The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
The Stanford 20/20 tournament remains a source of commentary fodder but the kissy-kissy hug fest is abating and, finally, someone has started asking some interesting questions.
Allen Stanford has made a massive investment in West Indies cricket. That has made all of us stop to think. The American seems to have a West Indian heart; He has invested in and brought improvements to his Antigua home; has set an example for the business sector of the region and for all of us, as he makes a positive contribution to help West Indies cricket back to a respectable position in the lead up to the 2007 ICC World Cup.
The intention must be to set up structures that will see the game return to its former position in the minds and hearts of West Indians and the rest of the cricket fraternity.
Brian Lara arrived in Sydney, Australia after a poor run of scores in the first three ICC SuperSeries ODIs and, predictably, he was the focus of the media's attention.
Speaking on the three successive losses, Lara said the "Rest of the World" team was not unprepared but they did under-perform. Lara continued batting practice at the Sydney Cricket Ground alone long after his teammates disappeared.
Tough love is one of the methods coaches often use on their charges. They crack the whip knowing that the hard work hurts. But they also know that, like a dose of Buckley's Cough Syrup, although it tastes horrible, it's good for you because it works.
Ramnaresh Sarwan must have been in shock when, at his first ever training camp with new coach Bennett King last December, he wasn't allowed to sit and change his shoes after coming off the field, before going into the nets. He and his team mates were kept on the go by King. He admits that never before has he trained as hard as he is training under the present coach.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has formally announced a deal with fast-food concern Kentucky Fried Chicken to sponsor the regional one-day tournament.
The board said the value of the deal is "in excess of US$500,000" and will include the naming of the competition as the KFC CUP. It is a three-year sponsorship deal supported by KFC restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts, Antigua and the Cayman Islands.