When Brian Lara and the West Indies team took victory laps after
the second and third ODI wins, some thought it was premature. What
they did not know was that those laps were practice runs for the
one to be taken after the series victory, achieved convincingly
yesterday at Queen's Park Oval in Lara's Trinidad.
Playing at home is always special for the double world record
holder, and after a string of low scores, the Captain made sure
that he contributed with the bat yesterday in what probably will be
his last two ODIs at this venue.
All roads lead to the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad today and
Sunday...if you can get here. Trinidad is well known for its
traffic congestion problem, and for taxi driver Imtiaz, the
procedures put in place for the final two ODIs against India will
make it worst. "You see me, I staying home tomorrow," he said last
night.
Indeed, driving down from Long Circular Road this morning, just
a stone's throw away from the Oval, the traffic was snarled, with
the solitary traffic cop seemingly not being able to direct cars
efficiently enough to ease the flow.
West Indies captain Brian Lara walked away with two of the top
three 'player of the year' awards at the third annual First
Citizens/WIPA awards ceremony.
The left-handed batting champion won the prizes for WI Cricketer
of the Year and Test Player of the Year. He also received a WIPA
special award for his contribution to the game. Barbadian
all-rounder Ian Bradshaw won the ODI Player of the Year award.
(EDITOR's NOTE: The following is part of a speech by
Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players'
Association, at the annual WIPA awards dinner).
Tonight we are celebrating excellence in full knowledge that it
is a moving target and its pursuit is a never ending goal.
However, over the last few weeks we have seen a resurgence of
West Indies cricket. It is too early to celebrate but the
commitment in the middle, the sense of purpose and dedication are
inescapable. I believe it is a sign of great things to come. Let us
applaud both teams for entertaining cricket.
The WICB today announced that Wavell Hinds would be replacing
the injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the final two one day
matches in Trinidad and Tobago this weekend. Hinds had appeared to
have been off the selectors' radar after the recent series in New
Zealand.
Chanderpaul, who scored an important half century while batting
with a runner, suffered a hamstring injury which has ruled him out
of the final two matches against India. He will remain with the
team while he receives treatment from the physiotherapist.
