THERE are likely to be three changes to the West Indies team for the second Cable & Wireless Test against Australia starting at the Queen’s Park Oval tomorrow.
A source close to the team said yesterday the trio coming in will be wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh jr for the injured Ridley Jacobs, vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan for out of form Marlon Samuels and spinner Omari Banks for Jermaine Lawson who has been struck down with chicken pox.
Meanwhile, the West Indies team practiced in the sweltering midday heat at Queen’s Royal College again yesterday and skipper Brian Lara was a confident man with one day to go before the match. “The boys are really all geared up for this match and we are looking forward to getting a good result at the Queen’s Park Oval. “I have had a look at the Oval pitch and it looks a good cricket wicket. Once our players show up ready to fight we are going to do well against this Australian team.” He was non-committal on the composition of his team however, but said that the pitch will determine the final squad. “When we take a final look at the pitch then we will be able to name the right team for that track.”
Lara who has never scored a Test century at the Queen’s Park Oval in front of his home crowd is very keen to correct that statistic. “I really would like to score a Test hundred in Trinidad but more importantly I want the team to do well. It is all about the West Indies team and not about Brian Lara or any single member of the team.” Lara started off the current tour well with a century in the second innings of the first Test in Guyana, after 26 in the first before falling to a dubious leg before decision. Also getting hundreds in the nine-wicket defeat were Daren Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpual who scored the third fastest hundred in Test cricket history off only 69 balls. The Australians leading the series 1-0, took in a light training session at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday and will again turn up today to fine-tune their skills.
They are expected to play an unchanged team for the Test with five bowlers and six batsmen in the line-up. Skipper Steve Waugh is fit again after his hand injury in the first Test and sent down a few balls just to show his readiness. Both teams will take in their final training session this morning at the Queen’s Park Oval.
KINGSTOWN: Guyana whipped Trinidad and Tobago by nine wickets, snapping the three-time defending champions’ extraordinary winning streak at 18 games as the West Indies Under-15 cricket tournament continued yesterday.
The Guyana captain Krishna Deosarran produced a fine all-round performance, grabbing three wickets and posting a half-century to hand Trinidad and Tobago their first loss in the tournament since 1999. In other matches, Jamaica defeated the Leeward Islands by six wickets, and the Windward Islands beat Barbados by seven wickets. Batting first at Stubbs, Trinidad and Tobago, who won the championship in 2000, 2001, and 2002, struggled to 141 all out off 47.1 overs with spinner Deosarran capturing three for 23 and fast bowler Anthony Foster, three for 28.
Vishan Jagessar top-scored for Trinidad and Tobago with 37. Man of the Match Deosarran then stroked 54 not out and Stephen Jacobs 43 not out, as the Guyanese cruised to 143 for one – off only 31.5 overs – and their second consecutive win. At Arnos Vale, Jamaica joined Guyana on top of the early point standings with their second win. The Leeward Islands first posted 202 for eight off 50 overs, with Orlando Peters getting 61 and Kieran Powell 30. Spinner Tavare Green bagged three for 30 for the Jamaicans, who coasted to victory at 203 for four off 44.4 overs, with captain and Man of the Match Jamie Trenchfield hitting an unbeaten 71, with five fours and one six. Marlon Johnson (39) and Zeniffe Fowler (22) were the next highest scorers for Jamaica, who are bidding for their first Under-15 title since winning the inaugural championship at home in 1996.
Barbados crashed to their second straight loss when Man of the Match St Clair Dixon propelled the Windwards to a good win at Sion Hill. Raydon Toppin struck a shot-filled 57 not out, with eight fours and two sixes, while captain Jedd Yearwood and Simon Steele each got 36, but the Barbados total of 194 for nine off 50 overs was not enough. Dixon, whose off-spin bowling earned him figures of three for 35, guided the Windwards to victory with 74, supported by Lauron Francois (72) and Andre Fletcher (35 not out). The Windwards ended on 197 for three off 47.2 overs. The tournament takes a break today and resumes tomorrow with the Windwards playing the Leewards, Trinidad and Tobago facing Jamaica, and Guyana tackling Barbados.
EX-WEST INDIES fast bowling sensation Michael Holding questioned the West Indies Board advertisement for an assistant coach before selecting one.
Speaking at the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) charity dinner on Wednesday night, Holding told a packed audience: “Why wasn’t the post of assistant coach advertised by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) prior to the selection.” Trinidadian Gus Logie was made assistant coach and the WICB announced that Australian Bennet King would be head coach. Since then King has said he wasn’t interested in coaching West Indies, and Logie is performing the role of coach for the current series against Australia and later Sri Lanka.
WICB president Wes Hall in his address answered Holding saying: “We didn’t advertise the position of assistant coach because we were not going to name one, but every prospective candidate interviewed said they would like an assistant if given the job.” Holding congratulated the WICB for having a lot more of the former players take an active role in the running of regional cricket and said things are moving forward under the new administration.
The man dubbed “Whispering Death” in his heyday told the players he hated “player strikes” and said that it must be an absolute last resort when coming to dealing with the players affairs. He also advised the president of WIPA Dinanath Ramnarine to embrace all cricketers in the region. “For this association and West Indies cricket to go forward you must embrace all the players of the region not only the Test players. You must have the under-19s and other youth teams in your association so you can teach them and give them the proper guidance. “You must be able to talk to them, let them know how important it is to represent the West Indies.”
Hall welcomed WIPA into the world of industrial relations and added that they must include every player who played Test cricket for the West Indies since its inception in 1928. “Everyone of the players must be included and also the young ones” Michael said. “You must get to them and teach them the game of life, not only negotiate financial terms.” Former Australian Test player David Hookes also addressed the gathering and brought greetings from the Australian Players Association.
WIPA president Ramnarine hailed the dinner as a tremendous success and treasurer Wavell Hinds handed over a cheque for US$15,000 to Clive Pantin of FEEL the chosen charity on the night. Ramnarine said WIPA is not against the West Indies Board and has been formed to work together with the WICB for the upliftment of West Indies cricket. “There is much to do if we are to regain our rightful place at the top of world cricket. If we are to succeed and sustain the gains we have made, much would depend on the depth of our cricketers and our cricket.”
THE 2003 season of the T&T Pro League will be suspended in July, in anticipation of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA and Mexico.
Caribbean Football Union secretary Harold Taylor made this disclosure yesterday, at a luncheon with the national football team at Le Sportel Inn, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna. But Taylor was quick to note that the team had to put their best foot forward in order to secure one of two final spots next week in Martinique. Trinidad and Tobago will face hosts Martinique and Honduras in a three-team play-off next week. Also attending the luncheon was former English Premiership striker Garth Crooks of Tottenham Hotspur, whose career spanned from 1977-1990.
In a brief address to the national squad, Crooks told the players “I want to wish you well and good luck in your two games.” Crooks is currently an announcer at the BBC Sports Service. The stocky Crooks was personally invited by CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner to deliver the feature address at tomorrow’s Joe Public Football Club end-of-season awards, also at the Centre of Excellence.
THE 70-member Trinidad and Tobago team as well as the 21-member Barbados squad arrived at the Games Village, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, as preparations for this weekend’s 23rd annual CARIFTA Track and Field Championships continue.
And the 80-member Jamaica unit, featuring boys Under-20 200m and 400m gold medal prospect Usain Bolt and quartermiler Anneisha McLaughlin were expected to arrive last night from Kingston. Teams have been slow in arriving in Trinidad for the competition, which will commence with a gala opening ceremony at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 4 pm tomorrow. But all officials are expected to have their final de-briefing session at 7 pm today at Teak Room, Crowne Plaza Hotel where issues such as the timetable, protests and doping control will be discussed.
Meanwhile, defending boys U-20 5,000-metre champion Cleveland Forde will lead the 15-member Guyana team to the Games in Trinidad and Tobago this weekend. Forde was a double bronze medallist – 5,000 and 10,000 metres – at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championship last year.
Squad:
Boys U-20s – Cleveland Forde, Royston Ross, Cleon Washington.
Girls U-20s – Ashanti Scott.
Boys U-17s – Quacy Trotman, Delmas Reddock, Rodwell Downer, Ricky Kission, Ronald Payne, David Young, Kendingo Thomas.
Girls U-17s – Diane Munroe, Serma Mentore, Donna April, Jennifer Chichester.
UEFA football expert Dr Zdenek Sivek will be chief lecturer at a “Tactics and Systems of Play” seminar at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna.
But this seminar sponsored by UEFA through the initiative of CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner has been put back to May 16 and 17 because of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Caribbean Zone playoffs in Martinique between April 23 and 27. Registration for the seminar closes on May 10 with CONCACAF director of development Richard Brathwaite.
Dr Sivek is vice-president of the Union of European Football Coaches and a former chief executive officer of the Czech Republic Football Association, and holds a doctorate in psychology and MBA from the University of Sheffield. Trinidadian Alvin Corneal, a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup technical study group and FIFA instructor and another ex-Trinidad and Tobago star Lincoln Phillips, a FIFA instructor and specialist goalkeeper coach will also lecture at the seminar. The lecturers will focus attention on the history of playing systems, modern tactics in attack and defence, future systems of play and choosing the right system.
RONALD De Silva netted a hat-trick of goals as Queen’s Park swept past Petrotrin 4-0 to take the Men’s Championship Division crown as the knockout phase of the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) 2003 season continued on the astroturf, National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua.
But before they scored in Wednesday night’s game, the Parkites saw Raphael Govia miss a penalty flick. Brother Nicholas Govia got the go-ahead goal midway into the opening half however. Then De Silva gave the Queen’s Park outfit a two-goal cushion at the half-time interval. And he completed his hat-trick in the second stanza to secure victory for the Queen’s Park team.
RACES carded for the turf course on Guineas Day, Arima Race Club Day 12 at Santa Rosa Park, on Monday, will be run off as planned.
This was the firm comittment given by ARC chief executive officer, Persad Rooplal yesterday. “There is no change to the decision taken on Tuesday,” stated Rooplal. “We are still firm that we are racing on the turf.” The decision referred to by Rooplal was regarding clearance given to racing on the turf, was made by the ARC after a party comprising major players in the racing industry inspected the course. This team of inspectors walked the grass course before giving the ARC their opinion to go ahead with the races on the inner circuit, was made up of members of the Jockeys Association, Racehorse Trainers Association, and Racehorse Owners Association, and also included trainer John O’Brien, president of the ARC, Rooplal and Roy Podmore, a raceday steward.
But fears that the six turf races on the 11-race programme might be switched to the main course surfaced yesterday, after owners of two horses listed to race in the Union Park Turf Club Champagne Stakes, the supporting event to the Easter Guineas on the holiday card, indicated their intention to withdraw from racing on the turf if ground conditions do not change. At the draw for post positions on Wednesday at the sponsors’ Off Track Betting outlet in Marabella, owners Roland Khan and Mike Samlalsingh promised to keep the Champagne “big two” Adawar and Sugar Mike indoors, if the ground conditions do not improve.
They reasoned their expensive runners will be at risk of injury on the bone- hard surface currently being experienced at racing headquarters because of the long drought. But both owners expressed an inclination to racing their horses in the graded event worth $75,000 in prize money, if it is shifted to the sand course. Their choice to race on the main course only, was a talking point at the race track in Arima yesterday, where opinions were divided. While some saw their point and were in favour of the switch, other owners with runners in the 1600 metres turf event expressed the belief it will be an injustice to take the race off the course it was intended for. Some trainers with runners in other events framed for the grass, have signalled their intentions to withdraw all their runners, as a mark of protest if the ARC decides to switch these races to the main sand track.
THIS year’s 80th Annual Police Sports meeting will be held at the St James Barracks, on May 10 from 9.30 am. But the five-mile road race will be run off on May 4 from 4.30 pm, to signal the start of the meet which will run for a full week.
Starting May 5, there will be display booths on the hockey field, where Fire Services, Prisons, Defence Force, Customs and Police will show off their wares to invited primary, senior and junior secondary school kids and homes. On May 6 there will be a cultural show featuring police officers along with the police band and guest artiste, doing gospel songs, rhythm and blues and soca. Heats for field and trtack events are down to be contested on May 7 and continue on May 8 to be followed by a retreat dress rehearsal from 5 pm. And after a rest-day on May 9 the action begins next day with a march past from 9.30 am followed by the full track competition.
Meanwhile, the lawmen and police women will stage a windball cricket series at the Barracks on Easter Monday (April 21) from 10 am. And on April 26th there will be a rifle shooting competition at the Tucker Valley shooting range also from 10 am. Netballers will take to the court, also at the St. James Barracks from 10 am on May 1, while there will be a five-a-side football tournament on May 6 from 11 am. Saturday 26 will feature a Shooting Competition at the Tucker Valley Shooting Range and Thursday May 1 the St James Barracks will host a Netball Competition and Tuesday May 6 will end the Sporting Discipline Activities with a 5-A-Side Football competition. Commissioner Hilton Guy will declare the meeting open and present prizes to winners.
YOUNG footballer Damian Prescott sports, instead of eyebrows, two Nike “swooshes” tatooed on his face which can be described as war scars and has a passion for success, a passion he believes coupled with hard work could help him realise his dreams.
The former Airport’s Authority semi-professional player who endorses the talents of senior national players Marvin Andrews and Arnold Dwarika took a page out of Stern John’s book and spoke about the attitude of our nation’s sportsmen mainly footballers. He said they lacked passion for the discipline (football) and though they may have the talent, does not show the drive needed to succeed internationally. Prescott, who since 1997 went to the United States in search of a football scholarship with a team of all-stars coached by Ron La Forest and included such players as St. Nicholas Benjamin and Richard Santano, returned to Trinidad to gain Pro League and national team experience to beef up his resume as he hopes to play professionally in France.
While in the US, Prescott was discovered by Enzo, a Japanese coach, and played in the US Super League. But he sustained an ankle injury which forced him to sit out play for a while. Prescott is eager to return to football and is currently training with North East Stars. He believes that with his new attitude and improved fitness he is set to see his dreams come to fruition. Having also played on the United Nations’ football team which was coached by Diego Maradona’s cousin, Remy, Prescott received an invitation to play in an Europe vs The World charity football match.
In this charity match, Prescott is set to line up alongside FIFA Footballer of the Year Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane. Prescott has a great confidence in his ability to succeed and if his playing ability matches up he may become a force on the French football fields. He also made calls for our footballers to do some charity work, especially with the AIDS and crime epidemics looming.
