In The Papers Today (Oct 18, 2005)

An investigation by the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board into the team's dismal performance in the KFC Cup was launched last week, according to Naz Yacoob in the Trinidad Guardian.

National chairman of selectors Dudnath Ramkessoon has already spoken to team captain Daren Ganga and is expecting reports from manager Giles Antoine and coach David Williams. Additionally, a debriefing with the players and management team will be held at the National Cricket Centre on Wednesday.

The paper also brings news that the West Indies will host a women?s limited overs tournament in May 2006, with Pakistan, India and Holland joining the hosts.

Following the first meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board's Cricket Committee for Women?s Cricket, which took place last weekend, the concept of the tournament was borne out of a commitment to providing the region's female cricketers with international playing exposure.

Other initiatives determined at the meeting included a four year strategic development plan for women's cricket, including a high performance camp in April 2006, and finalising dates for regional tournaments.

Direct from Sydney, Australia, Tony Cozier reports on comments by ICC World XI coach John Wright regarding allegations that his players went down under on a junket. According to Wright, there were absolutely no problems with professionalism in the squad, and highlighted none other than Brian Lara as being an exemplary case of dedication and hunger.

Cozier then analyses Lara's 0?5?0?5?36 string of scores, along with a report on the final, shortened day of play. The article appears in the Barbados Nation and Guyana's Stabroek News.

Pedro Collins will be missed by the West Indies team on the tour of Australia, writes Philip Spooner in the Barbados Nation. Collins was forced to pull out of the tour following a back injury sustained during the squad?s preparation camp, dealing coach Bennett King and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul a meaty blow.

Praising the Barbadian fast bowler King said yesterday: "He's lethal with his reverse swing and yes, we are going to miss him."

Haydn Gill, who travelled to Guyana to report on the KFC Cup finals, reports that players from the Barbados team have been handed fines for a slow over rate in the title decider against Guyana. During their allotted time Barbados managed just 40 of the 50 required overs, but match officials determined that three of those were beyond the team's control. As such, they were charged for being seven overs short.

The interesting part of the story is news that the maximum fine that can be imposed on each player, under the tournament rules, is US$36! Remember, this is the West Indies Cricket Board we are dealing with, so Media Watch is sure it?s all relative!

The Guyana Chronicle reports on legal wranglings within domestic cricket in Guyana. A judge has granted orders against the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) and the Guyana Cricket Board and in favour of Fazal Ishak, secretary of the Peter's Hall Sports Club.

Ishak alleges that, among other things, the EBCDA is being run by an unlawfully and improperly elected Executive Committee.

In the Jamaica Observer, Bennett King declares his confidence in the West Indies squad as they embarked on the three-Test tour of Australia.

King, who is returning to his homeland for the second time as West Indies coach, acknowledged Australia's strength but was optimistic that his side is ready for the challenge. "The Australians are very good and we are going into their den. We just have to go there and tame them. I believe everyone is comfortable."

Tony Becca ponders the failure of the ICC Super Series in his Jamaica Gleaner "From the Boundary" column.

Becca writes that the ICC must be rueing the decision to pay each World XI team member US$8,000 per One Day International match and US$25,000 for the Test match, as well as the one which elevated the matches to official status.

Still on the Super Series, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation reports on the ICC?s decision to scrap plans for hosting the event every four years.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed regrettably announced that it had been downgraded from a regularly scheduled tournament following the Australian side?s 210 run win over the World XI, which attracted disappointing crowds to match the disappointing cricket.

WindiesCricket.com delivers news that Rawl Lewis, former West Indies player and current Windward Islands regional team captain, produced a quality all-round performance in last Sunday?s Virgin Holidays Annual Cricket Classic.

In the 20/20 match the West Indies team, skippered by Joel Garner and including Jimmy Adams, Vasbert Drakes, Junior Murray and Carlisle Best, were victorious over the visiting English side.

Anthony Foster, the Jamaican freelance journalist whose articles are regularly mentioned by Media Watch, has launched his own sports news web site at FimiSports.

On cricket, Foster writes about the departure of Jamaican members of the West Indies squad to Australia. Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Lawson and Daren Powell left Jamaica on Monday night, while Chris Gayle flies out on Tuesday and Wavell Hinds on Wednesday.

He even included the flight details for the Monday departure ? if only Media Watch had this news 24 hours earlier, our Jamaican readers could have rushed Norman Manley Airport to farewell the players!