The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
"Grab it with both hands."
That was the message from 'Jackie' Hendriks, WICB Director and President of the Jamaica Cricket Association as he addressed the batch of youngsters enrolled in the second George Headley Centre of Excellence (GHCE) programme. The official launch took place on August 6th at the GC Foster College of Physical Education in St Catherine Jamaica, where the programme will be based.
It was dubbed 'Academygate' ? the scathing report by Australian coaches 'Toot' Byron and Tim Coyle and the subsequent meeting held in December 2002 between the WICB and the St George's University where the Shell Cricket Academy is based, to discuss the contents of that report.
Then, in 2003, the Dr Rudi Webster-led Academy came under scrutiny again, when the WICB's recommendations for the positions of Head Coach and Bowling Coach were rejected. Just what goes on at the Shell Academy, located in Southwest Grenada? Are all the allegations against Dr Webster true? Was Kenny Benjamin really not wanted as he asserts? Are the facilities and equipment adequate? Is there a structured curriculum?
(Trinidad Guardian)
President of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has called on all stakeholders in West Indies cricket to come forward and do a comprehensive review of 'the business of cricket.'
Addressing the Central Zone of the TTCB annual presentation function on Saturday, Ramnarine lashed out at the WICB for allowing insularity to kill the game. "Insularity is something that is killing our cricket. The Board knows this but they fail to address the problem. In fact I would say that insularity is more prevalent at Board level, with each territory looking after its own interest and not doing what is best for West Indies cricket."
Percy Patson here chaps, feeling dreadfully sorry but as each day of the English series passes my English twang gets stronger and stronger. My West Indian flag has literally gone limp with embarrassment and my bounce has become a frightful waddle.
None of this is close to what dear ole Brian Lara is facing these days. Now, don't get me wrong, a more pompous jackass you couldn't get at times (not counting the Lord's gatekeeper) but I don't know how it's Lara's fault that this bling-bling bunch can't win a session, let alone a game.
* England's first innings 566-9 dec was their sixth highest team total against the West Indies and the eighth highest at Edgbaston. It was England's fourth highest team total at Edgbaston after 633-5 dec v India in 1979; 583-4 dec v West Indies in 1957 and 595-5 dec v Australia in 1985.
*In the first innings, Andrew Flintoff (167) and Geraint Jones (74) shared a 170- run sixth wicket partnership, an England record at Edgbaston. The previous best for England's sixth wicket at Edgbaston was 165 runs between DI Gower and G Miller, v India, 1979