Omari Banks
Encyclopedia
Omari Ahmed Clement Banks (born 17 July 1982) is a West Indian cricket
er and musical artist. He has appeared in 10 Test matches
for the West Indies, and currently plays domestic cricket for Leeward Islands
. In 2011 Omari began to pursue his musical career professionally and has been less involved in playing regional cricket.
Live or raw versions of some of Omari's music have appeared on YouTube including Puppy Love and Africa .
Omari Banks and his band Eleven performed at the Miss Anguilla pageant in August 2011 as part of Anguilla's Summer Festival .
Even as a cricketer Omari made various radio and television appearances and discussed his passion for music and the hope of one day pursuing music full time. He appeared on the syndicated Caribbean entertainment program Caribbean Soundtrack in summer 2010
Bankie Banx
, he became the first Anguillan to play Test cricket in May 2003. During his first innings, despite picking up three wickets, he conceded 204 runs in 40 overs, which was at the time the most number of runs conceded by a Test debutant, although it has since been surpassed by Jason Krejza
. His lower order batting is confident and assured, and he played a significant part in the highest successful fourth-innings chase in Test history, remaining 47 not out in West Indies 418 for 7 against Australia at the Antigua Recreation Ground
in 2003.
since 2000. During the 2001 season, Banks played at Leicester
. He later played for Carnforth Cricket Club
, in the summer of 2006 in Northern Premier League. He averaged 54.6 with the bat, whilst taking 27 wickets at a brief spell at the Lancashire club, before being called up to the West Indies 'A' team on the tour of England. In October 2007 he was signed by Somerset
; due to Anguilla's status as a British overseas territory, he does not count as an overseas player.
On 9 July 2009 he was suspended for 12 days by the England and Wales Cricket Board
disciplinary panel for ball tampering, he was found guilty of running his thumb and fingernails over the ball during Somerset's 2nd XI match against Essex at Vale on 1 July 2009. Somerset released the all-rounder after the close of the 2009 season, with Brian Rose
stating "He hasn't had the performances to justify another contract."
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and musical artist. He has appeared in 10 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for the West Indies, and currently plays domestic cricket for Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands cricket team
The Leeward Islands cricket team is a first class cricket team representing the member countries of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, a regional association which again is part of the West Indies Cricket Board. Contrary to the normal English definition of the Leeward Islands, Dominica is not...
. In 2011 Omari began to pursue his musical career professionally and has been less involved in playing regional cricket.
Music Career 2011 - Present
Omari's upcoming album is currently untitled and expected to be released in Spring 2012. One of the first singles on his album is "Move On" a semi-biographical song about his transition from cricket to music. Banks explained to Basil Walters of the Jamaica Observer, "In life we tend to go through different ups and downs, but the most important thing is that we move on and grow from it. That's what the song is about really. I wrote the song and the music, but on the track itself it has a number of big name musicians like Junior Jazz, Glen Browne, Robbie Lyn and Sly Dunbar. Steven Stanley produced the track."Live or raw versions of some of Omari's music have appeared on YouTube including Puppy Love and Africa .
Omari Banks and his band Eleven performed at the Miss Anguilla pageant in August 2011 as part of Anguilla's Summer Festival .
Even as a cricketer Omari made various radio and television appearances and discussed his passion for music and the hope of one day pursuing music full time. He appeared on the syndicated Caribbean entertainment program Caribbean Soundtrack in summer 2010
Test career
The son of noted Anguillan musicianMusic of Anguilla
The music of Anguilla is part of the Lesser Antillean music area. The earliest people of the island were the Caribs and Arawaks, who arrived from South America. English settlers from St Kitts and Irish people later colonised the island...
Bankie Banx
Bankie Banx
Bankie Banx is a reggae singer, known as the "Anguillan Bob Dylan".-Career:Banks's musical career dates back to 1963, when he built his first guitar...
, he became the first Anguillan to play Test cricket in May 2003. During his first innings, despite picking up three wickets, he conceded 204 runs in 40 overs, which was at the time the most number of runs conceded by a Test debutant, although it has since been surpassed by Jason Krejza
Jason Krejza
Jason John Krejza is an Australian cricketer. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers and Leicestershire. Krejza's father was a association football player from Czechoslovakia and his mother was born in Poland...
. His lower order batting is confident and assured, and he played a significant part in the highest successful fourth-innings chase in Test history, remaining 47 not out in West Indies 418 for 7 against Australia at the Antigua Recreation Ground
Antigua Recreation Ground
Antigua Recreation Ground is the national stadium of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located in St. John's, on the island of Antigua. The ground has been used by the West Indies cricket team and Antigua and Barbuda national football team...
in 2003.
Domestic career
Banks has played for the Leeward IslandsLeeward Islands cricket team
The Leeward Islands cricket team is a first class cricket team representing the member countries of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, a regional association which again is part of the West Indies Cricket Board. Contrary to the normal English definition of the Leeward Islands, Dominica is not...
since 2000. During the 2001 season, Banks played at Leicester
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
. He later played for Carnforth Cricket Club
Carnforth Cricket Club
- Introduction :Carnforth Cricket Club is based in the North-West and play their home games at Lodge Quarry, Carnforth.They have 3 teams in total, with the 1st and 2nd XI playing in the Northern Premier League, and the 3rd XI playing in The Westmorland League.- Professionals :- 1st XI Players 2009...
, in the summer of 2006 in Northern Premier League. He averaged 54.6 with the bat, whilst taking 27 wickets at a brief spell at the Lancashire club, before being called up to the West Indies 'A' team on the tour of England. In October 2007 he was signed by Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
; due to Anguilla's status as a British overseas territory, he does not count as an overseas player.
On 9 July 2009 he was suspended for 12 days by the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
disciplinary panel for ball tampering, he was found guilty of running his thumb and fingernails over the ball during Somerset's 2nd XI match against Essex at Vale on 1 July 2009. Somerset released the all-rounder after the close of the 2009 season, with Brian Rose
Brian Rose (cricketer)
Brian Charles Rose is an English former cricketer, who played in nine Tests and two ODIs for England from 1977 to 1981.-Life and career:...
stating "He hasn't had the performances to justify another contract."