BGTT public affairs manager Gail Decle, third from left, and BGTT public affairs and community relations head Aleem Hosein, second from right, display the trophy up for grabs in the BGTT Quadrangular Tournament, at the media launch held at BGTT House, St Clair yesterday, as BGTT Elite Under-15 team captain Derone Davis, left, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board CEO Forbes Persaud, second from left, and T&T Under-17 captain Yannic Carriah look on।
The BGTT Quadrangular Under-17 Tournament, featuring teams from Guyana, Windward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago as well as the BGTT Elite Under-15 squad, seeks to fill a familiar gap in local cricket and the tournament's organisers hope it will become a permanent regional fixture।
Murray, speaking at the media launch at BGTT House in St Clair yesterday, described the tournament as "the future of T&T cricket and, by extension, West Indies cricket"।
"There is no substitute for proper preparation," he said, indicating that cricketers must be ushered into the professional realm of cricket at an early age in order for them to prepare for the rigours of the regional and international arenas।
The Quadrangular Tournament, which bowls off tomorrow, is being used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the local players, all of whom took part in the TTCB's High Performance Centres (HPC) programme, which comes to an end in the coming weeks।
This inaugural and "historical" tournament is also special as it marks the return to the cricketing fraternity for former T&T cricketer Alec Burns, who is the media manager for the BGTT team.
Murray hopes that the return of Burns will mark the beginning of former players coming back to help the new cricketers develop and assist cricket in T&T to move forward।
BGTT, who have spent approximately $87,000 in sponsorship for the tournament, remain committed to promoting youth development and participation in sport as a means of developing well-rounded citizens।
According to the company's head of public affairs and community relations, Aleem Hosein, "Sporting activities teach discipline, team building and goal-setting that could only strengthen one's character...it reorients attitude, develops mental power and is self-motivating।"
A lot has been said about an Under-15 team taking part in the competition, but Baldath Bodoe, the T&T Under-15 coach, believes the experience will be welcome as it will help the players prepare for the regional Under-15 tournament next year।
Stephen Katwaroo, of Iere High School, who took part in the 2006 regional Under-15 tournament, will feature on the BGTT team, while Yannic Cariah, who captained the Under-15s, will be at the helm of the T&T Under-17 squad।
The Guyana and Windward Islands teams will arrive today and will have no time to rest as Guyana take on the BGTT team at Inshan Ali Park, Preysal and the Windwards clash with T&T at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva tomorrow।
The competition will take place at three venues- NCC; Gilbert Park, California; and Inshan Ali Park--and will be played on a round-robin basis, with three points for a win and one for a tie, with the team tallying the most points walking away with the BGTT Trophy.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
New Windies coach Dyson to miss Zimbabwe tour
New West Indies coach John Dyson will not accompany the team on their forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe as he remains in Australia to finalise his domestic matters।
The 53-year-old former Australia batsman, who was appointed last month, was absent from the first day of the team's training camp on Monday and the chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Donald Peters said they had met with the coach and come to an agreement on his availability।
"There are no major issues where this is concerned। Obviously for someone coming from so far there are a number of matters to settle. He will miss the Zimbabwe tour and will join the team in South Africa," said Peters.
West Indies play the first of five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe on Nov। 30 before touring South Africa where they will play three test matches and another five ODIs.
Peters said the coaches in Zimbabwe will be Henderson Springer and David Williams who will then be the assistants to Dyson in South Africa.
The 53-year-old former Australia batsman, who was appointed last month, was absent from the first day of the team's training camp on Monday and the chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Donald Peters said they had met with the coach and come to an agreement on his availability।
"There are no major issues where this is concerned। Obviously for someone coming from so far there are a number of matters to settle. He will miss the Zimbabwe tour and will join the team in South Africa," said Peters.
West Indies play the first of five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe on Nov। 30 before touring South Africa where they will play three test matches and another five ODIs.
Peters said the coaches in Zimbabwe will be Henderson Springer and David Williams who will then be the assistants to Dyson in South Africa.
Former cricket captain Chappell says racism behind assault in India
Former Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell believes he was subjected to a racist attack while coaching India and that the authorities there tried to cover it up, reports said Wednesday.
He makes the charge in a documentary about his troubled two-year stint as India coach which is to be shown on national television next week, The Australian newspaper reported।
Chappell said he was punched and pushed by a disgruntled fan as the Indian team arrived in Bhubaneswar in Orissa state for a one-day clash against the West Indies in January this year.
"I got hit on the side of the head and my immediate reaction was 'he's broken my jaw'," Chappell said।
"Indians are very quick to complain about racism. There are plenty of Indian cricketers the guy could have attacked but he chose to attack me," he said.
"I don't really buy the fact that he was talking about the lack of Orissa players in the Indian team।
"If that was the case why didn't he accost the chairman of selectors or someone else who might have been involved in the selection process?
"Why would he attack one of the foreigners in the group -- me as coach? There's a bit more to it than that।"
Chappell, who left the post after India's poor showing at the World Cup, said he was still upset about the attack and the lack of action taken by officials।
"As I said to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in a letter, had it been one of the players who was attacked there would have been an outcry, but because it was me, no one seemed to care," Chappell told The Australian।
"The reply came back talking about my racist comments। It was quite obvious it was a serious assault. It wasn't just a push in the back as the media was led to believe. There was a cover-up. Everyone went into cover-up mode. The whole thing was played down."
The accusation by Chappell follows Australian complaints that Indian crowds racially abused black Australian batsman Andrew Symonds with monkey chants and gestures during a tour last month.
He makes the charge in a documentary about his troubled two-year stint as India coach which is to be shown on national television next week, The Australian newspaper reported।
Chappell said he was punched and pushed by a disgruntled fan as the Indian team arrived in Bhubaneswar in Orissa state for a one-day clash against the West Indies in January this year.
"I got hit on the side of the head and my immediate reaction was 'he's broken my jaw'," Chappell said।
"Indians are very quick to complain about racism. There are plenty of Indian cricketers the guy could have attacked but he chose to attack me," he said.
"I don't really buy the fact that he was talking about the lack of Orissa players in the Indian team।
"If that was the case why didn't he accost the chairman of selectors or someone else who might have been involved in the selection process?
"Why would he attack one of the foreigners in the group -- me as coach? There's a bit more to it than that।"
Chappell, who left the post after India's poor showing at the World Cup, said he was still upset about the attack and the lack of action taken by officials।
"As I said to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in a letter, had it been one of the players who was attacked there would have been an outcry, but because it was me, no one seemed to care," Chappell told The Australian।
"The reply came back talking about my racist comments। It was quite obvious it was a serious assault. It wasn't just a push in the back as the media was led to believe. There was a cover-up. Everyone went into cover-up mode. The whole thing was played down."
The accusation by Chappell follows Australian complaints that Indian crowds racially abused black Australian batsman Andrew Symonds with monkey chants and gestures during a tour last month.
MBA graduate applies for Indian cricket coach's post
The Board for Control and Cricket in India will announce the appointment of a coach for the Indian team before the commencement of the Australian tour।
An MBA graduate with no experience in playing cricket has applied to be the coach of the Indian team, a board official said on Tuesday।
"One of the applications we have received is from an MBA graduate, despite the fact that he has not played any cricket। In the column where applicants have to state their cricketing experience, he has written that he has never played cricket," the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
"Further, he has written that he did not think it was essential to play cricket to coach a team। He said that it required a different kind of skill to manage the team," the official said. He declined to name the individual.
Currently, the Indian team has an ad hoc coach, former Test player Lalchand Rajput.
The team has not had a permanent coach since March when the two-year contract of former Australia captain Greg Chappell ended and he decided not to seek an extension।
Board president Sharad Pawar has said that a new appointment would be made before the team's tour of Australia starts Dec 20.
An MBA graduate with no experience in playing cricket has applied to be the coach of the Indian team, a board official said on Tuesday।
"One of the applications we have received is from an MBA graduate, despite the fact that he has not played any cricket। In the column where applicants have to state their cricketing experience, he has written that he has never played cricket," the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
"Further, he has written that he did not think it was essential to play cricket to coach a team। He said that it required a different kind of skill to manage the team," the official said. He declined to name the individual.
Currently, the Indian team has an ad hoc coach, former Test player Lalchand Rajput.
The team has not had a permanent coach since March when the two-year contract of former Australia captain Greg Chappell ended and he decided not to seek an extension।
Board president Sharad Pawar has said that a new appointment would be made before the team's tour of Australia starts Dec 20.
Authorities rule out match-fixing ties to Woolmer's death during Cricket World Cup
The lead police investigator into the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said on Tuesday there was no evidence of match-fixing in the team's games at the Cricket World Cup in March।
Jamaica Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields, testifying at Woolmer's inquest, said the International Cricket Council also found no evidence linking Woolmer's death to match-fixing.
The 58-year-old Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan was upset by Ireland in group play।
Jamaica government pathologist Dr। Ere Sheshiah ruled days later that he'd been strangled, setting off an international murder investigation. However, several foreign doctors concluded Woolmer died from natural causes, most likely heart disease.
Fans and media have speculated that Woolmer possibly uncovered a match-fixing scam, or been targeted by Pakistan fans incensed at their team's poor showing.
Jamaica Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields, testifying at Woolmer's inquest, said the International Cricket Council also found no evidence linking Woolmer's death to match-fixing.
The 58-year-old Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan was upset by Ireland in group play।
Jamaica government pathologist Dr। Ere Sheshiah ruled days later that he'd been strangled, setting off an international murder investigation. However, several foreign doctors concluded Woolmer died from natural causes, most likely heart disease.
Fans and media have speculated that Woolmer possibly uncovered a match-fixing scam, or been targeted by Pakistan fans incensed at their team's poor showing.
News agencies to boycott second test
International news agencies are planning to extend their boycott of Australian cricket after attempts to broker a deal over media coverage stalled.
Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse are all expected to boycott this week's second test between Australia and Sri Lanka starting on Friday in Hobart in protest at Cricket Australia's देमंड्स.
Cricket Australia wants the media organisations to pay for the right to distribute photographs from the event but the agencies are refusing, saying it threatens journalistic integrity.
"Reuters remains adamant on its right to distribute sports news pictures freely," said Monique Villa, Managing Director of Reuters Media.
"I met with Cricket Australia last Sunday in London and nothing has really changed: they want to control our news and who can receive it, which is totally उनच्सप्ताब्ले."
The three international agencies were locked out of last week's first test in Brisbane but were hoping to find a solution in time for the second test।
Sri Lankan cricket authorities have appealed to Cricket Australia to end the dispute because of concerns it will reduce coverage of spinner Muttiah Muralitharan breaking the world record for the most test wickets।
Muralitharan is six wickets short of equalling Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's world record of 708 test match scalps and could achieve the milestone in the Hobart test.
Reuters said Cricket Australia had conceded on the key issue of licence fees -- a fee to cover the event -- but most other points were still problematic।
"CA has withdrawn its claim for a licence fee, which shows progress, but we are at a standstill on the remaining issues," Villa said।
Those include the agencies' right to sell photographs to individuals freely and a dispute over the categories of news organisations the agencies were free to sell pictures to.
"Regretfully we will have to maintain the boycott of coverage for the next test with Sri Lanka in Hobart," Villa added.
STILL HOPEFUL
Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said he was still hopeful a resolution could be found.
"The good news is that the agencies are talking to us again...we were very disappointed when they wouldn't come back to the table," Young told Reuters।
"This is a complex negotiation but we're very keen to talk it through and come up with a resolution."
Cricket Australia's stance has divided the cricket community.
Indian cricket authorities say they support Australia's actions and may introduce similar restrictions on media for their home matches।
However, Australian politicians, trade union leaders and sections of the media have accused Cricket Australia of being "greedy".
"That is definitely not the case। There are a number of issues here that don't just relate to cricket but to all sports," Young said.
"The world is changing and if people want to sit down and look at the issues instead of the lurid newspaper headlines then I think they'll see that this really is a complex issue."
A coalition of New Zealand newspapers has written to Cricket Australia saying they will resist demands to limit media coverage during next month's Chappel-Hadlee series। The International Cricket Council said it hopes the dispute is resolved amicably.
The media row comes at a delicate time for cricket officials, with the game still reeling from the negative coverage over the organisation of this year's World Cup in the West Indies and global attendances and television ratings declining।
Australia are the highest ranked team in world cricket but only 55,953 people attended the five days of the first Sri Lanka test. Television viewing figures were down nearly 41 per cent on last year, according to a report in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph.
Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse are all expected to boycott this week's second test between Australia and Sri Lanka starting on Friday in Hobart in protest at Cricket Australia's देमंड्स.
Cricket Australia wants the media organisations to pay for the right to distribute photographs from the event but the agencies are refusing, saying it threatens journalistic integrity.
"Reuters remains adamant on its right to distribute sports news pictures freely," said Monique Villa, Managing Director of Reuters Media.
"I met with Cricket Australia last Sunday in London and nothing has really changed: they want to control our news and who can receive it, which is totally उनच्सप्ताब्ले."
The three international agencies were locked out of last week's first test in Brisbane but were hoping to find a solution in time for the second test।
Sri Lankan cricket authorities have appealed to Cricket Australia to end the dispute because of concerns it will reduce coverage of spinner Muttiah Muralitharan breaking the world record for the most test wickets।
Muralitharan is six wickets short of equalling Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's world record of 708 test match scalps and could achieve the milestone in the Hobart test.
Reuters said Cricket Australia had conceded on the key issue of licence fees -- a fee to cover the event -- but most other points were still problematic।
"CA has withdrawn its claim for a licence fee, which shows progress, but we are at a standstill on the remaining issues," Villa said।
Those include the agencies' right to sell photographs to individuals freely and a dispute over the categories of news organisations the agencies were free to sell pictures to.
"Regretfully we will have to maintain the boycott of coverage for the next test with Sri Lanka in Hobart," Villa added.
STILL HOPEFUL
Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said he was still hopeful a resolution could be found.
"The good news is that the agencies are talking to us again...we were very disappointed when they wouldn't come back to the table," Young told Reuters।
"This is a complex negotiation but we're very keen to talk it through and come up with a resolution."
Cricket Australia's stance has divided the cricket community.
Indian cricket authorities say they support Australia's actions and may introduce similar restrictions on media for their home matches।
However, Australian politicians, trade union leaders and sections of the media have accused Cricket Australia of being "greedy".
"That is definitely not the case। There are a number of issues here that don't just relate to cricket but to all sports," Young said.
"The world is changing and if people want to sit down and look at the issues instead of the lurid newspaper headlines then I think they'll see that this really is a complex issue."
A coalition of New Zealand newspapers has written to Cricket Australia saying they will resist demands to limit media coverage during next month's Chappel-Hadlee series। The International Cricket Council said it hopes the dispute is resolved amicably.
The media row comes at a delicate time for cricket officials, with the game still reeling from the negative coverage over the organisation of this year's World Cup in the West Indies and global attendances and television ratings declining।
Australia are the highest ranked team in world cricket but only 55,953 people attended the five days of the first Sri Lanka test. Television viewing figures were down nearly 41 per cent on last year, according to a report in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph.
Fleming remains in doubt
He may no longer hold the captaincy, but Stephen Fleming still remains a focus of attention in the New Zealand cricket team this week।
Fleming's injured arm and thumb continue to hamper the Black Caps ahead of the second cricket test against South Africa, starting on Friday in Centurion।
Fleming's progress is troubling coach John Bracewell, as is Jacob Oram's hamstring strain, given his impact as an all-rounder who gives the team extra batting depth।
Meanwhile, there are no plans from Brendon McCullum to wear an armguard despite a peppering from the South African pace attack in the first test।
McCullum says he has faced some tough bowling over the course of his career so far and has had no real need for a guard। He says it is about the power of the mind to overcome such situations and if you have a freak accident taking your eye off the ball, there is nothing you can do.
The side has been put through an intense training session in Pretoria to try to make up for the lack of tests over the last year.
Fleming's injured arm and thumb continue to hamper the Black Caps ahead of the second cricket test against South Africa, starting on Friday in Centurion।
Fleming's progress is troubling coach John Bracewell, as is Jacob Oram's hamstring strain, given his impact as an all-rounder who gives the team extra batting depth।
Meanwhile, there are no plans from Brendon McCullum to wear an armguard despite a peppering from the South African pace attack in the first test।
McCullum says he has faced some tough bowling over the course of his career so far and has had no real need for a guard। He says it is about the power of the mind to overcome such situations and if you have a freak accident taking your eye off the ball, there is nothing you can do.
The side has been put through an intense training session in Pretoria to try to make up for the lack of tests over the last year.
Cricket in the pink
Pink balls will be used in some cricket matches next season as experiments are conducted to see if they are more visible to players।
The MCC, the game's law-makers, are working with scientists on the new fluorescent ball this winter and it will be used in university and second XI matches early next summer.
If successful it could be extended to county cricket, with the ultimate aim of it being used in one-day internationals।
MCC head of cricket John Stephenson told The Times: "Paint tends to flake off white balls and we have asked Kookaburra to produce a batch of pink ones because these show up much better.
"The challenge is to produce a ball which retains its colour - I doubt it will be any more expensive to produce or buy।"
White balls are currently used in one-day internationals but they are changed after 34 overs due to wear and tear।
The MCC hope the pink one will prove more durable. It is not the first time the game has experimented with different coloured balls, with orange ones tried in the Refuge Assurance Cup in 1989.
The MCC, the game's law-makers, are working with scientists on the new fluorescent ball this winter and it will be used in university and second XI matches early next summer.
If successful it could be extended to county cricket, with the ultimate aim of it being used in one-day internationals।
MCC head of cricket John Stephenson told The Times: "Paint tends to flake off white balls and we have asked Kookaburra to produce a batch of pink ones because these show up much better.
"The challenge is to produce a ball which retains its colour - I doubt it will be any more expensive to produce or buy।"
White balls are currently used in one-day internationals but they are changed after 34 overs due to wear and tear।
The MCC hope the pink one will prove more durable. It is not the first time the game has experimented with different coloured balls, with orange ones tried in the Refuge Assurance Cup in 1989.
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