ST. JOHN’S: The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed yesterday that West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson has been reported for a suspect bowling action.
Umpires David Shepherd and Srinivas Venkataraghavan made the report after reviewing footage of Lawson’s action taken on the first day of the Fourth Cable and Wireless Test between Australia and the West Indies in Antigua. ICC match referee, Mike Procter, has since informed both the ICC and the player’s team management of the decision, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process. “The umpires asked to review footage of Lawson’s action from the first day’s play. After reviewing the footage today, the umpires have now reported the bowler to the ICC,” said Procter.
“This issue now comes under the ICC’s regulations dealing with this matter and over the next six weeks, Lawson and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern. Lawson will be able to continue to play during this time. “The umpires nominated a number of deliveries that were of concern including over 19, ball 2; over 21, balls 23 and 6; over 23, ball 4; over 25, ball 4; over 33, ball 5; over 37, ball 1; over 67, balls 2 and 4; and over 71, balls 1 and 2,” an ICC release stated. The ICC’s regulations detail a two-stage process for bowlers reported for suspect actions. Lawson is now under stage one of the process, which allows Lawson to continue to play international cricket while working with specialist advisors to be appointed by his home Board and a human movement specialist from an ICC specialist panel to review his bowling action. This stage will last up to six weeks.
At the end of this time, a detailed report will be compiled by the WICB and submitted to the ICC. This will then be circulated to all ICC match referees and elite panel umpires for information and reference. No further report can be lodged within this six-week period, however, the bowler remains subject to being “called” on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game. Stage two of the process applies if, after the six-week period expires, a second report is lodged. A formal hearing is then held by the ICC’s Bowling Review Group and the player may be banned from the game for 12 months or until the BRG is satisfied that the concerns with his action are rectified before the expiration of this time.
CHARLOTTE: Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen Ames finished 34th at the US $5.6 million Wachovia Championship on Sunday after carding a final round 70.
Ames, who occupied sixth spot after the first round, ended with an even-par 288 total, 10 strokes behind the winner David Toms of the United States. Tom’s 10-under 278 was good enough for a two-stroke victory over the trio of Vijay Singh, Robert Gamez and Brent Geiberger and his winning purse of US $1 million is the largest payoff among his eight PGA TOUR victories. Ames had previous rounds of 69, 75 and 74 and failed in his bid for a third top-10 finish of the 2003 PGA Tour. He was eighth at the Bob Chrysler Classic in February and 10th at the Bay Hill Invitational in March.
TORONTO, Canada: Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands won Sunday’s Can$182,950 George Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine aboard El Prado Essence, a horse that carries special significance for him on Mother’s Day.
The last time Husbands rode El Prado Essence to victory in a stakes event was on September 2, 2001, when he guided the chestnut mare to a win in the Seaway Stakes. That same day, Husbands sadly learned that his mother had passed away at home in Barbados. A year and a half later, the four-time Sovereign Award winning jockey once again mounted El Prado Essence on Sunday, in search of the same result for a fitting Mother’s Day tribute. “Today is a special day for my Mom,” said Husbands. “Everybody is enjoying Mother’s Day and I lost my mother on the same day I rode this horse. I want to say, ‘Mom, I wish you all the best up there, and we’re down here thinking about you,” he told reporters.
The 5-2 favourite Brass in Pocket finished third. Husbands, the season’s leading rider, had another winner on the card, scoring in the third astride Kissed By A Prince (6-1) by a length. Trinidadian Emile Ramsammy also registered a double — Stormthebarricade (4-1) in the fourth race for Jamaican trainer Laurie Silvera, and 2-1 favourite One For The Rose in the seventh race. Ramsammy is lying second in the table with 20 wins, four behind Husbands. Barbadian riders had a fruitful weekend at other Canadian tracks — Assinboia Downs and Stampede Park. Juan Crawford, the 1998 Barbados champion, logged doubles on Friday and Saturday and another win on Sunday to be joint leading rider — with seven wins — at Assinboia Downs where Jason Leacock rode three wins on Sunday. Quincy Welch, after missing the first month of the season at Stampede Park on a drug (failed marijuana test) suspension, rode two winners.
SUGAR MIKE will have to hand out between two kilos to Champagne Wager and eight kilos to Punto A Punto in Saturday’s feature Handicap 2 and Lower sprint for Imported and West Indies-bred three-year-olds.
The 1200 metres event with a purse of $26,000 will be run off at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Weights for four races were released by handicappers Wayne Shockness and Robin Jaisingh yesterday. Beaten UPTC Easter Guineas favourite Royal Flush is set to make a reappearance in the 1750 metres event for West Indies-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds who have not won more than three races.The Arima Race Club were forced to scrap one race, that for West Indies-bred three-year-olds non-winners of two races over 1100 metres which drew an entry of just two horses. American-bred X To Board and Outrageous Victory are set to make their local debuts in the 1100 metres event for imported maidens.
Here are the weights for the four handicap races:
RACE 3: IMPORTED 3 Y.O. MAIDENS HANDICAP – 1100 METRES – Outrageous Victory 56.5; Lovely Honoree 54.5; Gaza Strip 54.5; X To Board 54.5; Cyber Five 54.5; Kalyan 53.5; Maracas Bay 53.5; I’m No Hunter 48.5; Pattie’s No Angel 44.5.
RACE 4: W.I. BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER NON-WINNERS OF TWO RACES – 1100 METRES (TURF) – Hillside Symphony 56.5 (56.5); Kent’s Delight 55 (54); Living In Hope 55 (55); Lazar Wolf 54.5 (54.5); V For Victory 54.5 (52); Lantern Lady 53.5 (52); Hundred Percent 53 (53); Tribal Place 53 (51.5); First Love 51.5 (50); Estilon 51.5 (48.5); Cold Risk 48.5 (46.5).
RACE 6: W.I. BRED 3 Y.O. WINNERS & W.I. BRED 4 Y.O. & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES – Royal Flush 56.5; Super Grey 52.5; Actual Lady 52.5; Isle Be There 51.5; Undisputed 49.5; Sweet Laura Lee 49.5; Upset All 48; Wild Life 47.5; First Love 44.5; Daurian 44.5.
RACE 7: HANDICAP 2 & LOWER W.I. BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER WINNERS & IMPORTED 3 YY.O. & OVER – Sugar Mike 56.5; Champagne Wager 54.5; Song Of Freedom 53.5; Movietown Magic 53; Gold Master 53; Man Of Class 50; Punto A Punto 48.5.
The Angostura Tobago Sailweek got off to an exciting start off Pigeon Point yesterday.
The event received the blessing of Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London and his Secretary for Tourism Neil Wilson when they sounded the horn to officially set things on the way on Sunday. Action on Day One yesterday saw new kid on the block, Guardian Star, taking the honours in the premier Racing Class. Previously racing under the name Hooligan, a new sponsor and new image, seemed to have done good for Guardian Star and crew Tim Kimpton and company, who had Tenshun trailing in second in the first race, and returned to again nudge out Tenshun in the second event. That apart, there was a bit of misfortune for the crew of Pressure, as their only female member fell into the water while rounding the first marker, but whe was quickly plucked out of the drink by photographer Tim Wright who was on his nearby dinghy. She suffered no major injury but a bruised ego, and was quickly back aboard Pressure.
Other Results: Cruiser Racer Class – 1 Hugo; 2 Spirit of Saint Nick ; 3 Wayward.
Cruising Class – 1 Nirvana; 2 After Hours; 3 Les Remours
Charter Class 1 – 1 Saga Boy; 2 Long Gone; 3 Obsession
Charter Class 2 – 1 Geonome; 2 Hienga 3 French Connection
Comfort Cruising – 1 Udjat; 2 Maid of Merlin; 3 Yucca
CARDIFF: Lanky Trinidad and Tobago international defender Dennis Lawrence struck one of Wrexham’s goals as they cruised past Newport 6-1 to win the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Premier Cup this past weekend.
Lee Trundle scored twice as Wrexham ended the season on a high. With promotion already secured, Wrexham went into the matching for their 10th successive victory and their fourth Premier Cup title. With just 90 seconds on the clock, Lawrence popped up to force home a Scott Grenn corner before Andy Morrell chipped in on 14 minutes. Newport offered little resistance and the Dragons made it 4-0 by half-time. Jim Whitley was the third man on the scoresheet as he started a move in midfield that ended with Trinidadian Carlos Edwards setting him up to fire home on 21 minutes.
Trundle got the first of his pair just after the half-hour mark to put the match out of sight. Shaun Pajic made it 5-0 in the 68th minute and Trundle’s second four minutes later put the icing on the cake as he curled in a delightful low shot from the edge of the area. Shappard volleyed in fine goal from an angle to spoil Wrexham’s clean sheet but the victory secured Wrexham’s promotion and cup double and the 100 thousand pound (US $161,195) prize money may go some way to keeping a number of key players at the club.
LONDON: Trinidad and Tobago’s Dwight Yorke and Stern John ended their English Premiership season with goals for their clubs on Sunday.
Yorke’s strike contributed to a 4-0 drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur that secured a UEFA Cup spot for Blackburn, while John’s effort helped Birmingham battle West Ham to a 2-2 draw. West Ham have been relegated to the First Division after the draw and rivals for the drop, Bolton Wanderers, beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at home on the final day of the season. Rovers’ easy success at White Hart Lane, allied to Everton’s 2-1 defeat against champions Manchester United at Goodison Park, ensured European football will be played at Ewood Park again come August. Yorke opened the scoring in the fourth minute, lashing in a perfect pass from strike partner Andy Cole for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
Craig Hignett made it 2-0 a minute before half time, while Damien Duff (47th) and Andy Cole (59th) sealed the stylish win with second half efforts. At St Andrews Stadium where all four goals came in the last 25 minutes, West Ham went ahead through Les Ferdinand on 65 minutes. Geoff Horsfield brought Birmingham level in the 79th minute, before John struck the go-ahead goal — his ninth goal League and Cup of the season — in the 87th minute. John slid in to fire Robbie Savage’s deflected pass under the crossbar. A minute later, Paolo Di Canio scored for West Ham to secure the draw but they needed a better result than Bolton to avoid joining West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland in the first division next season.
ST JOHN’S: Former Test pacer Andy Roberts believes coaching the West Indies is difficult because players are averse to being told what to do.
Roberts, a former West Indies coach, believes successive West Indies coaches have encountered resistance from players because the region has not had a traditional coaching culture. He conceded that his tenure as coach from 1995 to 1996 was problematic. “It was difficult because having a coach was a new experience for West Indies cricket, Rohan (Kanhai) was just before me, and he had similar problems that the players would not listen,” Roberts said on CMC’s DHL CricketPlus lunch-time show yesterday. “Even now, I think Gus (Logie) may be having the some of the same problems, Roger Harper had those same problems, every coach that is appointed by the West Indies Cricket Board has similar problems,” he added.
Roberts, 52, believes the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) should institute measures to ensure that the function of coaching gets better support. “What we need is programmes now from an early age, where the player listens to the coach so that when that player reaches the highest level, they will listen to the coach. “If you look at the Australians, they listen to what John Buchanan tells them, because they believe that Buchanan is there to help them. “Our players do not believe in the coach,” said Roberts, who played 47 Test matches and took 202 wickets at an average of 25.61. Some players, Roberts said, are unwilling to accept advice and instructions from coaches, and the regional game suffers as a result. “Some players think that they are above being spoken to, so they do as they please.
“They are not coachable because they were never coached before, a lot of (these) players were never told what to do. “Somebody is sitting down, looking at the game, reading the game, analysing what needs to be done and make suggestions to the player, and he doesn’t want to accept it,” Roberts said. Roberts, the 1975 Wisden “Cricketer of the Year,” complained that players in the Caribbean rise to the level of international cricket with glaring technical deficiencies. “You cannot change technique at international level because the same way that I am seeing these faults it’s the same way the opposition is seeing the faults, and the opposition are able to exploit it,” Roberts said.
Led by veteran all-rounder Allan Ramroop, TransBrokerage Couva Sports are set for promotion after dominating the Carib National Cricket League Division Two competition this season.
With one match to complete the seven-match round robin league, Couva Sports are in an impregnable position and cannot be overhauled.They are currently on 129 points. An impressive 194 by former Trinidad and Tobago opener Deonarine Deyal piloted Couva Sports to first innings points from British American Aranguez in the sixth round match played at the Couva Junior Secondary Ground over the weekend. Couva Sports amassed 353 for seven wickets declared and then spinner Vinoo Ramdhanie led the way with four wickets for 34 runs as Aranguez were skittled out for a meagre 113.
Batting a second time, Couva Sports reached 219 for seven with left-handed Deyal the topscorer for the second time in the match. He notched 77 and took his overall season’s tally to 503 runs. Ramdhanie also carried his overall bowling analysis to 43 wickets. Guyana’s hard-hitting opener Andrew Gonsalves also contributed to the team’s success and has so far compiled 485 runs with a new Division Two individual batting record of 245 versus Caroni Wanderers in their fifth round encounter. Commenting on the team’s success, skipper Ramroop described it as a lot of hard work and dedication by the all the players. “We feel very good with our efforts but we have to strengthen the team with some younger players next year. We definitely would be looking to get a better wicketkeeper,” he said. He joined the 56-year-old-club in 1981 and two years later the club gained promotion to Division Two.
Only once did the club lose their place in Division Two when they were demoted in 1990 but regained their position the following year. With the additional services of Deyal, Gonzales and former TT allrounder and swing bowler Richard Sieuchan as well as their regular members, the club’s long cherished dream of competing among the best have materialised. They have their sponsor, Hafiz Mohammed of TransBrokerage Services Limited, an active player with the club, a very happy man. Couva businessman and sports official Nal Ramsingh, also a staunch supporter of the club, has provided trophies and medals for their presentation function.
Summarised Scores
TRANSBROKERAGE COUVA SPORTS 353 for 7 (Deonarine Deyal 194, Fareed Hosein 58, Andrew Gonzales, Allan Ramroop 37) and 215 for 9 (Deyal 77, Richard Sieuchan 48, Ganesh Mahabir 3 for 60) vs BRITISH AMERICAN ARANGUEZ 113 (Vinoo Ramdhanie 4 for 34, R Sieuchan 2 for 23, F Hosein 2 for 15, Shiva Jaipaul 2 for 22).
Hard-hitting Andy Jackson set the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva alight with his power-hitting when he smashed eight sixes and two fours and piloted Clico Preysal to a 28-run victory over Caroni Wanderers in their Fruta Cricket Festival first round fixture.
Playing in the second match of the 15-overs-a-side double-header, Prey-sal rattled up 161 for six wickets. Left-handed Jackson blazed 69 and copped the “Man of the Match” award while Nevin Stewart, 36, Ravi Rampaul, 27 not out and Shazam Babwah, 21, were the other contributors on Friday night. Former national allrounder Rajendra Mangalie, who played for Wanderers last year, skippered S&J Endeavour Sports in this year’s Carib Division Two competition. He is playing as one of the two guest players allowed and immediately showed his allround ability by hammering a quickfire 37 to add to the two wickets claimed in Preysal’s innings.
Wanderers captain Avidesh Samaroo made 35 as Wanderers reached 133 for seven off the allotted 15 overs. Rampaul took two wickets for 35 while Kevin Nanan got two for 29 to deny their Couva neighbours. Allrounder Ernil Ryan scored 28 and scalped two wickets for 34 as he led Queen’s Park Cricket Club to a six-wicket win over British American Aranguez in the first match of the 2003 series. Batting first, Aranguez made 109 for 7 in 15 overs with former TT senior player John Suraj being the topscorer with 34. Promising Jonathan Augustus proved the impetus for the Parkites as he raced to an unbeaten 33 while Ricardo Paty made 20 in addition to Ryan’s allround contribution, which earned him the “Man of the Match” award.
