Sunday, August 30, 2009

Alexis wins 'Phil Thompson' award


Nicholas Alexis, a 17-year-old student of St Mary’s College, won the ‘Phil Thompson’ award, which goes to the most promising young player in the club. The Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) gives this award to the person who demonstrates the discipline and prowess in all aspects of his sport and in his approach to all other facets of his developing life and personality.

Alexis scored 347 championship runs and represented T&T in the Under-19 competition in Jamaica in July/August. This was one of the highlights of the end of season awards presentation and dinner of the QPCC at the Century Ballroom at the Queen’s Park Oval last Friday evening. Present were a wide cross section of the club’s membership and many parents of the budding champions. Dane Darbasie, management member, started the evening by proclaiming the annual club dinner a celebration of excellence and necessary to maintain the spirit and noble traditions of the club, one of the oldest and most successful in the Caribbean.

QPCC started in 1891 to promote tennis and cricket and after five years in a ‘tent in the Queen’s Park Savannah’, the club moved down to its present quarters and developed it from a modest playing field into what was described by the late John Arlott as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world. What makes QPCC great and makes each member proud to be a ‘Parkite’, is the level of member participation and the aura of inclusiveness in all aspects of club life. The season was a successful one with many of the ‘Parkites’ being selected on national and international teams in various age groups.

In addition to Dwayne Bravo, who has already been an established and successful West Indies player, there emerged his younger brother, Darren, who found his way into the national and West Indies teams, as well as playing some really sparkling innings for the club in local competition. Speaking as club captain and an example of the young brigade in the club, Justin Guillen, who literally grew up in the Oval, demonstrated the purposefulness of youth when he acknowledged that he had come a long way but that there was still much further to go. The evening was carried by the deft and delightful touch of the Parkites’ cricket administrator, Bryan Davis, himself a man who grew up in the Oval and went on to represent West Indies when the Windies were a power in world cricket.

The Awards

Five Cricketers of the Year:
■ Marlon Barclay
21-year-old opening batsman.

■ Darren Bravo
20-year-old left-handed middle order batsman.

■ Runako Morton
30-year-old middle order batsman.

■ Rishaad Harris
23-year-old opening bowler.

■ Amit Jaggernauth
25-year-old off-spinner.

The Youth Cricketer of the Year
Anthony Balgobin, 20-year-old wicket-keeper.

The Youth Personality of the Year
Nicholas Alexis

Everard Gordon
Trinidad Guardian

We will surprise them - Williams


Coach David Williams has issued a warning to teams taking part in the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions League in South Africa—don’t write off the West Indies. The region will go into the tournament with an under-strength squad as mediation between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and its Players Association left the team without its senior players.

Despite this, Williams said his team was capable of surprising people and upsetting the big teams. “I don’t think people should write us off. We have a young team and the players are going there to make a name for themselves. “We have a good preparation schedule in place with two camps in Barbados and South Africa and once the players work hard and get something out of them, they would be okay for the series. They may even surprise some people and win some big matches.”

Williams is refusing to describe his side as second string. “At the end of the day, whoever goes out there to play is representing the West Indies and is part of a West Indies team. “The guys may not be the most experienced but they are willing and have plenty of talent. We intend to work with these players so they would be competitive in South Africa. “Recently, they were beaten by Bangladesh but they showed fight and the series was competitive. We are hoping to get the players in the best shape possible before the series and we are looking for a creditable performance.”

Meanwhile, Williams is hoping the WICB will make his position permanent. Head coach, John Dyson, was dismissed two weeks ago by the WICB and Williams, the former T&T and West Indies wicketkeeper, has been appointed interim coach for the Champions League tournament. Williams, understudy to Dyson until his dismissal, said he was interested in taking up the job full time. “Of course I am interested. I am the assistant coach and it is only natural I would want to one day become the head coach of the team.”

Vinode Mamchan
Trinidad Guardian

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Consistency the key to Cooper's MVP Award


Even with scores of 49, 46, and 58 as well as a commendable bowling performance, in the recently concluded, West Indies Senior Women’s Cricket Tournament, Britney Cooper was surprised at the organisers’ decision to name her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Instead, the Moruga resident, was expecting veteran, Pamela Lavine who recorded the most runs in the competition (211) to walk away with the title. “I was expecting Pamela Levine to win it because she made the most runs in the tournament,” said Cooper. But the decision was no doubt based on Cooper’s consistency, whereas, Lavine’s feat consisted solely of a century in one of her matches.

The team returned home on Monday night, after regaining the regional title which they lost to Jamaica last year. Along with Cooper, Anisa Mohammed (most wickets and most catches), Whitney Cudjoe (Player of the final), and team captain Merissa Aguillera “best wicket keeper” were also among the awardees. Admitting that she lacked the self confidence to really urge herself on at times, Cooper commended her teammates for their support which was never short when she really needed it and singled out vice-captain, Kirbyina Alexander, whom she described as her role model. “Everyone had confidence in me, but I didn’t know that I would have performed so good.” “Kirbyina is very supportive and a good friend who always has faith in me, and tells me ‘never say you can’t do anything’.”

Generally known as an aggressive batswoman, Cooper explained that it was patience and self motivation that got her through the three long innings she spent in the middle. “I am more of an attacking player, so I was just thinking ‘take your time, patience, there are plenty overs left’ and I really tried to encourage myself.” It was her constant dedication to sport however, that got her on the team in the beginning. As in addition to cricket, the Princes Town Senior Comprehensive School student, also plays football for both her school and club, Petrotrin United, while also having to juggle her “A”-level studies.

“There’s just no day off, it’s from school to training and then sometimes after training I may have a windball match in the night,” she said. But according to team captain, Merissa Aguillera, who lives just a short distance from the MVP as well as plays with the same club “Hard work pays off.” This is something to which Cooper can now attest. “I’m very proud of her,” said Aguillera “especially knowing that she’s actually from my area and club, and I know her to be such a wonderful person on and off the field. I look forward to seeing her in the big league.” The 20-year-old now hopes that her performance was good enough to earn her a spot on the WI team for their upcoming tour to South Africa in October.

Awardees

Along with Cooper, Anisa Mohammed (most wickets and most catches), Whitney Cudjoe (Player of the final), and team captain Merissa Aguillera “best wicket keeper” were also among the awardees.

Shari John
Trinidad Guardian

Friday, August 21, 2009

Cooper guides T&T to victory


Brittney Cooper helped to spearhead yet another victory as T&T topped their group (Group B) at the end of the first round of the West Indies Senior Women’s Tournament being held in Guyana. After a late start due to rain on the previous day, T&T won the toss and chose to bat.

Yesterday, the local side got to 207 for six in their allotted 50 overs, with Cooper getting to 46 and Amanda Samaroo 50. In reply, Hoyte picked up where she left off with the ball, to hit an unbeaten 62, and help St Vincent hold on till the end of their 50 overs, but it would not be enough and they still fell short by 69 runs. T&T will next face Barbados tomorrow at the Demarara Cricket Ground, while Jamaica will meet St Vincent.

Trinidad Guardian

Lara misses IPL deadline


Former T&T and West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara missed the May 31 deadline to apply for amnesty from the Indian Premier League. And as such he was not considered to be a part of the official contingent of the T&T team, which will take part in the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League in India in October. This was revealed by a high-ranking official close to the T&T Cricket Board. It was stated that Lara could have been considered to be part of the touring party in either two categories—players/technical staff or as an official.

“The IPL is an arm of the Indian Cricket Board. They have no jurisdiction to say who to bring as an official or not. If Brian (Lara) goes as official, his function will be limited, that is to say he will hardly have any interactions with the players, because he will not be a member of the back-room or coaching staff. It is a very sensitive situation. It is hoped that in the near future that consideration will be give by the authorities to have any issues with Lara be settled,” the official explained. Lara once participated in the rebel Indian Cricket League and it was advised that players who still have ties with the ICL will be barred from taking part in the Twenty20 Championship in any capacity.

Meanwhile, Chief Selector Narine Bidhesi said that training was going along full speed ahead in preparation for the two-week series.
“The guys have been training hard. We are actually in our second phase of our training programme, since we have reduced the squad to a provisional 20. The training has been intensified with the return of all players (West Indies players), the gelling has been extremely good and they (WI players) are lending their experience and support to the younger players,” said the former T&T middle-order batsman.
Bidhesi said training will continue on Monday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva.

T&T Provisional Squad:
Daren Ganga (captain), Lendl Simmons, William Perkins, Imran Khan, Richard Kelly, Kevon Cooper, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Adrian Barath, Navin Stewart, Dwayne Bravo, Daron Cruikshank, Kieron Pollard, Sherwin Ganga, Amit Jaggernauth, Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine, Rayad Emrit, Dave Mohammed.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

T&TCB & WIPA reach settlement


Negotiations for prize and monetary incentives have been settled by the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and the T&T Cricket Board (T&TCB) for the T&T cricket team, which will take part in the Champions League 20/20 Club tournament in India, from October 8 -23. This was revealed by the General Secretary and CEO of the T&TCB, Forbes Persaud, following negotiations at the week-end with the players’ representatives and the local board.


It is understood that the major problem was the splitting of the US$500,000 appearance fee which the T&T cricket team will receive for showing up at the tournament, also it was reported that the players were asking for $250,000 to be divided among the official squad of 15 competing in the series with the remainder being divided by the T&TCB, West Indies Cricket Board and the reserve players. “We have reached an amicable settlement,” Persaud said.
Heading the negotiating team for the T&TCB, were Persaud, president Deryck Murray and treasurer, Richard Ramkissoon.

Leading the talks for WIPA were CEO Dinanath Ramnarine and T&T captain, Daren Ganga. Persaud also stated that a provisional 20-man-squad will be submitted to officials of the tournament by tomorrow, and the final squad will be trimmed to 15 by September 7. And according coach of the team and former national allrounder Kelvin Williams, the side will have net and physical sessions today and Thursday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, starting at 1 pm.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian