"Curiouser and curiouser" was the phrase that Alice uttered in
the famous children's book. That's an apt description to apply to
the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) efforts to find a new coach
to replace Roger Harper.
It was first announced, by way of a Tony Cozier article in the
Barbados Nation on February 23, that Eldine Baptiste, Gus
Logie and Bennett king were on the shortlist of candidates for the
vacant post. If anyone would get a peek at the WICB shortlist,
Cozier was that man. That report led to speculation that the WICB
would depart from years of tradition and hire its first foreign
coach -- Bennett King.
This is the penultimate round of cricket in the Carib Beer Cup
Series to be followed by the playoffs consisting of two additional
rounds for the International Shield.
Only two centuries were scored in this round, one by veteran
Stuart Williams of the Leeward Islands and the other by Junior
Murray (wicket-keeper/batsman) from the Windwards. Both make their
second appearances on my All-Star list.
Veteran coach Bob Woolmer, considered by many a frontrunner for
the West Indies coaching vacancy, is angling for a technical
advisor's role instead of a fulltime job but the WICB insists the
only open position is for that of head coach.
Woolmer told the Associated Press doing a fulltime job as
head coach was "too much for me at my age", suggesting instead he
would be willing to negotiate for a position as a technical
advisor.
West Indian test players Brian Lara and Mervyn Dillon will play
for Trinidad in their final round crucial Carib Beer Series Cup
game against the Leeward Islands starting on Friday.
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket officials say the two who have just
represented the regional team in the World Cup are making
themselves available. Dillon was traveling with the team Tuesday,
but Lara who had stopped off in England from South Africa has not
yet arrived in the Caribbean.
It is not as easy as it once was to be West Indies cricket fan.
In fact it hurts sometimes.
Those of us in for the long haul have learned to recognise that
the turns in the corners are most likely just bends in the road.
Even so, it was tempting to get swept up in the enthusiasm
generated by the successful seven-game ODI campaign in India.
