Powell Cleared Fit for 1st Test
(In The Papers Today: Does McGrath think Lara is his bunny? Which Barbados selector has angered 'Big Bird' Joel Garner? Which journalist had to bowl in the nets for the West Indies?)Caribbean Net News correspondent Gary Smith reports that West Indies trio Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Daren Powell are all fit to play in the first test against Australia.
Lara and Sarwan are said to be sure picks, whilst Powell will be considered for selection to the final XI. The match starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
On the scene in Brisbane, Tony Cozier remarks that the team is displaying a collective enthusiasm not seen for quite some time and says that whilst that the source of the transformation is unclear, many of the players have praised Bennett King?s coaching methods and Bryce Cavanagh?s military-style fitness regime.
Cozier writes that the positive changes are evident across the board, with outstanding performances from Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith and Daren Powell in a tour match against Queensland where even Shivnarine Chanderpaul?s captaincy looked overhauled. Whether or not they can carry through with the real Test will be seen over the course of the next few days.
The veteran reporter also writes that a shortage of net bowlers during a Tuesday practice session forced manager Tony Howard, journalist Fazeer Mohammed and Digicel competition winners Mousan Hoyte and Durick Child to take one for the team by turning their arms over.
Media officer Imran Khan says the matter of the missing bowlers will be taken to the powers that be at Cricket Australia. As usual, Cozier?s pieces appear in the Trinidad Express, the Stabroek News and probably the Barbados Nation, once they get around to updating their site.
Is Brian Lara Glenn McGrath?s bunny? McGrath is hoping to prove so once play gets underway on Thursday. According to the Trinidad Guardian McGrath gives credit to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle but says, "Brian is definitely the guy I?d like to knock over again."
Ahead of the much-anticipated contest the Jamaica Observer reports that Lara has advised his team mates to play aggressively, a suggestion he also offered to England before the 2005 Ashes.
?It is a tough task to come here and win the series, but we can be very competitive, and play the same sort of cricket England played,? said Lara.
The Guyana Chronicle reports that Berbice second division cricket has just received an injection of funds to the tune of $500,000 from the New Building Society.
A cheque was presented to the Berbice Cricket Board of Control to be used on a 40 overs-per-side competition which is expected to begin within two weeks.
Big Bird Joel Garner, Chairman of Selectors for the Barbados national team, has issued a stern warning to his selection panel colleagues, according to the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.
Following a spate of recent public comments from fellow selector Philo Wallace, Garner warned: "Keep your opinions to yourself unless you are behind closed doors."
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 today issued a series of updates on the progress of Venue Summit VII, currently underway at the Hilton Barbados.
Event Director Nigel Rushman disclosed that a number of event management programmes will be presented to Local Organising Committees from all nine host nations over the next three days.
Also on the agenda on Tuesday were sessions on legal aspects including the mysterious Sunset Legislation and Host Venue Agreements. The remaining days of the summit will see meetings of the Medical, Health & Anti-Doping Directorate, the Security Directorate and the CEO Council.
In the Bermuda Royal Gazette Dan Rutstein presents a report card, analysing the individual performances of Bermuda players after the team?s ICC Intercontinental Cup tour of Namibia.
In the Guardian Sports Arena magazine, Naz Yacoob studies the results of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board?s general elections, which saw former West Indies wicket keeper Deryck Murray take over as President.
The article includes photographs of successful candidates alongside Murray?s resume.
Murray is also profiled in the magazine by Everard Gordon who marks the end of an era saying, "For the first time since 1956, the T&TCB will have, a president and a board of directors other than the group which was hand picked by Alloy Lequay, the first president of the board."
Vinode Mamchan reports that US$240 million will be spent on World Cup stadia in a Q&A with representatives of the Trinidad & Tobago Local Organising Committee.