly at first-class level during this time, against other West Indian domestic teams and touring international teams. Since its re-entry into the main domestic first-class competition, the team has played every season,First-class events played by Windward Islands – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 June 2013. although the team has never won the competition.The Shell Shield / Red Stripe Cup / Busta Cup: a brief history – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2013. In total, the Leewards have played 229 first-class matches, winning 48, drawing 66, losing 115, and having eight matches abandoned.Playing record: Windward Islands – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 June 2013. Of these, 183 matches were played in the main West Indian domestic competition.West Indies domestic first-class competition playing record: Windward Islands – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 June 2013. A total of 185 players have played at least one first-class match for the team since its debut.Listing of Windward Islands players – CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 February 2013. __TOC__
Key Statistics: ‡ – served as captain † – served as wicket-keeper M – number of matches played R – total runs scored in career HS – highest score * – denotes batsman was not out Avg – average runs scored per dismissal 100 – number of centuries in career 50 – number of half-centuries in career W – total wickets taken in career BB – best bowling figures in an innings Ave – average runs conceded per wicket 5i – number of five-wicket hauls in career 10m – number of ten-wicket hauls in career C – catches taken S – stumpings effectedNationalities: (1) (2) (52) (2) (39) (1) (32) (58) Note: where players have strong ties to multiple countries, both nationalities are listed. For at least one player during the early years of the team, information on place of birth and/or nationality is lacking. These players are marked .
List of players Statistics only include first-class matches played for the Windward Islands, and are correct as of 14 June 2013: