The first-class season threw up a number of players who, if harnessed properly, can possibly help arrest West Indies' slide in international cricket

England spent their first day in the West Indies on Friday in their luxury accommodation in St Kitts, an island of 35 square miles in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, populated by 45,000 easy-going inhabitants. There is no more relaxing venue to be found anywhere, ideal perhaps for temporarily blanking the persistent distraction of Kevin Pietersen, if a little too laid-back a place in which to properly get ready for three back-to-back Tests in the space of three weeks.

Captain Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jimmy Anderson would remember it as the location where they started their 2009 tour with matches against a St Kitts Invitational XI and West Indies A. They moved on to Jamaica for the first Test a few days later, where Jerome Taylor's pace sent them spiraling to 51 all out and defeat by an innings and 23.

Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes were there for 12 days at the start of England Lions' tour of seven first-class matches four years ago.

This time, England are restricted to a couple of two-day matches against St Kitts & Nevis, a team without first-class status. Cook and his men can anticipate an effortless workout. They then make the short hop of 65 miles to Antigua for the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, starting Monday, April 13. They could find that their ground work would have been better served by tougher opposition first-up.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com


Hope in young raw Talent , aint going to help much Mr. Cozier , It requires YOU
and those in your profession to be very , very critical of those in the governance
of Cricket in the Region to do the Right
Things .

It requires You , and others in your
Profession , to seriously examine the
actions of those in the governance of Cricket in the Region .

Frankly you and those in your profession
have bluntly refused to ask those in the
governance of Cricket in the Region serious questions like the following :

THERE WERE ONCE SPONSORS FOR THE REGIONAL

TOURNAMENTS , WHO STOPPED BEING SPONSORS

REAL SPORTS JOURNALISTS WOULD FIND OUT

WHY THEY LEFT ???


ASK THE WICB , WHAT CAUSED IT TO PULL

THE PLUG ON THE INDIA TOUR , WHEN IT

SHOULD HAVE REALIZED , FROM A BUSINESS

PERSPECTIVE , THEY WOULD BE LIABLE FOR

LOSSES INCURRED BY THE BCCI , IF THE

TOUR WAS CANCELLED ?????


Unless you and those in your profession
ask these , and other questions , You &
others are not going to be taken seriously .
The reason , why those in the governance of Cricket in the Region , are able to do Stupid things is because they can count on you & others to give them a pass and only
attack the Players .

In essence You have emboldened them to
do Stupid things , and then have you & others act as Shills for them . The real truth is that You and many in your profession seemingly share a Symbiotic relationship with those in the governance of Cricket , and are as guilty as they are
in the current state of Cricket in the Region .

The WICB could help these talented guys progress by arranging a few A Team tours. These tours also exposes those who are real players or just " mirages ".

In reply to POINT



There are no sponsors of FC cricket simply because the product is CRAP ....not rocket science, just not worth it from a buisiness point of view!

One reason the players get little sympathy is because of the WIPA (particularly Ramnarine who seemed a very balanced fella...a chip on both shoulders!).....in his time whinging and moaning about money,when based on THEIR performances for WI, the players were not really worth a wage,you want more money THEN earn it with performance and you have a case!!

I know little about individuals in WICB, and know your not a fan....but the ONLY WAY to improve cricket for certain is too improve coaching and facilities for the YOUNGEST players (13 and younger) any amount of 'clinics' (which seem quite a 'buzzword' in WI) for older players is absolutely pointless for long term improvement and NOT WORTH the slight if any improvement in current players 15 and over.
ALL the money (if WICB have any) MUST be spent on the youngest players and THEIR facilities.

In reply to coddy

There is a disconnect after the U-19 level, because the youngsters are giving a good account of themselves at that level.