The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan spoke with the media after the stunning victory over Australia in their first Group A game of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Sarwan sat in the media briefing for skipper Brian Lara who was suffering from lower back spasms which prevented him from taking the field for the Australian innings. Following are some of Sarwan's comments:
West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who turned in a stellar performance to guide the West Indies to a 10-run victory over world champions Australia, said he did not realize that he got a hat-trick until after the game was over.
Actually I did not even realize that I got a hat trick until after the game when it was brought to my attention just before an interview," the 22-year old right-arm quick said.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara are the only two West Indies cricketers to score an A+ grade for annual retainer contracts being offered by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Lara's A+ grade is a no-brainer but a source close to the WICB said Chanderpaul's rating was the subject of a bitter debate between the board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA). The WICB insisted that a player must have a world record to qualify for an A+ rating but WIPA argued strongly that Chanderpaul's longevity -- and value to the team -- in both forms of the game, should put him on the same level as Lara.
Fast bowler Corey Collymore departed Mumbai, India today to be with his wife Dionne for the birth of their first child.
Collymore, who will consequently miss the West Indies first Group A ICC Champions Trophy game against Australia on Wednesday October 18th, is scheduled to rejoin the West Indies squad after the birth.
Under pressure from ICC/FICA, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has backtracked on its decision to remove Dwayne Bravo from the list of players to get retainer contracts.
According to sources close to the WICB, Bravo was re-added to the list, which has now been expanded to include batsmen Daren Ganga and Runako Morton.