King Dismisses 'Dinosaur' Claim

West Indies head coach Bennett King has dismissed as outrageous and absolutely false, media reports which claim that he described former players as "dinosaurs."

"This is completely and totally inaccurate, it's an outright lie," King said in a statement released by media liaison Imran Khan. "I've worked with former players here in the West Indies and all over the world and I have the utmost respect for their outstanding contributions to the game as players and what they can provide to players now."

King was responding to a statement from Dr Rudi Webster that he made certain unsavoury comments about ex cricketers. "Having achieved his goal, and having been given the enormous power he has, and being an academic coach who describes people like some of our great players, and some of the great Australian players as dinosaurs," Webster said.

"Dinosaurs. I think that is the greatest insult from someone who has not had any achievement in international cricket, just two or three titles with Queensland. We have a fellow in Barbados, Hendy Springer, who has six or seven wins.

"I think it is dreadful that someone like that could say such things about these great players and his great cricketers from Australia when he himself has achieved nothing in international cricket."

In response, King said he regularly works with former cricketers. ""Currently my staff and I work with the ultimate legend Sir Garry Sobers, and other former player as well and I personally endorse a greater involvement of former players in order to contribute to the improvement of the contemporary players,? King said.

?Only a few months ago in Australia I invited Courtney Walsh to offer his advice and he did so most willingly and most graciously.

?It was not the first time that I had done this, it is well documented how we facilitated and encouraged Ian Healy to give his expert opinion in the area of wicketkeeping both when we were in Sri Lanka last and then again in Australia.

?They have a wealth of information and we cannot afford to let that slip away, and what makes this report even more farcical is that I am currently actively involved in urging the greater involvement of former players,? King said.