In The Papers Today (Sep 27, 2005)

The Trinidad Express brings news direct from the West Indies cricket camp in Barbados. In one team manager Tony Howard, downplays any notion of a rift between players in the face of the ongoing contract dispute.

With half the players selected currently encamped in Barbados having sided with the West Indies Players' Association and the other half having committed to tour Sri Lanka, friction has been widely anticipated.

On intra-team relations, Howard says: "Generally speaking, there's camaraderie and I expected nothing less. These are players who have been playing on the circuit for several years and any minor things that come up among the organisations that represents them should not really affect them when it comes to playing cricket."

It should be noted that Howard has been accused of pressuring players on the West Indies 'A' team into breaking ranks with WIPA.

Additionally, the Express reports that Jerome Taylor and Jermaine Lawson have also joined the camp, despite being excluded from the shortlisted squad of 24. The two fast bowlers arrived in Barbados to participate in physical training that will assist their rehabilitation.

A majority of campers were put through their paces in a tough workout on Sunday. The squad then spent Monday with Bennett King, David Moore and Sir Garfield Sobers at the indoor nets.

A letter to the Express from one of its readers conveys disappointment over the scheduling of 2006 Home Series matches. In a manner many a fan can relate to, the letter writer claims that Digicel is not only choosing the team but also dictating the fixtures.

The crux of the issue is that cricket in Trinidad is all but impossible in late May, June and July (heavy rainy season) and that the only people who will enjoy it are a few mad Englishmen as they dive naked along the pitch. In closing, the author says: "I love West Indies cricket more than a free mobile phone in my pocket."

The Trinidad Guardian reports that Deryck Murray and his Friends of Cricket group have secured the support of Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Umpires & Scorers Council (T&T CU&SC) ahead of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board annual general meeting and elections.

President of the CU&SC, Clarence Shaffrali says there is a need for experienced leaders to take over so that the sport can rebuild, and that 'Friends of Cricket' can offer the necessary personnel.

Naz Yacoob reports that after being refused permission to hold a 2004 Regional First Class match, the Wilson Recreation Ground in Penal will be assessed by the West Indies Cricket Board's Grounds Committee.

The ground has been included in the 2005/06 itinerary but must be approved by the regional board before it can be used. Factors including pitch, outfield, drainage, boundary sizes and dressing room facilities will all be scrutinized when the committee visits on Tuesday.

In the Barbados Advocate, Dorian Bryan writes that more than 250 Caribbean parties have signalled intent to become licensees in the ICC Cricket World Cup Licensing and Merchandising program, exceeding anticipated interest. According to Bryan?s article a representative of the CWC Licensing department says that the first of the deals will be inked this October.

Further into the piece, Chris Dehring highlights the Caribbean Economic Enterprise, an initiative launched earlier in 2005 with the objective of widening economic benefits for individuals and companies in the region, plays an integral part in preparing for the World Cup. Caribbean businesses are encouraged to bid for work required to get the show on the road and in the case where non-Caribbean companies are utilised they will be required to engage the services of local workers or partner with local companies.

In the Barbados Nation, there is a story that West Indies assistant coach David Moore has passed fit all 24 players in camp at the 3W?s oval. Australian Moore says: ?One thing that we are noticing is the increase in fitness and fielding skills, which is encouraging for us?.

For the second part of the camp, the players will be divided into two evenly balanced teams for a four day practice match. It commences at 10am on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the publication, Ezra Stuart interviews technical consultant to the team, Sir Garfield Sobers, who claims that success for West Indies in Australia is a matter of ... mind over matter.

Sobers says the team must get the mental side of the game under control, not underestimate their opponents even after Australia?s Ashes loss, and that the players need to clear their heads of off-field distractions to focus purely on the cricket.

The Stabroek News reports that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has entered into a G$3 million sponsorship deal with Insurance company CLICO for the Under-17 Inter-County cricket competition which begins this Saturday.

CLICO presented GCB officials with a cheque at a meeting Monday and pledged its ongoing commitment to the community through similar ventures. The company requested that matches in the tournament be played at rural grounds rather than in Georgetown, citing better crowd support which is integral to developing the sport.

The paper also carries a story about unruly spectators at the El Dorado Inter-County Limited Overs competition at Skeldon ground last Sunday.

The incidents reported include one member of the Demerara side being tripped up by a spectator who had infringed on the playing area, a motorcycle being ridden across the ground, an elderly spectator requiring medical attention after being hit in the face with a ball and Ramnaresh Sarwan being hit on the hand during the presentation ceremony, which was eventually cut short as the winning Demerara team left the field concerned for their safety.

Hurbun Williams of the Jamaica Observer interviews Marlon Samuels, writing that the Jamaican player describes himself as older and wiser these days. Seeking to settle the issue of his alleged bad attitude, a mature-sounding Samuels is philosophical about relating to his team members and confirms he has sought counselling to address the situation.

Samuels says he is currently fit and not experiencing any discomfort in the knee which has troubled him in days gone by, and is extremely focussed on establishing his career as a professional cricketer. He believes he has a good 10-12 years left in him in which he can represent the West Indies at the highest level.

In the Jamaica Gleaner, Tony Becca ponders the omission of Jamaican players Xavier Marshall and Dwight Washington from the West Indies pre-tour camp in Barbados. He goes on to say that the West Indies trainer visited players throughout the region recently to assess their fitness and determine if they had been following the individual training programs devised, and that rumour has it a number of Jamaican players had not done so and proffered a variety of excuses as to why not.

Conceding that if fitness is the reason for the omissions, then Marshall and Washington deserve to be at home. Becca also asks why the reason was not publicised as it was in the cases of Jerome Taylor and Jermaine Lawson.

The West Indies Cricket Board's WindiesCricket.com Web site is advertising vacancies for roles of National Coach on behalf of both Kenya and Canada. Interesting.