Singing Bennett King's Praises

As the West Indies team spent the day tearing up Wet ?n? Wild Water Park on Australia?s Gold Coast, the Trinidad Guardian and the Jamaica Observer were busy writing that Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson has been singing Bennett King's praises, saying the West Indies have one of the best two coaches in the world.

Watson attributed the remodelling of his bowling action and batting technique to King, who supervised the young player at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide.

Back at the water park, going up against his team mates Chris Gayle looked to be first to the finish line on the Super 8 Aqua Racer. We?re not sure if they visited the 'Caribbean Shanty Town' section of the park.

Dorian Bryan reports in the Barbados Advocate that the West Indies are upbeat ahead the tour opening match against Queensland, which starts on Thursday.

Included in the PR puff piece are contrived quotes from Jermaine Lawson, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Fidel Edwards.

Guyana?s Stabroek News publishes a Tony Cozier article which hones in on Steve Waugh?s assessment of Brian Lara.

Waugh released his latest book, an autobiography called ?Out of my Comfort Zone? this week and is hot on the publicity trail. On Lara, Waugh says ?Lara is a good player against average bowling sides and a great one against formidable attacks but when harassed into a corner by his own brinksmanship or if he's targeted, he elevates himself into a genius?.

Maintaining a theme, the Guyana Chronicle includes a piece on the same subject but authored by Fazeer Mohammed. He selects a different Waugh quote: "charming, vulnerable, endearing, moody and impossible to work out at times, and endlessly fascinating."

In the Barbados Nation, Haydn Gill reports that Ryan Hurley is back in Barbados and available for the upcoming Carib Beer series. Hurley made himself unavailable for the KFC Cup because of cricket commitments in the United States.

According to the report, Hurley?s commitment to Barbados cricket has been questioned but he is philosophical, saying "Everybody has to look for their bread and butter." If he isn?t selected to play in the Carib Beer series, Hurley plans to return to Florida and play more there.

The resurgence of Roger Brathwaite in the media continues as the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation reports that the West Indies Cricket Board chief executive stands by the engagement of Digicel as major sponsors.

Brathwaite maintains that the controversial deal with the Irish telco is in the best interests of West Indies cricket.

Bermuda?s Royal Gazette provides constant updates on the Gus Logie-coached national team?s ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Kenya.

In a show of captains leading from the front, Kenyan skipper Steve Tikolo notched up a double-century of 220 off 233 balls in Kenya?s 403/6 of their allotted first innings of 90 overs. Fighting back, Bermuda made 346 in their first 90 overs with their captain Clay Smith scoring 136.

WindiesCricket.com announces the inclusion of Ridley Jacobs in the Antigua and Barbuda XI for the Independence Cricket Fest.

The full squads for other participating teams are also listed, with Jimmy Adams, Richie Richardson and Vasbert Drakes on the Lashings World XI which will be coached by Alvin Kallicharan.