In The Papers Today (Oct 14, 2005)

Fri, Oct 14, '05

When the ICC Test captains met in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday, the West Indies was not represented. Tony Cozier reports from Sydney that Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unavailable to attend given his national duties leading Guyana in the KFC Cup.

Instead, the West Indies Cricket Board approached Brian Lara to serve as proxy, an offer which he declined on the day before the meeting. The Board then turned to Chris Gayle, the only other West Indies player in Sydney, but he declined on account of not having significant time to prepare.

Cozier believes that Lara and Gayle declined to represent the WICB as part of the ongoing dispute between the Board and a number of players.

The Trinidad Guardian highlights the efforts being put into national youth development, with a coaching program for under 13 and under 15 players starting on Saturday. The program is being conducted by the North Zonal Council of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB).

Elsewhere in the paper, Naz Yacoob provides a round-up of local cricket. The news includes results of the Savannah Boys Windball competition which featured Dave Mohammed as well as a report that certain national umpires have distanced themselves from assertions that the Trinidad & Tobago Umpires & Scorers Council are supporting Deryck Murray?s ?Friends of Cricket? in the lead-up to T&TCB elections.

Dorian Bryan reports in the Barbados Advocate that formal plans for implementing the Stanford 20/20 tournament are making progress. A Technical Advisory Board has been set up comprising an ICC sanctioned umpire, a statistician, media consultant and representatives of Kelly Holding, the tournament organisers.

The Board will be responsible for liaising with the teams, establishing the rules and regulations for the tournament and sanctioning the format of the competition. They will also determine the tournament itinerary.

Airfares for players and officials will be covered by R Allen Stanford?s Caribbean Star Airline and team uniforms and equipment, expenses and accommodations will be provided.

The Stabroek News previews the second semi-final in the KFC Cup, which will be contested between Barbados and the Windward Islands at Bourda on Friday.

Windwards coach Ian Allen told the paper, ?Generally we will be looking to get a good start and hopefully the middle order can contribute. Once they can do that we can post a good total or chase whatever total we are set.? It seems he should have also spelled out his name, which has been printed as Ian Alleyne.

The Guyana Chronicle also previews the semi-final, saying that Courtney Browne and Rawl Lewis, captains of Barbados and the Windwards respectively, are both confident of their teams? chances going into the all-important match.

In the Jamaica Gleaner, Tony Becca writes that something is definitely wrong with Jamaica?s batsmen following their elimination from the KFC Cup after the preliminary round.

Becca ponders potential factors, asking questions like, ?Is it that they cannot bat?? and ?Is it that they cannot concentrate?? before concluding that poor attitudes are the most significant reason for the team?s failure.

The Gleaner also reports that the ICC World XI team was issued a stern warning to get their game together by the ICC CEO Malcolm Speed. The warning came hot on the heels of a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the one day part of the SuperSeries.

Speed told the team that they must perform in the match in order for the SuperSeries concept to survive. Captain Graeme Smith said he wanted to see his players showing heart, intensity and giving 100%.

Opposing captain Ricky Ponting said that the World XI would be going into the competition as favourites.

At stumps on day one of the match Australia were 331-6 after being sent in to bat when the World XI won the toss. Matthew Hayden scored 111 and Adam Gilchrist will resume on day two on 94 not out, while Justin Langer and Simon Katich both made ducks.

Hardbeat News reports that the second day of the Test match will be dedicated to providing relief to the victims of last week?s earthquake that devastated areas of Pakistan and India.

The ICC has pledged $500,000 to the Red Cross for its aid package to the affected region.