In The Papers Today (Nov 8, 2005)
With a day to cool off after the mockery that was the first Test against Australia, those who write about West Indies cricket have come out today with an outlook that is somewhat calmer and focussed on the days ahead.
On Wisden Cricinfo, Peter English writes that Corey Collymore is demanding a better performance from his fast-bowling colleagues throughout the remainder of the series.
Said Collymore: "I don't think they got lost, but it's all about consistency and that's what we all need to work on."
Also looking forward is Tony Cozier who brings news that Courtney Walsh, currently in Australia, accepted an invitation from Bennett King to help lift the players' spirits in the dressing room after the loss.
Walsh has promised to help out as often as he can during his stay Down Under, and is trying to fit a jaunt to Melbourne into his hectic schedule so he can watch the bowlers in the nets and offer his brand of experienced advice.
Cozier also does a Media Watch of his own, gathering together and quoting the harsh words handed out by Australian journalists. Of all the vitriol, Kerry O'Keeffe wins with his call that Brian Lara is finished.
Of course, the Australians are still gloating as evident on the Alpha blog. Alpha is a brand spanking new glossy targeting the quintessential Aussie bloke so who better to feature on the cover of its launch issue than Shane Warne.
The sports publication carries the tag "It's sport, and it's personal!" and the most recent blog entry is titled "West Indies Cricket, RIP." Author Ivan Smith pulls no punches as he delivers the outsider's view of the miserable state of the game in the Caribbean.
The Trinidad Express reports that the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board has announced the make-up of its administrative committees for the coming year.
After a twelve month absence, Omar Khan returns as manager of the senior team, which will be selected by Chairman Dudnath Ramkessoon, Bernard Julien and Raphick Jumadeen.
New T&TCB representatives to the West Indies Cricket Board are Deryck Murray and Dr Allen Sammy. Ramkessoon is the alternate WICB director.
The Trinidad Guardian reports that Dr Keith Mitchell has spoken up again on the problems plaguing West Indies cricket saying that if the contract dispute has had any positive effect, it was that these problems were laid out for the world to see.
Highlighting the need for structure Mitchell said: "We relied on spontaneous talent to emerge and develop in itself and keep itself going. In other words we always expect to have a ,b>Gary Sobers, a Viv Richards, a Brian Lara. It doesn't work that way."
Guyana's national selectors have shortlisted a squad of 22 players ahead of the Carib Beer Cricket series, reports the Stabroek News.
The 22 players, including one-time West Indies representatives Narsingh Deonarine, Ryan Ramdass and Mahendra Nagamootoo, will come together at a six-day camp starting next Monday.
Luckily for them the West Indies Cricket Board re-shuffled the tournament format and delayed the start by two weeks!
In a CMC article carried by the Jamaica Observer, Michael Holding says he does not expect the West Indies to fare any better in the two remaining Test matches.
Not afraid to call a spade a shovel, Holding said on Monday: "They are not good enough, simple as that, and as soon as they are faced with the best competition they just don't know what to do."
Ever the scapegoat, Brian Lara cops yet another bashing from a Barbadian who has taken the time to submit a letter to the editor at the Barbados Nation.
Ashley McLean opines that Lara's refusal to represent the West Indies at the ICC Test captains conference in October is "a clear exhibition of disrespect for the institution that is responsible for moulding him into the super star that he has become."
He/she doesn't stop there, as the barrage continues with remarks about selfishness and negative behaviour being unworthy of pandering from the West Indies Cricket Board.