Joseph takes a break from cricket

Sylvester Joseph, the Antigua and West Indies batsman, is taking a sabbatical from competitive cricket and, according to the Antigua Sun, is considering his future in the game.

Joseph, 28, confirmed his unavailability for this year's Leeward Islands competitions "due to personal reasons", though these latest revelations appear to be linked with his exclusion from West Indies' one-day leg of their recent tour of England.

Joseph has captained Antigua for the past six seasons, and West Indies A for two. He was due to lead the A team to Zimbabwe but, owing to concerns about security, he and several other players refused to tour. The series was subsequently cancelled.