As a shareholder, the JCA finds it inexcusable that the WICB in their press release of February 20, 2011, could have made such a statement without consulting any of the WICB members in Jamaica, including the Vice President of the WICB Mr. Dave Cameron, along with Mr Lyndel Wright and Mr. Milton Henry who are Jamaica’s two representatives on the WICB.

The JCA calls upon the President of the WICB Dr. Julian Hunte to publicly state which of the Board members were consulted before the release was sent out. The JCA further calls upon the President to state whether or not he sanctioned or sanctions the statement.

In her address at the function, Prime Minister Simpson Miller expressed her displeasure at Jamaica not being awarded a match in the upcoming Australia tour. The Prime Minister’s position on this issue is no different from that of the JCA.

The Prime Minister also expressed her concern that no official decision had been taken for Jamaica to be used as a venue during the upcoming tour by New Zealand. We maintain that the the Prime Minister was correct. The WICB’s revelation in it’s news release that Jamaica ‘would feature as a host venue for the New Zealand tour’ while being most welcomed, came as news to the JCA.

As far as the JCA is aware the WICB has not yet signed off on the venues for the upcoming New Zealand Tour of the West Indies and despite numerous enquiries, the JCA was at no time informed that Jamaica would be a host venue. We are now forced to ask; when and by whom, was this decision taken, as to our certain knowledge, no such decision was
taken by the WICB.

The JCA is also fully supportive of the stance taken by Prime Minister Simpson Miller in relation to Mr. Chris Gayle. During her presentation at our Annual Awards Dinner, the Honourable Prime Minister expressed her disquiet that the matter had dragged on for so long, and that she wish to see a resolution as quickly as possible. In this regard the JCA is also calling for a quick resolution of the Chris Gayle issue and is of the view, that having been debarred from playing for the West Indies for over a year, he has been more than sufficiently punished for any infractions committed.

For the WICB to engage in the diatribe about how the Prime Minister should deal with her cabinet colleagues is out of order and disrespectful.

The JCA is calling upon the President of the WICB to retract the unfounded and unwarranted attack against the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica and to move immediately to resolve the Chris Gayle impasse, as we believe he has been more than reasonably punished.

Regards,
JAMAICA CRICKET ASSOCIATION
George Headley Stand, Sabina Park
Kingston 4, Jamaica, West Indies

- caribbeancricket.com

Barbados recorded their first win over Trinidad and Tobago in a first-class match in five years and the five-wicket triumph following defeat by Jamaica is naturally having a positive effect on the psyche of the local players.

“It will obviously build confidence generally, but as a Barbados team, we still have to look at ourselves and see how we could have gone about doing our business a bit better,” coach Hendy Springer said after Barbados completed victory in the post-lunch session on Sunday.

“As well as enjoying the points and enjoying the win that we had, I think that we can look at ourselves in the nets and see how we can do better against the opposition to come.”

Springer emphasized the focus being placed on supporting all individuals on the team, whether it be player, coach or manager.

Addressing the issue of the change in coaching personnel that attracted widespread discussion recently including a rumour that bowling coach Vasbert Drakes had been fired Springer said: “To my knowledge he has not been fired from the BCA.

“I was asked to coach the team again and to choose one of the coaches. In discussion with the captain, who I think is an integral part of the team set-up, we were going through a number of scenarios and in the final analysis I think we need to have at this point in time a batting coach…”

windiescricket.com

The tall fast-bowling all-rounder joined his Barbados teammates in the nets at Kensington Oval yesterday.

Brathwaite sustained an injury to his right knee during the Caribbean Twenty20 on January 20 and is targeting a return to competitive action next month…

nationnews.com

The two players, who were competing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), will line up for T&T in the match starting Friday at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.

Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) chairman of selectors Dudnath Ramkessoon yesterday told the Express that Pollard and Bravo had indicated before departing for Bangladesh that they would return for the WICB fourth round fixture, which is T&T’s first home match.

Pollard and Bravo’s return could not come at a better time, with Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team nursing a number of injuries…

trinidadexpress.com

The 31-year-old Sarwan, who averages 40.01 from his 87 Test matches and 43.41 from 173 one-day internationals with the West Indies, had earlier declared himself unavailable for the tournament, but later made himself available…

The Guyana team who have so far won two out of their three matches, to be second on the points standing with 24 points, 12 behind  leaders Jamaica, will be led by West Indies ‘A’ skipper Veerasammy Permaul when they face the Jamaicans in a day/night fixture at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from Friday.

The final 11 will be chosen from: Veerasammy Permaul, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Trevon Griffith, Narsingh Deonarine, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Derwin Christian, Brandon Bess, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton and Chandrapaul Hemraj.

guyanachronicleonline.com

That is the strongly held view of Jamaica Captain Tamar Lambert as his team chases a record-breaking five consecutive West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day titles…

“I think that this season every game is going to be extra hard because teams know we are aiming for five straight titles. They will all provide tough challenges, but we are very much motivated.

“For us it is a motivation because no other team has done it. We are aware of what to expect and we still have to take things one game at a time,” the 30-year-old middle-order batsman told the Observer recently.

Reunited with Bennett, Jamaica won the 50-overs title for the first time since the 2007-08 season, but lost in the final of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament…

Despite the bright start, Lambert insists on getting more from his team.

“We are on the right path, but first and foremost we want to reach the semi-final… (then) we will take it from there. We just want to show improvement with each game,” he said.

Jamaica now turn to the Guyanese, whom they will face starting Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua in a day/night encounter. The squad left the island yesterday.

jamaicaobserver.com

The training programme, which falls under the WICB age group cricket initiative, will be conducted after school for three hours per week and is open to all children in the selected schools.

WICB-accredited coaches will provide the training, and all necessary kit and equipment will be supplied.

WICB CEO, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, said of the agreement: “This represents another significant step in the WICB’s programme to broaden the development and training at the grassroots level, which will ensure that more kids develop a love for cricket and learn basic drills about the different facets of cricket.”

“We are delighted that Harlequin have come onboard as a partner in the development of cricket and welcome them to the West Indies cricket family. We look forward to a fruitful relationship,” Dr. Hilarie added.

A highlight of the programme will be a new annual Youth Cricket Tournament, hosted by Harlequin in St Vincent. Part of the agreement will also see the WICB provide coaches for Harlequin’s 5 star luxury destination, Buccament Bay Resort, to carry out cricket coaching for guests.

Dave Ames, CEO of Harlequin, shared his excitement for the announcement: “This programme promises to be of great and lasting value to all involved, and I’m very proud to help the WICB deliver this significant investment in the future of St Vincent and its people.

“Just as with Harlequin’s involvement in other Caribbean initiatives, like the Liverpool FC Academy Soccer School we helped to launch for local schools and football clubs in Barbados last year, the goal is to engage, inspire, and nurture talent. You never know, we might discover the next Brian Lara while we’re at it!

Ames went on: “I’m also delighted to confirm that the WICB will help Harlequin deliver the Buccament Bay Resort Cricket Academy, which will open in April 2012, providing guests with year-round coaching by WICB-trained coaches and a series of master classes taught by cricketing legends. Importantly, it’ll also create more opportunities for Harlequin to engage and work with the local community.”

The Secondary Schools Cricket Training Programme will run for three years and is being conducted with the support and sanction of the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. It is hoped that the WICB and Harlequin can expand the programme to other Caribbean territories.

Harlequin specialises in creating 5 star, eco-conscious, luxury resorts in some of the best locations in the Caribbean and destinations worldwide. In addition to Buccament Bay Resort in St Vincent, Harlequin is creating hotels and resorts in St Lucia, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.

Edwards, who turned 30 two weeks ago, is preparing for the tour which will feature five One-Day Internationals, two T20 Internationals and three Test matches. He demonstrated his good form in the Caribbean T20 last month and the ongoing Regional 4 Day tournament.

In the last Regional 4 Day match against Trinidad and Tobago, Edwards took six wickets for 70 runs as the Bajans won by five wickets. He bowled with great pace to take 5-64 in the first innings — his 15^th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket which took him to 249 career wickets.

Edwards will miss this weekend’s day/night PINK ball match against Combined Campuses & Colleges at Kensington Oval. He has been rested as part of the workload management as the Windies prepare for a busy year ahead including — the visit by Australia, the tour of England in May and June and the Digicel Series against New Zealand which follows.

“My rhythm has been really good. I bowled well in the Caribbean T20 and felt I did a very good job for the team in the last match against T&T. If everything stays that way I should be quite good when the Australians come to the Caribbean next month,” Edwards said.

“We played very well against Trinidad & Tobago and I was happy to bowl the team to victory. I ended the match with the kind of returns I was looking for. Getting wickets is always good.”

Edwards added: “I think I have to be a bit more accurate. My lines have to be a bit better. I still want to be able to bowl fast and create problems for the batsmen, but the more important thing is to make sure that I stay focused and make sure I’m ready for what will be a full year of international cricket.”

Edwards is the most experienced bowler in the West Indies team. He has taken 154 Test wickets in 51 matches. He was good last year taking 32 wickets in eight Test matches at 29.90 runs per wicket, after making a successful return from injury.

Chairman of the Barbados selection panel George Linton told the BCA website this evening that the decision to rest Edwards was in the pipeline since late last month during the third and final national trial match at Pine Basin following discussions with West Indies team Head coach Ottis Gibson and West Indies selector Courtney Browne.

The 30-year-old Fidel Edwards, a veteran of 51 Tests, 50 One-Day Internationals and 13 T20 Internationals, will be a key member of the West Indies team for the forthcoming home series against Australia, which starts in mid March and includes five ODIs, two Twenty20 Internationals and three Tests.

“We had a meeting during the final trial game with Ottis and Courtney and it was decided that there would be a policy of monitoring the workload of the key fast bowlers and resting them accordingly,” Linton said.

“It was suggested that Fidel plays in Barbados’ first two matches and then take a rest. He should be available again for at least the last match.”

Linton, a former Barbados leg-spinning all-rounder, also confirmed that Williams, who played in the island’s first match against Jamaica in Kingston, which Barbados lost by 120 runs, had missed the last match here against Trinidad & Tobago, which Kirk Edwards’ team won by five wickets, because of a groin injury.

“Kenroy had a groin injury and it was recommended by medical personnel that he rest for that game against Trinidad & Tobago. We are now happy with his fitness and he comes back for Fidel,” Linton told the BCA website.

With the selectors naming a starting XI, Linton also revealed to the BCA website that Jamal Smith, the tall, ICBL Empire wicket-keeper/batsman and Division 1 captain, had been placed on stand-by for Shane Dowrich, who sustained a nasty injury just above the left eye in the match against Trinidad & Tobago when a ball from fiery fast bowler Tino Best burst through his gloves late on the first day.

“Shane was due to visit the doctor again today (Tuesday) to have an assessment. Jamal has been practising and we have put him on stand-by in case Shane is unavailable,” Linton said.

The 20-year-old Dowrich was unable to bat in the first innings against Trinidad & Tobago as his eye was badly swollen, and he did not keep wicket in the second innings although he batted at No. 7 in the second innings and made 19 not out with two boundaries off 27 balls as Barbados chased 179 to win.

Specialist batsman Jonathan Carter took over the gloves when Dowrich was forced to leave the field for treatment with Trinidad & Tobago 285 for six after 84.4 overs. Carter did a relatively good job for the rest of the innings, taking catches from the last three batsmen off the combined pace attack of Christopher Jordan and Fidel Edwards in a total of 338 all out off 96.5 overs.

Carter was also the ‘glovesman’ for the entire second innings when Trinidad & Tobago fell for 139 in 39 overs after grabbing a first innings lead of 59.

Squad, with ages and local clubs: Kirk Edwards (captain), 27, (Counter Point Wanderers), Sulieman Benn (30, (Super Centre Spartan), Tino Best (30, ESA Field Pickwick), Kraigg Brathwaite (19, Guardian General Barbados Youth), Jonathan Carter (24, Sagicor Life UWI), Shane Dowrich (20, YMPC), Ryan Hinds (30, ICBL Empire), Christopher Jordan (23, YMPC), Omar Phillips (25, Sagicor Life UWI), Kemar Roach (23, CGI/Sandy Crest Maple), Kenroy Williams (27, BNB St. Catherine).

Reserves: Shamah Brooks (23, Super Centre Spartan), Kyle Hope (23, ESA Field Pickwick).

Management: Livingstone Coppin (Manager), Henderson Springer (Head Coach), Emmerson Trotman (Batting Coach), Dr. Jacqueline King (Physiotherapist), Rodney Ashby (Analyst).

Entrance fees are as follows:

The general public – $5.00; BCA Members – Free on presentation of valid BCA Member’s pass; School Children – Free

Accommodation for patrons will be provided in the 3W’s Stand only and as usual no offensive weapons, glass bottles, large coolers or other prohibited items will be allowed inside the Oval.

Play begins at 3.30 p.m.

bcacricket.org

“He began treatment on his injured groin yesterday after meeting with our medical team,” said KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union chief executive Jesse Chellan.

“At this point it’s difficult to say how soon he will be available.

“It all depends on how quickly his body responds to the treatment, so it’s a little bit up in the air at the moment…”

“The last couple of days have been improving,” Gayle said.

“I’m walking much better than when the injury actually happened.

“So it’s slowly progressing and we’ll have to manage it.

“Hopefully I’m back on the park as quickly as possible, but I think we’ll take each day in its stride…”

sport24.co.za