In The Papers Today (Nov 4, 2005)

Positive endorsement for the West Indies comes from Mike Coward in the Australian. After the performances on day one, Coward writes: "Given the conspicuousness of the doomsayers in recent years, it was a considerable relief to discover there is still plenty of spunk in West Indian cricket."

The article itself has a refreshingly spunky quality as Coward writes about the rich Caribbean history of selecting four quicks and promptly sending the opposition in to bat, and says that the unfamiliarity of the current attack has drawn close attention.

The Cayman Net News features an updated "On the Cricket Pitch" column which takes a light-hearted look at the tour down under.

The unidentified writer (we think it's Philip Hackett) works a few witty anecdotes into an article that presents the facts ? such as Brian Lara's proximity to yet another world record ? in a concise and uncomplicated way.

"Everybody Loves Brian," screams a Barbados Nation headline. Beneath it,the great batsman?s achievements are chronicled by Adam Burnett and Philip Spooner. Okay, it did appear in the Thursday edition but that wasn't available when Media Watch went surfing for news and it is certainly deserving of a mention. Catch it if you can, and remember to reduce the remaining 315 to the remaining 285.

Lara may have managed only 30 runs in the West Indies first innings on day two, but it's a step in the right direction. Already, he has soared past his aggregate in all matches of the ICC Super Series.

After a fairly positive first day in Brisbane, Tony Becca concedes that Bennett King might just be right when he says it won?t be long before the West Indies are once again one of the best teams in the world.

On the other hand, Becca believes it may still be a while off, especially considering the reduction and disjointed schedule of the Carib Beer Cricket Series. He asks a pertinent question: "Since the tournament will not be as long as originally planned, why not put it back to January? In other words, why play one match in November, one in December, and the remaining three next year?"

Still on the Carib Beer series trail, Vinode Mamchan seems intent on giving a public voice to each and every party disgruntled by news of a shortened format for the 2005/2006 tournament. The Trinidad Guardian features his article which reveals that sponsors, Carib Brewery, are disappointed by the West Indies Cricket Board's decision to reduce the competition to one preliminary round.

Events and Sponsorship Manager Colin Murray told the paper: "Financially it is a big loss for us and in terms of the cricket itself, it does nothing to help in the development of the regional players."

In the Friday edition of the Barbados Nation, Haydn Gill reports that the University of the West Indies is pressing for inclusion in the division one competition staged by the Barbados Cricket Association.

This was revealed by Professor Hilary Beckles on Thursday night, along with the call for a UWI side to be included in regional tournaments once again. The team was dismissed from the circuit in 2004 and, in a style not entirely unexpected from the WICB, learned of the dumping via radio news.

On the domestic cricket front, the Stabroek News reports on the third and final round of Guyana's Carib Beer-sponsored inter-county four day tournament. Demerara middle order batsman Stephen Jacobs made 111 not out, the biggest individual contribution to the sides first innings 265 all out.

Representing Berbice, former West Indies player Mahendra Nagamootoo picked up three wickets as did Imran Jaferally.

The Guyana Cricket Umpires Council will meet on Saturday to consider a new constitution, according to the Guyana Chronicle.

The Jamaica Observer publishes the Australian Prime Minister?s XI that will meet the West Indies in what is the only one-day match of the tour Down Under, scheduled to be played on December 2 at the traditional Manuka Oval venue.

Justin Langer, forced to sit out the first Test match after sustaining a broken rib in a state match last weekend, will captain the PM's side.

The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation is featuring is a clip of newly appointed Barbados captain Ryan Hinds, who says the squad is ready for the challenge of the Carib Beer series.

Twenty-nine players have been in camp at the Barbados Workers Union headquarters where Hinds says they have been working really hard on their fitness, sometimes going from 5.30am through until 4pm.

WindiesCricket.com reveals that ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 is close to inking the first of what will be many merchandising agreements.

Stephen Price, Commercial Manager of the event, says there has been a heartening response to the invitation to tender and that several companies, all Caribbean based, will have official merchandise available for purchase in time for Christmas 2005.