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COMING TO I95.5FM SPORTS….IN THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

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Cricket in Trinidad after all !

2010-05-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Digicel Series matches moved from Jamaica to Trinidad

The West Indies Cricket Board on Wednesday announced the changes to the schedule of matches in the Digicel Series between West Indies and South Africa. The matches which were slated to be played in Jamaica will now be played in Trinidad.

The fifth Digicel ODI will be played at Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday June 3 and the first Digicel Test Match will also be played at Queen’s Park Oval from Thursday June 10 to Monday June 14. The two-day warm-up match for the South Africans will be played on June 6 and 7 at a venue which will be announced in the coming days.

DIGICEL SERIES SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 19: 1st Digicel T20 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Thursday, May 20: 2nd Digicel T20 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Saturday, May 22: 1st Digicel ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Monday, May 24: 2nd Digicel ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Friday, May 28: 3rd Digicel ODI at Windsor Park, Dominica

Sunday, May 30: 4th Digicel ODI at Windsor Park, Dominica

Thursday, June 3: 5th Digicel ODI at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Sunday, June 6 to Monday June 7: South Africa warm-up match – venue TBA

Thursday, June 10 to Monday June 14: 1st Digicel Test at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Friday June 18 to Tuesday, June 22: 2nd Digicel Test at Warner Park, St Kitts

Saturday, June 26 to Wednesday, June 30: 3rd Digicel Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados

Ottis Gibson happy to be back in Windies cricket

2010-03-03T05:19:00.000-08:00

WICB appoints Ottis Gibson as Head Coach

New coach says: ’I am really excited,
I am very happy to be involved in West Indies cricket again’

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced the appointment of Ottis Gibson as the Head Coach of the West Indies Team. Mr. Gibson will assume duties in time for the start of the Digicel Series between the West Indies and Zimbabwe from February 28 to March 14.

As Head Coach, Gibson will be responsible for all West Indies representative cricket teams and will be expected to provide leadership, guidance and direction to all coaches.

Gibson said he is looking forward to making a contribution to the development of West Indies cricket. Gibson is a former coach for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) North West region and was Fast Bowling Coach for the England team for the last two years. Dr Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive of the WICB, said the Board was happy to have the 40-year-old Barbadian join the team as he brings a wealth of experience as a player and as a coach.

Gibson said: “I am really excited about the new challenge and I am very happy to be involved in West Indies cricket again. West Indies cricket has always been my passion. I was excited as a player to represent the West Indies and I am honoured to be appointed as the Head Coach. It is a privilege and I am really looking forward to working with the West Indies and everyone involved in West Indies cricket. I fully understand what cricket means to the people of the region and I hope in time we can make cricket in the West Indies strong again.”

He added: “I would like to thank the ECB for the opportunity given to me since 2001 as a national coach for North West of England and then as Bowling Coach for England for the last two years. It was a tremendous opportunity and I am sure the experience I gained will help me in my new role with the West Indies team unit.”

Hilaire said: “We are delighted to have Ottis Gibson as our new Head Coach of West Indies cricket. We are at a stage in the development of West Indies cricket where we believe we have the players who are capable of taking the game to the next level. Ottis has the experience and knowledge to work with players at all levels, as he demonstrated with the England team. We are confident he can help to chart the way forward for West Indies cricket.”

During his playing days, Gibson was a fast bowling allrounder and represented Barbados in West Indies regional cricket; Durham, Glamorgan and Leicestershire in the English County Championship; and Border, Griqualand West and Guateng in the South African Provincial Competitions. He played two Tests and 15 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies. In all first-class cricket he made 177 appearances, and had best bowling figures in an innings of 10-47 for Durham against Hampshire.

ZIMBABWE AND WEST INDIES CRICKET TEAMS

2010-02-25T05:25:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, February 24 2010: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - The Zimbabwe Cricket Team arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday February 23 to face off with the West Indies in the Digicel Twenty/20 match on Sunday February 28 at the Queen’s Park Oval from 1:00 pm.

The Team was met at Piarco International Airport by Mr. Adam Lacey, Digicel Head of Corporate Sales who presented members of the Team with Digicel Sim Cards.

Digicel has been a proud sponsor of West Indies cricket since 2004 and has undertaken a number of West Indies support initiatives in order to bring the game closer to the adoring cricket fans of the Caribbean.

Frenzy building on the sister isle... Warriors won't take 'Ticos' for granted

2009-06-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior National Team will have a final training session at 4:30 pm on Friday on the eve of their all-important 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Saturday.

Head Coach Russell Latapy is expecting Saturday’s encounter to be a very tactical one and has urged his players to pay particular attention to the calculated style play of the Costa Ricans who will go into the encounter on a high following their convincing 3-1 win over the United States on Wednesday night in San Jose.

“We expect the game to be a very tactical one and we have the respect for Costa Rica because right now they are on top of the group. They have always been a difficult side to break down and the results show that because we have never beaten them in a World Cup qualifier before,” Latapy told TTFF Media on Thursday.

“Our approach will also have to be sound and good tactically because they will obviously consider themselves favourites in this one,” Latapy added.

Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards echoed similar sentiments but he still wants to see the “Soca Warriors” take the game to the Costa Ricans. Already, Mexican and Costa Rican media have started arriving on the island. A couple Mexican media correspondents cleverly checked in unannounced at the Blue Haven Hotel where the T&T team is based and have had to be warned over their filming of the T&T contingent on the premises. Overall though the spirit among the T&T faithful has been upbeat so far with Trinidadians arriving here in their red gear. Even some of Latapy’s fans and teammates included from Scotland and Portugal have touched down on the sister isle to support the “Little Magician” and his troops.

“Things are shaping up quite well. Russell has had a fair amount of time and for us to come together for such a crucial game and for it to be Russell’s first as a manager.. things are definitely looking positive,” Edwards told TTFF Media.

“They are one of the favourites and coming away with a 3-1 win over the USA is a big boost for them. We will have to try our best to get on top of them. We know what we are capable of at this stage.”

Looking back at the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in Port of Spain in 2005, the former Defence Force and Wrexham star says he believes the hosts can end on Saturday’s game on a brighter note.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t believe we can do it. We were in a similar position back then and we have to keep level heads. I will be satisfied with nothing less than a win on Saturday,” Edwards added.

In light of Steve Bruce’s appointment as manager of Sunderland, Edwards had the following to say: “Managers and players come and go. It’s going to be new challenge for Steve Bruce and the rest of the players like Kenwyne and myself. We’ve never played under him so we don’t know what to expect. But I will hope it’s a bright future for Sunderland and myself as a player.

“It was good to survive for a second successive season in the Premiership and we did it in nail biting style. Hopefully the squad can kick forward from here on. Money has a lot to play in the football but then it’s down to the players to make it happen on the pitch,” Edwards said, adding the Dwight Yorke will be missed at the club.

“He’s one that will be badly missed because of his experience and the way that he gets on with the rest of the guys. And I’m not saying this as a countryman but because I think all the other players feel that way about him,” Edwards concluded.

The Costa Ricans are carded to train after T&T at the match venue on Friday evening.

FRESH START AS WEST INDIES LOOK TO HIT BACK IN ODI SERIES

2009-05-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 20^th: West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, wants his team to forget its struggles in the recently concluded Test series and start strongly in the three-match ODI series against England, which begins at Headingley, Leeds, on Thursday.

“It’s a fresh start so obviously both teams will be looking to get that head-start by winning the first game and taking it from there,” Gayle said on the eve of the match. “We’re actually looking forward to tomorrow - it should be interesting.”

Gayle admitted that the wounds of the heavy defeats in the two Tests are still there. “I’m very disappointed in the manner in which we lost the Test series,” he said. “At the same time, we have to try and put that behind us and this is our main focus right now.”

“We had a job to do but we did not accomplish that job. We lost the series 2-0 and it was very disappointing. But we have to try and overcome these situations, try to make the necessary adjustments, and adapt to situations as quickly as possible and just try and get on with it.”

Gayle will welcome back dynamic all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to the side. The 25-year-old missed out on the Tests to work his way back to full fitness in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His return should bring a much-needed jolt of energy and enhance all three departments - especially the fielding which was sub-par in the Tests.

Fellow Trinidadians, all-rounder Kieron Pollard and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, as well as Nevisian batsman Runako Morton, have also flown in as one-day specialists.

Pollard and Morton are fresh from helping Queen’s Park Cricket Club to the WIPA 20/20 title last Sunday in Trinidad.

Rampaul also prepared for these ODIs during that tournament, representing dethroned champs Powergen.

Gayle carries a big responsibility as big-hitting opener, and his dazzling 39-ball half century in the final innings of the Test series advertised his capabilities.

As usual, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are key cogs in an inexperienced middle order.

“We are a good ODI team, no two ways about it but, at the same time, we have lost series,” Gayle said.

Over the past 12 months, the West Indies have lost 13 and won only three matches against fellow Test nations, and have drifted way behind the pack to eighth in the ICC Rankings.

The sun shone in Leeds on Wednesday, but conditions were expected to remain as chilly as they were for the Tests.

“When you come into conditions like this, it’s not suitable for our team,” Gayle said. “But at the same time, we have to make that adjustment and we have to grind it and bite it and go out there and try and get the job done regardless what the situation is.”

“It’s a new format of the game now - a one day match - and I’m sure we’ll put up a better fight in this ODI series,” he added.

‘We’re looking to gain some momentum leading up to the Twenty20 World Cup. Obviously, these three ODIs are very important.”

England received a setback on the eve of Thursday’s opener, when batting ace Kevin Pietersen was withdrawn from the entire series due to an achilles tendon problem. Pietersen’s absence should offer a chance of redemption for out-of-favour Ian Bell, or a debut for Irishman Eoin Morgan, now qualified for England.

Mc Leod, Carter, John Williams headline CCCAN 40

2009-05-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Forty swimmers and five officials were last night selected by the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (A.S.A.T.T.) to represent T & T at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Aquatic Championships, carded for the 28th June to 5th July 2009, in Barquisimeto Venezuela.

Among the forty selected are seven swimmers who have qualified for the World Open Long Course Championships to be held in Italy in late July. These swimmers are Joshua Mc Leod, Sharntelle Mc Lean, Christian Homer, Cherelle Thompson, Kimba Collymore, Donna-Marie Wickham and Samantha Rahael. Also among the forty are CARIFTA swimmers Dylan Carter and Kimberlee John-Williams who were the main points contributors to T & T's victory at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Aruba in April 2009. Returning to the team after a four year hiatus is multiple national record holder Ayeisha Collymore, who is now in the 18 & Over age group. She last represented T & T at CCCAN in 2005 in Santo Domingo.

Swimmers are now hard in training for the CCCAN Games. In the 2007 edition of these games, our team won 17 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze, ranking 3rd on the medals table and 5th on the points table. Christian Homer, now based in England, won eight gold medals and broke the 13-14 male CCCAN record in the 50 metre fly. Kimberlee John Williams won four gold medals and established a new CCCAN record in the 11-12 female 50 metre fly. Other 2007 gold medallist on the current team are Collymore, Wickham, and Cadell Lyons.

Speculation was rife on the hosting of these games since Mexico was forced to withdraw from hosting following the H1N1 swine flu virus.Colombia was initially carded to host the event but late last year, during the revelation of a global economic crisis, they withdrew as hosts. Following this, Mexico City met the January 15th deadline set to determine the new hosts of the event. With the onset of the swine flu, Mexico withdrew and Venezuela took up the task. The last time Venezuela hosted these games was exactly 20 years ago in 1989 in the Capital City of Caracas.

CCCAN SWIM TEAM

MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Manager - Charmaine Homer
Head Coach - Mark Pouchet
Assistant Coach - Hazel Haynes
Chaperone - Mona Edwards
Physio- Ian Sharpe/June Durham

11 - 12
MALE
Christopher Greene
Dylan Carter
Jeron O'Brien
Jonathan Gonzales

FEMALE
Bryanna Duncan
Cadean Lyons
Kristen Julien
Theana Hay

13 - 14
MALE
Blaine Sobrian
Joshua Romany
Kareem Baptiste
Keegan Boisson-Yates
Moriba De La Rosa
Sean Roget

FEMALE
Khadija Thornhill
Kimberlee John Williams

15- 17
MALE
Cadell Lyons
Caryle Blondell
Christian Homer
Jonathan Cabral
Ryan Rigues

FEMALE
Cherelle Thompson
Kadeja Phillip
Laverne Maxwell
Nathania La Pierre
Rejan Chin
Samantha Rahael

18 & Over
MALE
Anthony Edwards
David Edwards
Dean Miko Cruz
Joshua Mc Leod
Joel Sankar
Stefan Mader
Strasser Sankar
Jarryd Gregoire (provisional)

FEMALE
Ayeisha Collymore
Brittany Stewart
Donna Marie Wickham
Kimba Collymore
Sharntelle Mc Lean

GAYLE ADMITS HIS TEAM STRUGGLED IN COLD CONDITIONS

2009-05-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 18^th 2009: Digicel-sponsored West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, admitted his team found it difficult to cope with the frigid May weather as it slumped to a 0-2 series sweep at the hands of hosts England, with an innings defeat in the second Test at Chester-le-Street on Monday.

“They were very testing conditions and playing cricket in these sorts of conditions is a really, really big challenge for us,” he said after the loss.

“It’s not about the ball nipping around. We all expect the ball to do something here in England, whether it’s cold or not,” he said. “And sometimes in the fielding department it’s really, really hard to go out there with your hands burning, which made it difficult to catch.”

“In the batting department, it’s hard to concentrate for a long period of time in this cold, no doubt about it,” he added.

The Jamaican said he hoped the adverse conditions would toughen his players for the future.

“I’m not finding too many excuses – they were difficult conditions. But at the same time, I’m happy we actually gained some experience out of this,” he said.

Gayle said that he was not happy with the overall standards during the min-series, “We played poor cricket and, when we had our chances, we didn’t make the best use of it and England capitalized on it.”

The 29-year-old also revealed that the pre-match fuss over his comment about giving up the captaincy and Test cricket was overblown and he reaffirmed his commitment to the regional side.

“I’ll be around to guide the team as I see how I can help try and grow West Indies cricket,” he said. “It’s been down for quite a few years now and we’re all trying our best to improve in every department, but it won’t happen overnight. We’ve been working hard and we have a good bunch, a good unit.”

Gayle was eager to turn the tables on England in the one-day series which begins on Thursday at Headingley in Leeds.

“I’m confident we can actually beat England in the ODI series,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll have to get off to a good start at Headingley and basically take it from there.”

“There’s a new bunch of guys coming in as well who hopefully can adapt to the situation as quickly as possible,” he added.

“It’s a challenge for us and we are looking forward to it and, hopefully, we can enjoy it at the same time.”

DYSON CREDITS ENGLAND BATSMEN AS WINDIES TOIL

2009-05-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 14^th, 2009: The coach of the Digicel-sponsored West Indies team, John Dyson, credited England’s batsmen here Thursday after his bowlers were made to toil on day one of the second Test as centuries from opener Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara set up an imposing total of 302 for two.

“It was a tough day today, a very flat wicket and the England batsmen batted very, very well,” Dyson said after play. “I think our bowlers stuck to the task reasonably well all day. We bowled perhaps just a little wide and perhaps just a little short but we stuck at the job,” he added. “It’s just that the wicket is very flat and the England batsmen batted very well.”

Dyson said he expects another strong effort from his guys on the second day. “We just have to keep going. We’re trying to bowl the right areas and hope one of the few that was played and missed at that they might nick,” he said. “It was a terrific ball that Lionel Baker bowled Ravi on late today. Maybe if we get one or two of those in the morning we can grab a couple of wickets and make things a bit more uncomfortable.”

Dyson also outlined his team’s preparations coming into this match on the back of a humiliating three-day, ten-wicket loss at Lord’s last Friday. “There’s not that many days off between the games. We’ve been in the nets on both days, and extended the time in the nets for the batsmen,” he explained. “We’ve also spent a little more time with our fielding and changed the drills that

COOK AND BOPARA HIT TONS TO PUT ENGLAND ON TOP

2009-05-15T05:09:00.001-07:00

Thursday, May 14^th, 2009: Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara hit well-constructed centuries at Chester-le-Street on Thursday, to secure a dominant England position of 302 for two at close of play on the first day of the 2^nd Test against the Digicel-sponsored West Indies.

Opener Cook batted throughout the day for 126 not out off 262 balls in just over six hours. The spirited left-hander struck 14 fours.

Bopara, in contrasting style, lashed 13 fours and one six off 108 - his third century in successive Test innings following 104 at Kensington Oval in February and 143 last week at Lord’s.

The pair of 24-year-olds, who have been team-mates since their under-12 days in the Essex county system, nailed down England’s advantage with a 213-run stand for the second wicket.

The West Indies bowlers toiled hard after England, 1-0 up in this two-match series, won the toss in chilly conditions on an easy-paced pitch. Only captain Chris Gayle (one for 28) and pacer Lionel Baker (one for 60) reaped any reward.

Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards were a bit wayward with the new ball and Cook and his skipper Andrew Strauss gave their team a solid start of 69 for the first wicket. Gayle’s off-spin provided the breakthrough just as Strauss (26) was beginning to blossom. The England captain provided a juggled leg-side catch to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin as he gloved a sweep.

Cook and Bopara laid the early foundations of their partnership before taking lunch at 85 for one. Cook’s footwork began to grow in certainty and he arrived at fifty off 108 balls with a clip for three off Sulieman Benn.

Bopara, more assured from the start, also arrived at his milestone in the second session, off 106 deliveries as he tickled Benn fine for his seventh boundary.

The West Indies had a rare opportunity to separate the pair soon afterwards when another leg glance from Bopara burst past a diving Ramdin’s outstretched left glove on its way to the rope.

The right-hander, who had survived chances in both his previous centuries, was then 51 and the despairing bowler was Baker. That piece of ill fortune for the visitors also raised the century stand and the pair guided England to tea at 184 for one.

The final session offered little respite for the West Indies and Cook, in his 43rd Test, cruised to his ninth century 50 minutes after resumption. He brought it up in style, advancing down the pitch to slam Benn past midwicket for his 11th boundary and added a square cut for four next delivery as the bowler dropped short.

Bopara, too, motored to his landmark in confident fashion, lofting Benn straight for 4, 6, 4 to move from 84 to 98.

He then went full stretch to tap a wide Lendl Simmons delivery into the off side to reach three figures - only the fifth Englishman to do so in three consecutive innings (after legends Herbert Sutcliffe, Denis Compton, Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch).

The West Indies enjoyed precious little encouragement during the day, with an early Cook edge off Gayle and Bopara’s under-edged cut off Benn after he reached 100 among the few genuine moments of uncertainty from the hosts.

The second new ball brought a late boost when Baker produced a fine inswinger which touched down on a good length and went through the gate to rock Bopara’s off stump.

Edwards seemed energized by the presence of nightwatchman James Anderson and shook him up with some short stuff. But he couldn’t produce another wicket and England ended the day well on top.

T&T U20s to meet Argentina,Ghana in Venezuela tournament

2009-05-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers, back in Port of Spain today (Thursday) from a 21-day tour, will continue their preparations for the FIFA Under 20 World Championship with another set of international warm ups against renowned opposition next month.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation this week accepted an invitation to participate in a tournament in Venezuela from June 11-21 which will see the junior “Soca Warriors” get to face off with the National Under 20s teams of defending World Youth Cup champions Argentina, Ghana, Honduras and hosts Venezuela. There is the possibility that one other country will be added to the list.

T&T received the invitation from Hernan Tofoni, general manager of licensed FIFA Match and Players agent World Eleven, the organizers of the tournament.

The opportunity for T&T to test themselves against higher ranked teams was another welcomed one for head coach Zoran Vranes.

“We believe that the only way the team can prepare for a World tournament is to play teams that are rated higher than us and that are stronger than us at the moment. I think the Federation is doing quite a good job to try and ensure that we get to warm up against the bigger teams and as you can see with our tour, we have worked hard and improved game by game. The result against Nigeria didn’t come by luck,” Vranes told TTFF Media on Wednesday as the T&T contingent landed in London on its way back to Port of Spain following visits to United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Nigeria dating back to last month.

Reflecting some more on the draw with the “Flying Eagles” on Tuesday, the Serbia Montenegro-born coach added that he was curious to see how the players would respond on the follow up to such a grueling tour.

“If you look back at our matches you will see that we had chances to win some of the games. I believe that this team can be very good with some changes and with more preparation on a physical and mental aspect.

“When you play Nigeria and you have the lead you are scared to spoil it and you start to make results. We did not attack them in the second half as much as we did in the first and that is something we will work on.”

Vranes said he believed strikers Juma Clarence and Trent Lougheed will develop into top notch forwards once they remain focused.

“Juma deserved to start. He had problems in the past but he coming back very well. Trent is also a very hard working guy but he also has some weaknesses which he is working on. I believe they can both be very good players.”

Meantime, the Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs. Victoria Mendez-Charles and her colleagues from the Trinidad High Commission in Abuja hosted the T&T players and officials at a reception at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday night following the match at the National Stadium.

T&T skipper Leston Paul presented Mendez-Charles with an autographed national team shirt.

“It’s an honour for Trinidad and Tobago to play Egypt in the first game… What a task we have,” Mendez Charles told the gathering which included officials of other high commissions from Central America and the Caribbean.

“After seeing today’s game between Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria of which I was eminently proud of our team, I have every reason, every faith and confidence that our young nationals will rise to the occasion and acquit themselves honorably,” she said.

The team returns home on Thursday afternoon.

SWANN, ONIONS TORMENT WEST INDIES ON DAY TWO

2009-05-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

The West Indies endured a nightmare day at Lord’s on Thursday as Graeme Swann, with bat and ball, and debutant pacer Graham Onions, with a five-wicket haul, gave England a winning platform after only two days of the first Test.

England, overnight 298 for seven, powered to 377 all out as first day centurion Ravi Bopara (143) and Swann, with a career-best 63 not out, kept the momentum with the hosts.

Fidel Edwards, so impressive on day one, ended with deserving figures of six for 92 but his big smile as he walked off was soon eroded by his team’s batting collapse.

The visitors, despite reaching 70 for one, were toppled for 152 in their first innings to concede a formidable lead of 225. The Caribbean men, forced to follow on, limped to 39 for two batting again, still 186 in arrears.

Devon Smith top scored in the first innings with a composed 46 and remained defiant on 26 not out second time around.

Fast bowler, Stuart Broad, (two for 57) made the initial strikes in West Indies first innings. Off-spinner Swann (three for 16) engineered the middle order collapse while Onions provided the gravy with the final five wickets in a clatter.

Onions, the 6 foot, 2 inch Durham paceman, ended with five for 38.

James Anderson, who went wicketless in the first innings, landed two crucial blows in the second dig removing captain Chris Gayle for a duck and Ramaresh Sarwan cheaply.

England began the day with a flourish as Bopara and Swann stretched their eighth wicket association to 93, the best stand of the innings.

Swann’s counter-attack dominated the partnership and West Indian spirits quickly wilted on a chilly day in London.

The ebullient all-rounder arrived at fifty off 73 balls with a disdainful pull for six off Lionel Baker that epitomized the day. He added nine fours.

The West Indies brushed aside the last three wickets once Bopara, overnight 118, drove Jerome Taylor to extra cover Brendan Nash, who ironically was the one that began the spate of dropped catches on Wednesday when Bopara was 76.

Edwards wrapped up the innings with two wickets in two balls. Anderson, shaken up by a nasty blow to the back of the helmet, edged to the keeper while Onions’ first ball in Test cricket ended with his stumps shattered.

The West Indies reply began positively as the innovative England tactic of using Swann with the new ball failed.

Gayle played some booming drives in racing to 28 off 34 balls before, on the back foot, he dragged on one that nipped back from Broad at 46 for one.

Sarwan, so prolific in the Digicel Series in the Caribbean, began with two gorgeous clips through leg for fours. But Broad claimed him for 13 as one feathered the bottom edge as it seamed away.

Swann’s return began a terminal collapse once Smith (seven fours) missed a straight one for his fourth dismissal in six innings against the England off-spinner.

Batting rock, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, departed first ball as he edged a big-spinning off break to slip. The slide continued after tea when fellow left-hander Nash followed in similar fashion.

There was more drama to follow as Onions, wicketless in his first five overs, then produced a rich harvest with four in seven balls, including three in his sixth over.

Lendl Simmons steered a lifter to first slip, Jerome Taylor gloved a pull for a leg side wicket-keepers catch while a rushed Sulieman Benn sparred to third slip.

Ramdin followed in Onions next over, clearly leg before on the back foot.

Baker (17) and Edwards (11 not out) saved some face in a last wicket stand of 24 but Onions clinched Baker leg before for his fifth scalp.

England skipper, Andrew Strauss, as he was averse to do in the Caribbean, enforced the follow on in the seamer-friendly conditions of home, and made further progress in the hour before close.

Gayle and Sarwan fell, each mirroring each other’s first innings dismissal.

Gayle sparred an away-swinger to third slip, while Sarwan diverted one that nipped back onto his stumps.

DYSON - "TEAM MUST SHOW FIGHT TO AVOID DEFEAT"

2009-05-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday 7^th May, 2009. West Indies coach, John Dyson, is keen for his side to put Thursday’s calamitous second day behind them and fight hard to avoid defeat over the next few days of the opening Test against England at Lord’s.

“Today hasn’t been a good day for us at all. But there’s still a few days left and we’ve just got to fight,” Dyson said after a day on which the West Indies lost 12 wickets to hand England a huge advantage.

“We have to, obviously, bat extremely well,” he admitted. “We may get a bit of help from the weather, with a bit of luck, but we won’t rely on that. We just have to bat well.”

Dyson refused to be too critical of his team’s batsmen despite totaling 152 in their first innings and slipping to 39 for two as they followed on.

“I think it was primarily good bowling,” he said. “You’ve got to admit that the England bowlers came out and bowled with pace. They bowled with intent and they bowled the right areas.”

Dyson admitted the catching on day one was a letdown but said he could not blame the preparation.

“We definitely let ourselves down in the field. It’s just one of those things in cricket,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how much you practice catching and what sort of drills you do to practice catching, guys still drop them in matches. It’s unfortunate, but it just happens.”

Dyson was delighted with the performance of pace spearhead Fidel Edwards, who grabbed six for 92 despite suffering from half of the six dropped chances on Wednesday.

“I thought Fidel bowled excellently. He bowled with pace. He bowled with some aggression. He put the balls in the right areas and he deserved the figures he got.”

Finance for Dummies

2009-05-05T03:26:00.000-07:00

In a small town somewhere in the USA the economic downturn showed it's
results. The town looked abandoned Everybody was dept ridden And they all
lived on credit. One day a rich tourist arrives. He goes to the local hotel.
The only one in town. Puts down $500 cash on the counter and goes to survey
the hotel to pick a room for himself. The hotel's owner grabs the money and
pays his debt to the butcher. The butcher pays the farmer for all the pork
he got on credit. The farmer uses the $500 to pay his debt to the animal
food supplier. The animal food supplier pays of his dept to the local
prostitute. The prostitute uses the money to pay her debt to the hotel owner
For all the use of rooms with her clients. Just as she leaves the tourist
returns to the reception, Takes back his money because he did not like any
of the rooms. He leaves town. Nobody gained or lost anything however the
little town is now free of debt. The debt crisis is over. Genial, isn´t it?

Now, where is economic recovery for you and me ?

TTFF NEWS - Under 20s move on to Nigeria after 2-0 loss in Seoul

2009-05-05T03:21:00.000-07:00

Trinidad an Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers leave Seoul bound for Nigeria on Tuesday morning still without a win on their international warm up tour but would have been on the move with their heads up after an improved and gritty showing in a 2-0 defeat to South Korea’s National Under 20s at the Training Centre on Monday evening.

Goals on either side of the half by Cho Young Hoon in the 35^th and Han JAe Man in the 80^th meant that the junior “Soca Warriors” suffered their fourth defeat in as many matches since in Asia but the run of play on Monday didn’t leave head coach Zoran Vranes totally disappointed.

“Yes it’s another defeat but I felt we were a lot better today. We had a good chance to get a better result but it didn’t turn out that way. I’m not disappointed by the way the boys played. We are doing better in every game,” Vranes told TTFF Media.

His statements may appear a bit overdone but the display by the visitors really should have warranted at least a draw against a team that has already beaten T&T’s first match opponents (at the FIFA U-20 World Championship) Egypt by a 4-1 margin just under a month ago.

Five minutes into the action Choi Jung Han had Glenroy Samuel saving low and the hosts seemed intent on picking up an early advantage. But on 12 minutes T&T responded. After breaking down a play at the back, Sean De Silva picked out forward Juma Clarence with a long diagonal pass out on the left and he found himself in a one on one with the advancing goalkeeper but over pushed before the ball was cleared.

T&T were enjoying a fair amount of possession and though skipper Leston Paul was not as involved as much in the centre, his men around him were gutsy and aggressive enough to ensure that a lot of the play was happening in Korea’s half.

But the good work in the early stages was spoilt when the Koreans picked up the pace and threaded a few good passes, switching from left to right atop the penalty area and Young Hoon clinically placed his right footer past Samuel for a 1-0 lead.

Right back Curtis Gonzales was putting in endless work both on the defensive and with his overlapping runs. His cross found Jean Luc Rochford on top the area but his one time effort was deflected just over for a corner in the 36^th minute.

Six minutes into the second half, centre back Mikeil Williams reached up well to meet a right side corner but his powerful header was unluckily blocked by teammate Trent Lougheed on the far post.

Vranes made five changes in the 60^th, introducing Daniel Joseph, Marcus Joseph, Qian Grosvenor, Jevon Morris and goalie Andre Marchan. That changed T&T’s momentum somewhat but Korea couldn’t manage to capitalize.

Instead Molino had a near post header saved in the 80^th . A minute later though, poor marking allowed Jae Man to head home a right side corner on the near post. T&T almost got a consolation item a minute from time but Morris’s lifted his attempt from 20 metres out just over bar.

“Two easy goals but the performance was better Our boys are realizing more that they can compete with these teams and it’s showing up in these games. It’s taking time but we are continuing to work well and improve our play. I was glad that the guys who came on in the second half responded very well. We are understanding more and more that we have to run harder and play with more intensity,” Vranes concluded.

T&T leaves on Tuesday morning for Nigeria where they will play three more matches before heading back to Port of Spain on May 14.

No play for Windies on rainy Monday

2009-04-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Windies upbeat despite wash out

There was no play for the West Indies on Monday as the final day of their three-day match against Essex County Club was washed out. There was steady rain on Monday morning and the outfield was too wet for play.

Scores in the match: Essex 263 and 175-3, West Indies 146.

West Indies Head Coach John Dyson said the players remained in good spirits despite the wash out and they will be looking to forward to the next first-class match -- a four-day fixture against the England Lions at the County Ground in Derbyshire starting on Thursday.

“Ideally we would have liked another hit (second innings) but we can’t control the weather. We just have to move on to the next match at Derby and make the most of that opportunity,” Dyson said.

“In this game we did not bat very well and the guys know that. The one exception was Shiv, and he will always be Shiv … he just bats and bats and that will always be his style. We are not down at all. We know what we have to do and we are confident of doing well.”

On Sunday, Chanderpaul made a resolute 66 not out off 107 balls. It was the 87th half-century of his first-class career to go alongside 48 centuries.

“The bowlers have all bowled some good spells and it is a matter of being consistent. The guys will be looking to tune-up with the prospect of playing in the Test matches so we will be expecting some good performances in Derby.”

In between the rain, the Windies players took the opportunity to do gym work, do video analysis and also sign autographs for fans at the ground.

The match against the England Lions will be the final warm-up match before the two-match Test Series against England. The 1^st Test will be at Lord’s on May 6-10. The 2nd Test will be at Riverside Ground at Chester-le-Street, starting May 14.

Upcoming matches

April 30 to May 3: vs England Lions at County Ground, Derby

May 6-10: 1^st Test at Lord’s

May 14-18: 2^nd Test at Chester-le-Street

May 21: 1^st ODI at Headingley

May 24: 2^nd ODI at Bristol

May 26: 3^rd ODI at Edgbaston

TTFF NEWS - Vranes has eyes on players as Under 20s tackle UAE

2009-04-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Vranes has eyes on players as Under 20s tackle UAE

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer in Al Ain, April 27.2009

“This is where the competition begins for a pick for Egypt”

Those were the words of National Under 20 Team head coach Zoran Vranes as he looked ahead to Tuesday’s warm up encounter against United Aram Emirates’ Under 20 team at the Al Qatara Stadium on Al Ain, UAE.

Vranes put his players through their paces in a 90 minute session at the Al Ain training facility on a well kept lush green turn even under humid conditions as the temperatures reached 36 degrees for the second consecutive day.

The game will played at Al Qatara Stadium in Al Ain, (and not Al Ain Sports Complex as previously announced) from 6pm (10 am TT time) on Tuesday and the T&T team here has received confirmation from some 50 plus T&T nationals residing in Dubai that they will be at the venue to show their support to the junior “Soca Warriors” who are preparing for the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Egypt in September.

Vranes, the man who guided the team out of the CONCACAF qualifying round, is expecting a tough contest from the UAE.

“Well we expect them to be tough. They have also qualified for the World Championship and they take their football very seriously here. We can expect them to be good technically and of course they will not want to lose at home” Vranes told TTFF Media on Monday.

“But we want these kind of matches. For our boys it could be difficult especially with the climate but this is what we need before we go to Europe. I have already told them that this period leading up to the World Cup will the hardest part for the team.”

He had a bit of a warning for the 20 players on the current tour, saying that no player should consider himself a guaranteed pick for the World Championship in Egypt where T&T will open the tournament against Egypt before facing Italy and Paraguay.

“It’s important and they have to know that not one of them can say they are sure to go to Egypt and now with this being our first international game since the World qualifiers, every player must show that he is of value to the team and is good enough to earn his pick for Egypt. Already I could probably say that we maybe are missing five starting players on this trip based on some of the players we have in mind who might be playing professionally abroad and once our plans go well then I can see them coming into the team for the tournament. But our boys now are eager to do well and everyone will have a fair chance to show that they can be part of the final team,” Vranes added.

Midfielder and team captain Leston Paul said his troops were looking forward to the match up against the hosts.

“Well it’s a bit hotter than normal here but so far today was our best day because we have settled in and we were able to have a good session under the conditions. It’s all part of the challenge in getting adapted quickly when we come out to play international matches. This is what we have to do in order to prepare for Egypt. We are looking forward to playing the UAE. I haven’t seen much of them but based on our knowledge of football in Asia we expect that they would give us a good run. I expect that they would be similar to Bahrain like when they played us in the qualification for the 2006 World Cup. We will work hard and try to get a good result to start the tour,” Paul said.

Do you know who this is?

2009-04-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Do you know who this is?

Under 17s warm up with 2-0 win over Panama club

2009-04-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 team warmed up for the final round of qualification for the FIFA Under 17 World Championship with a 2-0 victory over Panamanian club side Tauro FC on Saturday.

The local team, under head coach Anton Corneal, spent three days in Panama City en route to Mexico where they will contest the final round starting on Wednesday against the Mexicans.

The goalscorers for T&T were forwards Jerrel Britto and Johan Peltier.

“Overall it was a pretty decent exercise for us,” Corneal told TTFF Media as the team settled in Tijuana on Monday

“Now we are in Mexico and looking to get the boys settled in as quickly as possible. They have done well so far. Of course this is a very big outing for them and so far they have responded in the right manner. Being away from home, especially in a place like Mexico for a tournament and not just a training camp or a friendly, is always expected to be a challenge especially for a group of Under 17 players. But it’s going to be almost the same for the other teams except the hosts,” Corneal added.

Team captain Britto, who had another recent stint with English club Portsmouth, sounded confident ahead of T&T’s opening clash, despite being well aware that the hosts will be a tough hurdle to overcome.

“I believe our chances are good. We have worked really hard to get ready for this tournament and even though it might look really difficult with the teams in our group, we have played against teams like Brazil and other good clubs in Colombia. That has done a lot to help us get ready for this tournament,” Britto said.

“I think once we settle down well and be composed then we have a great chance of coming out successful. The team spirit is great but we just need to ensure we are not too nervous going into the first match. Our approach to this tournament has been good because we have been training for a long time trying to get ourselves ready.”
T&T face off with Mexico at the 33,000-capacity Estadio Caliente on Wednesday and they then take on Costa Rica on April 24 before meeting Guatemala two days later
The top two teams from each group will advance to the World Championship in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009. The other group being contested also in Mexico includes USA, Honduras, Canada and Cuba.

Romany: Morales saves the day for Sport

2009-04-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee( TTOC) president has congratulated Bolivia president Evo Morales for making sure sport was mentioned at the 5th Summit of the Americas.

"There was widespread concern within the local sport community that at such an important hemispheric forum .Sport was noticeably absent from the agenda.I had hoped that Sport would have been seen as a vital part of the efforts to bring about sustainable development and the battle to eradicate poverty.So I was very happy that President Morales gave sport such a ringing endorsement.He saved the day for sport"

Romany believes that sport needs to be addressed in a meaningful way.'It is not just a case of throwing money at sport.It is even more important that there be a deep seated understanding of what is required to develop sport and that sport is not only about elite and elite level competition."

President Morales at a news press conference on Saturday told his 33 Heads of Government counterparts at the Fifth Summit of the Americas that sports and youth were the catalyst that integrated the world, when all else had failed.

His [ Morales]admission came after he was asked by a foreign journalist what message he had for the Summit and for the youth.

T&T U20s off to UAE

2009-04-17T03:36:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 Team will jet off to United Arab Emirates on April 25 to play that country’s National Under 20 in two warm up matches later this month.

This was confirmed by the TTFF after the UAE extended the invitation. Special Adviser Jack Warner added : “We have confirmed two matches against UAE on April 28 and 29 and we have written to Nigeria, Ghana and South Korea for possible matches around those dates. We are also talking to Australia to play here in Trinidad in July.

“The Under 20 team will have a hectic schedule but it is all geared towards to ensuring they get the best preparation possible before heading to Egypt. The fact is we will have a world audience never experienced before looking on when Trinidad and Tobago takes on Egypt in the opening match of a World Cup.”

T&T U-20 team head coach Zoran Vranes said he was grateful for the upcoming matches.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for us to travel and play in that part of the world. Of course we know there is a lot of work ahead of us but we welcome these type of matches. My position with the team remains the same because I will not give them up. But at a meeting with Russell Latapy, we exchanged very similar views as it relates to us working together with the National Senior Team. I am really looking forward to both challenges,” Vranes told TTFF Media.

Warner said he was also optimistic that the T&T U17s will come out successful in their final round campaign in Mexico next week leading to the FIFA Under 17 World Championship in Nigeria.

“I am optimistic that the Under 17s shall be the second national team to qualify for the World Cup on African soil this year and the next one will be the Soca Warriors for South Africa,” Warner said.

T&T vs Costa Rica on June 6 to be played at Dwight Yorke Stadium

2009-04-17T03:35:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s next 2010 World Cup Qualifying encounter against Costa Rica on Saturday June 6,2009 will be staged at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago at 6pm

This was announced by TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner on Thursday after what he stated was a joint decision taken by the Football Federation and National Team Technical Staff in conjunction with the Tobago House of Assembly.

“That has been agreed by the Football Federation and the Team’s technical staff and it was done in conjunction with the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Orville London at a meeting yesterday. He was advised and he agreed that Tobago is part of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore it is only fair that a game be played there. We also agreed that although the stadium holding 7,500 persons, some 15,000 less than the Hasely Crawford Stadium and while it is going to be a financial loss for the Federation, the Federation believes that with Dwight Yorke being back for that match and with the game being Russell Latapy’s first official World Cup match as head coach… Tobago shall have the honour of staging the event,” Warner told TTFF Media.

“It is being done in the national interest. Latapy at a meeting this morning was ecstatic over the decision. We will also make plans to ensure that as much Trinidadians be given the opportunity to be in the sister isle for the match.”

Warner added that tickets will be priced at $400 for covered, one hundred less than previous qualifying matches and $200 for uncovered. Warner went on to say that invitations have also been extended to President George Maxwell Richards, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Minister of Sport Gary Hunt and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London.

Warner stressed that Latapy has the fullest support of himself and the TTFF as was made clear at a meeting with Latapy, Zoran Vranes and other technical team members on Thursday morning.

“This country has 1.3 million people and unfortunately we also have 1.3 million coaches and everybody knows what is best for the team. But what we have to make decisions in the team’s best interest. And at this time we are totally committed to supporting Russell Latapy as head coach and Zoran Vranes as his assistant and which ever other person he decides to bring on board. This will be discussed at meeting arranged specifically for this purpose on Monday.

“We have to give him our support and we believe he can do it. Those who people who believe, even those who played with him and who are critical now of his appointment and thinks he doesn’t have enough experience… I want to say to them that you have to begin somewhere and where else can we begin than at home. Therefore everything we can do to give Russell a chance to succeed we shall do. I want to say today that the game against Costa Rica on June 6 we shall win and that will turn our chances around,” Warner added.

“We shall take that success and turn it around as far as our qualification for South Africa is concerned. It will not be easy I know this but we have to take match by match and use each one as if it is our last match. I feel very optimistic that we shall qualify. Times are tough especially financially but we will be putting our best foot forward. We are readily behind coach Latapy to ensure he has everything he needs to be successful in that game,” Warner ended.

Latapy will begin on field preparations later this month with home-based players and further information regarding the team’s build up to June 6 including warm up internationals will be revealed in due course.

Figaro:T&T Rugby remains focused on its objectives

2009-04-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

Trinidad and Tobago's main rugby objective this year is to capture the NAWIRA Rugby 7s championship in both the men and women divisions.The 2009 NAWIRA 7s is scheduled to be held later this year in Mexico City ,November 14-15th.

In addition the T&T Women's team will travel to Barbados in July to defend their Caribbean 15s rugby title.While the T&T Under 19 team will be heading to Cayman Island in June .Their objective will be to win the Caribbean title and qualify for the 2010 International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Trophy.

The NAWIRA 7s will be the qualifying tournament for the 2010 Central America and Caribbean(CAC) Games and possibly the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

TTRFU president Leslie Figaro believes that even in the face of the economic down turn aside the T&T teams will achieve their goals .

" I am confident and encouraged by the the willingness of our players and coaches to put in the required work.It is not simply a case of waiting for the TTRFU to do this and that. There are aspects of the training programme that the players are doing on their own.This shows that they are taking ownership of their fitness and skill development."

While acknowledging that the current economic environment will have its impact the local rugby chief is not worried.

" To achieve our objectives will require discipline and focus.There will be some fall out.But there are individuals who have the desire to step up to the plate.Whatever fall out there is,if any at all,will be to the benefit of T&T Rugby .In tough times commitment,dedication and the willingness and hunger to go the extra mile comes to the forefront."

According to Figaro,T&T Rugby has a history of excellence.This country qualified for the IRB under 19 rugby championship in 2002.The men's national 7s team qualified for the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, and the IRB World Sevens series event in Los Angeles in 2004.T&T has held multiple titles at all levels of the game in the Caribbean.

" We have a history and tradition to maintain and improve.That pride and passion must be used to inspire and motivate this and future generations of rugby players.Even though rugby may not be considered in the same league as football,cricket and track and field to name but a few.We have also excelled."

Figaro says in recent years Rugby has enjoyed a renewal of interest at School and Community level.He credits this to the TTRFU's Youth Development Officers and the School Rugby Union.

In addition to the School Union.We have community oriented programmes in Gasparillio,Maloney,Marabella ,Princess Town,Tobago,Toco,Siparia. In addition to the work in Port.of.Spain and the East through the various clubs.

Safety concerns of parents being addressed by TTFF

2009-04-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

In response to concerns expressed by the parents and guardians of members of the National U-17 Team re their sons and wards participating in the CONCACAF U 17 Qualifying competition in Mexico beginning next week in Tijuana, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation wishes to assure parents that every effort is being made to ensure the safety of the Trinidad and Tobago squad.

The delegation, which met CONCACAF President Jack Warner in his Port of Spain office, said that it was disturbed by news and reports of kidnappings of youths in Mexico especially since the start of this year.They produced several documents to support their concerns.

Based on the discussions held, President Warner, who is also TTFF Special Advisor, informed the parents that Mr Lennox Watson, Vice President and National Security Officer of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation, shall be accompanying the T&T team throughout the duration of the tournament from April 22- May 3, 2009. Moreover Mr Warner himself would be visiting Mexico for the opening of the competition on April 22, 2009 to ascertain for himself the situation in Mexico relative to the concerns expressed by the parents and guardians. He departs from Mexico on April 23 for Aruba and Curacao to represent FIFA President Blatter on the occasion of the Goal Project in both countries.

TTFF NEWS - Final U17 squad selected for qualifiers in Mexico

2009-04-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

Final U17 squad selected for qualifiers in Mexico

Trinidad and Tobago National Under 17 Football Team head coach Anton Corneal on Monday selected a final 20-man squad to contest the CONCACAF Final Round of qualification for the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Championship.

The squad will arrive in Tijuana, Mexico on Monday where it will begin its final round campaign against hosts Mexico on April 22 at the 33,000-capacity Estadio Caliente. They then take on Costa Rica on April 24 and Guatemala two days later

The top two teams from each group will advance to the World Championship in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009. The other group being contested also in Mexico includes USA, Honduras, Canada and Cuba.

T&T are coming off two back to back wins, a 3-2 win over local Pro League outfit Mau Pau FC and then another, a 2-1 win over the National Under 20 team on Monday with both goals coming from forward Jerrel Britto.

Corneal, having led the previous Under 17 team to a spot at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Championship in South Korea, is optimistic of his team’s chances.

“I think right now the squad is in the best shape possible. We had some difficulty in the last few weeks deciding on a final squad because of how much the players were pushing themselves. We have 25 players all capable of making it but unfortunately we can only take 20 to the tournament,” Corneal told TTFF Media on Tuesday.

“The team has grown in every department, physically, tactically and confidence wise. We have a couple of good tours under our belt and we’ve done pretty well against a couple local pro league teams. We’ve had one or two senior players really stepping up and hopefully this continues in the tournament.

“We know the history of Mexico and Costa Rica. They have both qualified for previous tournaments but Mexico didn’t make it last time and we know they will not make it easy for any team especially being at home this time. But we are prepared for the challenge. I think that with the right attitude and approach we can make it through,” Corneal added.

“Because of having played the likes of a Brazil National Under 17 teams as well as the teams we encountered in Colombia, we know what we will be up against in Mexico in terms of style of play. We are in pretty much excellent shape physically and this is good for us when a team has to play three matches inside six days.”

Corneal said his players are motivated by the fact that the previous U17s made it through and that the U20s have followed in similar fashion by making it to Egypt 2009.

“Yes they are definitely using it as an incentive. They have been told all year round that this opportunity comes only once at the U17 level and they have seen what qualifying for a World Cup does for players. The right examples have been set for these boys and they are eager to try and grab the opportunity ahead of them,” Corneal concluded.

The team will train at 4pm on Wednesday at the Marvin Lee Stadium before departing for Panama City on Thursday where they will play a warm up match a day later.

NATIONAL U-17 FOOTBALL SQUAD FOR MEXICO 2009

NAME	D-O-B	CLUB	SCHOOL
GOALKEEPERS
1.John Thomas	18-11-1993	Joe Public	Fatima College
2.Jamal Francois	16-09-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Anthony’s College

DEFENDERS
3.Akeems Grant	07-04-1992	W Connection	Naparima College
4.Reshad Wint	12-02-1992	Joe Public	St. Anthony’s College
5.Dwight Ceballo	06-06-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Anthony’s College
6.Dillon Kirton	25-04-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Mary’s College
7.Zavion Navarro	31-12-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St, Augustine Senior Comp.
8.Luke Hernandez	24-03-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Anthony’s College
9.Shaquille Stewart	10-11-1993	W Connection	St. Benedict’s College
10.Omarr Charles	12-03-1992	Stokelyvale F.C.	Mason Hall High School

MIDFIELDERS
11.Shahdon Winchester	08-01-1992	W Connection	Naparima College
12.Ryan Mcleod	02-02-1992	Toronto FC Academy	The Woodlands School, Canada
13.Vernell Ramirez	19-03-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St, Augustine Senior Comp.
14.Neil Mitchell	01-07-1992	Joe Public	El Dorado Secondary
15.Moriba Ballah	03-01-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Anthony’s College
16.Ross Russell Jr.	09-01-1992	Defence Force	Fatima College
17.Ryan Frederick	11-06-1992	W Connection	Naparima College

FORWARDS
18.Cordel Cato	15-07-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	St. Anthony’s College
19.Jerrel Britto	04-07-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	Queen’s Royal College
20.Johan Peltier	26-03-1992	San Juan Jabloteh	Mucurapo Senior Comp.

Staff

Boris Punch- Chef de Mission

Anton Corneal – Head Coach

Christopher Gouveia - Manager

Michael McComie – Ass’t Coach

Shawn Cooper- Ass’t Coach

Ross Russell- Goalkeeper Coach

Mario John- Doctor

Michael Taylor- Physio

Gilbert Bateau- Trainer

Mark Lewis- Equipment Manager

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

West Indies Team for 3rd and 4th Digicel ODIs

2009-03-23T15:34:00.001-07:00

The West Indies selectors have named the following players for the third and fourth Digicel One-Day Internationals against England at Kensington Oval on Friday, March 27 and Sunday, March 29.

1. Chris Gayle (Captain)

2. Denesh Ramdin (Vice Captain)

3. Lionel Baker

4. Dwayne Bravo

5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

6. Fidel Edwards

7. Nikita Miller

8. Keiron Pollard

9. Ravi Rampaul

10. Dale Richards

11. Darren Sammy

12. Ramnaresh Sarwan

13. Lendl Simmons

STAFF: Omar Khan (Team Manager), John Dyson (Head Coach), David Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physio), Steve Folkes (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Richard Berridge (Analyst), Philip Spooner (Media Officer), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist)

Please see below itinerary for Digicel One-Day Series

March 20: 1st Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana: England won by 1 run (DL Method)

March 22: 2nd Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana: West Indies won by 21 runs

March 27: 3rd Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

March 29: 4th Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

April 3: 5th Digicel One-Day International

At Beausejour Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

CHANDERPAUL OUTSHINES STRAUSS AS WINDIES LEVEL DIGICEL SERIES

2009-03-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

CHANDERPAUL OUTSHINES STRAUSS AS WINDIES LEVEL DIGICEL SERIES

Sunday, March 22 – Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana: Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a brilliant unbeaten 112 here Sunday as the West Indies overcame a spirited century from England skipper Andrew Strauss to defeat the visitors by 21 runs in the 2^nd Digicel One-Day International at the National Stadium at Providence.

Chanderpaul, much honoured since his return to his homeland, got fluent support from fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan in front of a flag-waving capacity crowd of 15,000. They inspired the home team to a challenging 264 for eight off 50 overs.

The 34-year-old Chanderpaul, who became the third West Indian (after Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes) to pass 8,000 ODI runs, hit ten fours off 134 balls in his 10^th century at this level.

The in-form Sarwan contributed an eye-catching 74 off 89 deliveries. The 28-year-old right-hander lashed four fours and two sixes.

Strauss anchored England’s pursuit with a fine 105 off 129 balls but the West Indies took wickets at regular intervals and England fell short as they were bowled out for 243 off 48.2 overs.

Dimitri Mascarenhas’ 29 was the second top-score as the home team’s medium pacers produced another disciplined performance.

Dwayne Bravo claimed two for 40 off nine overs and fellow Trinidadian Kieron Pollard took the vital wicket of Strauss towards the end on his way to two for 46.

Darren Sammy again contributed an immaculate quota of 10-1-36-1.

The West Indies also produced two run outs that helped seal England’s fate and level the five-match Digicel Series at 1-1 heading to Barbados.

The hosts were rocked early on by pacer James Anderson after Captain Chris Gayle won the toss and batted first for the first time this international season.

Both openers were back in the hut at 24 for two in the sixth over.

Lendl Simmons fell for a duck, opening the face and edging a simple catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior. Gayle, after looking dangerous in blasting four fours in 20 off 20 balls, reached for a wide delivery and chopped onto his stumps.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul gradually revived the innings in a partnership of 133 in 29.3 overs.

England should have claimed the prize scalp of Chanderpaul on 27 but Prior grassed a catch standing up to Mascaernhas’ medium pace with the total at 80 for two.

Sarwan was the more adventurous as Chanderpaul set anchor.

The 28-year-old right-hander lofted sixes in successive overs off Gareth Batty and Mascarenhas to lift the tempo.

Sarwan’s half century arrived off 58 balls and he seemed to be motoring to yet another century off England when Anderson returned to cut him short in the first over of the Batting Powerplay. Sarwan, trying to clear the off side, miscued a lofted drive to mid-off.

Chanderpaul dominated the rest of the innings but the lower order failed to lend much assistance. He dominated a stand of 49 off 31 balls for the fourth wicket with Kieron Pollard, who made just eight, while Dwayne Bravo (19) helped add 31.

But the West Indies lost crucial wickets in the closing overs and, even with Chanderpaul as the guide, could only muster 57 off the last ten overs.

Anderson took three for 37 while the medium pace of Paul Collingwood (three for 49) and Mascarenhas (two for 53) also proved tricky.

The West Indies bowlers also began strongly as Ravi Bopara and Kevin Pietersen were despatched cheaply at 36 for two.

Bopara was bowled off the inside edge by Lionel Baker while Pietersen fell similarly to Fidel Edwards.

Strauss, dropped twice by Sammy – a difficult second skip chance before he had scored and a more regulation return catch at 28 – restored parity in a fifty stand with Owais Shah.

Once Bravo accounted for Shah, plumb leg before, and Collingwood, bowled by a beauty of an in-swinger, the West Indies had a grip they were never to relinquish.

Sammy further dented visiting hopes as Prior was snared by opposite number Denesh Ramdin at 97 for five in the 23^rd over.

The lower order rallied around Strauss but the run out of Mascarenhas, after a diving stop by Gayle, was crucial.

Stuart Broad and Gareth Batty followed soon afterwards and England looked dead and buried at 185-8.

Strauss never gave up and he and Steve Harmison breathed life into the chase by adding 44 for the ninth wicket.

Pollard plucked out Strauss’ leg stump soon after he completed his third ODI century and then finished the match by castling last man James Anderson.

COACH & CAPTAIN RUE VITAL MISCALCULATION

2009-03-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

COACH & CAPTAIN RUE VITAL MISCALCULATION

Saturday, March 21 – Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana: West Indies coach John Dyson and captain Chris Gayle were disappointed men after a miscalculation led to a narrow one-run defeat to England on the Duckworth/Lewis system in the 1^st Digicel One-Day International at Providence on Friday.

Australian Dyson admitted the decision to call off his batsmen - even though his team were behind on the D/L sheet - was his blunder: “It’s extremely disappointing. It was getting dark. It would have been nice to be ahead by one run.

“I thought we were ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis when in fact we were behind by one. It’s my responsibility. That’s it,” he said after the match.

“I accept responsibility for it. I apologized to the team. That’s all I can do. It’s a bad mistake.”

Gayle said he hoped to learn from that error: “We are very disappointed in the way things went. But it’s a learning process and we’ll learn. Hopefully next time we can double or triple check.

“The coach decided it was in our favour so we decided to call the guys in. But in the end, when we checked it, it was one run behind. But it actually cost us the game there.”

Gayle stressed it was important to look forward rather than dwell on the past: “In the end, it was just one of those things. We still have a game on Sunday. So hopefully, we can just put this behind us as quickly as possible and let us focus on Sunday.

“It’s hard. We wanted to keep England on the down. but there is nothing we can do at this point in time. We have to accept it and move on.”

Dyson was also keen to look forward to the 2^nd Digicel One-Day International at the same venue on Sunday: “Yes, that’s my mistake today and it’s a terrible mistake but there are still four games left and we’ll back up tomorrow (Saturday) and get on with the job.”

MEDIA RELEASE -- WICB President to meet with WIPA and Players

2009-03-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced that President Dr Julian Hunte and other members of the Board will be meeting with members of the West Indies Team and representatives of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) in Barbados on Tuesday, March 24.

Dr Hunte also indicated that the 11^th round of matches in the WICB’s Four-day Tournament for the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy will start on Saturday, March 21.

The matches are: Trinidad and Tobago against the Windward Islands at Arnos Vale in St Vincent, Barbados against the Leeward Islands at North Stars in Barbados, and Jamaica against Combined Campuses and Colleges at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

West Indies Team for 1st and 2nd Digicel ODIs in Guyana

2009-03-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

The West Indies selectors have named the following players for the first and second Digicel One-Day Internationals against England at Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22.

1. Chris Gayle (Captain)

2. Denesh Ramdin (Vice Captain)

3. Lionel Baker

4. Dwayne Bravo

5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

6. Fidel Edwards

7. Nikita Miller

8. Keiron Pollard

9. Daren Powell

10. Darren Sammy

11. Ramnaresh Sarwan

12. Lendl Simmons

13. Devon Smith

Note: Jerome Taylor has a left calf strain and is unavailable for selection.

Please see below full tour itinerary for England in the West Indies for the Digicel Series 2009:

February 4-8: 1st Digicel Test

At Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica: West Indies won by an innings and 23 runs

February 13-17: 2nd Digicel Test

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua: abandoned

February 15-19: 3rd Digicel Test

At Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua: match drawn

February 26 to March 2: 4th Digicel Test

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados: match drawn

March 6-10: 5th Digicel Test

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: match drawn

March 15: Digicel T20 International

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: West Indies won by 6 wickets

March 20: 1st Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 22: 2nd Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 27: 3rd Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

March 29: 4th Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

April 3: 5th Digicel One-Day International

At Beausejour Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

West Indies Team for Digicel T20 International

2009-03-11T11:55:00.001-07:00

West Indies Team for Digicel T20 International

The West Indies selectors have named the following players for the Digicel T20 International against England at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad on Sunday, March 15.

1. Denesh Ramdin (Captain)

2. Lionel Baker

3. Sulieman Benn

4. Dwayne Bravo

5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

6. Fidel Edwards

7. Andre Fletcher

8. Keiron Pollard

9. Darren Sammy

10. Ramnaresh Sarwan

11. Lendl Simmons

12. Devon Smith

13. Jerome Taylor

Please see below full tour itinerary for England in the West Indies for the Digicel Series 2009:

February 4-8: 1st Digicel Test

At Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica: West Indies won by an innings and 23 runs

February 13-17: 2nd Digicel Test

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua: abandoned

February 15-19: 3rd Digicel Test

At Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua: match drawn

February 26 to March 2: 4th Digicel Test

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados: match drawn

March 6-10: 5th Digicel Test

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: match drawn

March 14: vs West Indies Players Association XI

At Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad

March 15: Digicel T20 International

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

March 20: 1st Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 22: 2nd Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 27: 3rd Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

March 29: 4th Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

April 3: 5th Digicel One-Day International

At Beausejour Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

NASH CENTURY REWARD FOR HARD WORK

2009-03-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

NASH CENTURY REWARD FOR HARD WORK

Tuesday, March 10 –Port of Spain, Trinidad: Brenden Nash’s maiden Test century on day four of the 5^th Digicel Test against England was the culmination of a long road of travel and tough grind for the Australian-born West Indies left-hander.

“It’s been many years of hard work,” the 31-year-old Nash said after play. “To finally get the opportunity to be there on 98 and 99 was very nervous but I finally got there in the end so I was pretty happy with that obviously.”

Nash was brought up in Australia and spent the early part of his first-class career with Queensland (from 2000-2006) before he made the difficult decision to head to Jamaica, the island of his parents Paul and Andrea to further his cricket opportunities in the summer of 2007.

He swiftly moved through the ranks and made his West Indies debut last August and now, has shown he belongs at the highest level.

Nash, whose wife Hannah was here to witness his landmark moment, said it was all about making the most of your ability: “I’m not the most gifted player and naturally talented or stroke-playing, free-flowing player but I work with what I have and hopefully it pays off on the day.

“When I get the opportunity to bat, I like to stay out there as long as I can, even if I’m not scoring runs. If I’m doing a job for the team then that’s what it’s about. That’s something I’ve built my game around.”

Nash century came as he shared a record fifth wicket partnership with veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who notched his 21^st test hundred.

“Obviously, Shiv and I had to work together and sort of build a partnership,” Nash said. “It’s very easy to do with him. He likes to bat time and that’s something I’ve learnt from him and hopefully continue to do so in the future.

“He makes the game look simple and that gives you a bit of confidence at the other end. He’s doesn’t look like he’s going to get out so you can just play your game and go from there.”

Nash said that the West Indies were prepared for a tough last day as England pushed for a series-leveling victory: “England have come out like they want to play for a result. We’re going to be on our toes and try to restrict the scoring early tomorrow.”

He also did not discount a West Indies win should England declare and set an enticing target: “We haven’t spoken about it but obviously we’ve got some pretty good hitters in our side and some fast-scoring batsmen so any target we’ll have to assess it at the time and go from there.

“It’s a lot easier with the newer ball. As the ball gets a bit older, it obviously spins a bit more and that will come into play. We’ve really got to watch when we get our opportunity to bat and make sure we really have a game plan in mind and we stick to it.”

CHANDERPAUL & NASH HIT CENTURIES AS WEST INDIES SNIFF SERIES WIN

2009-03-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

CHANDERPAUL & NASH HIT CENTURIES AS WEST INDIES SNIFF SERIES WIN

Monday, March 9 – Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad: Obdurate left-handers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brendan Nash collected fine centuries here Monday as the West Indies moved within touching distance of a rare series win with one day remaining in the 5^th and final Digicel Test at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The home team, replying to England’s formidable first innings of 546 for six declared stretched their overnight 349 for four to 544 all out on the back of Chanderpaul’s typically un-fussed 147 not out and Nash’s excellent 109.

The 34-year-old Chanderpaul’s 21st Test century spanned 361 balls and 522 minutes and included 13 fours and a six.

The 31-year-old Nash, in his seventh test, cracked 17 fours off 257 deliveries in 329 minutes as he passed three figures for the first time at this level.

England, trailing 0-1 in the Digicel Series, showed they were prepared to chase an unlikely victory on Tuesday by racing to 80 for three off 15 overs before the close, an overall lead of 82 runs.

Dangerman Kevin Pietersen led the way with an unbeaten 34 off 27 balls.

Earlier, Nash and Chanderpaul stalled England in the opening session as they stretched their fifth wicket stand to a ground record 234, eclipsing the 1953 mark of 219 between Everton Weekes and Bruce Pairaudeau against India.

Chanderpaul, inconvenienced by a sore groin, batted with typical doggedness but survived two uneasy moments before he passed three figures.

The first was early in the day when, on 56, the Guyanese feathered to wicket-keeper Matt Prior who floored the chance off the unlucky Monty Panesar.

The second came just after lunch when, on 92, he was given out caught behind off Graeme Swann by umpire Daryl Harper. Chanderpaul challenged the decision and, despite flaky evidence, was given a reprieve when TV umpire Aleem Dar advised Harper to overturn his original decision.

Those two moments failed to shake Chanderpaul’s resolve and he calmly collected another century, his first at the Queen’s Park Oval and his fifth against England.

Between Chanderpaul’s reprieves, Nash reached his own meaningful landmark, off 234 balls, with a clipped double to the leg side. It was the Aussie-born Jamaican’s sixth first-class century following three for Queensland and two for the island of his parents soon after he moved to the Caribbean late in 2007.

The pair took lunch at 433 for four but England’s bowlers were rewarded for a whole-hearted effort after the break as they claimed three wickets in the second session.

Nash fell to his first delivery after the interval, slicing a drive at fast bowler Stuart Broad to third slip.

Ryan Hinds (23) and Denesh Ramdin (15) shared useful partnerships with the immovable Chanderpaul but failed to carry on.

Hinds hit a six and two fours but never suggested permanence. He eventually was stumped as he missed a swing to leg off Graeme Swann.

Ramdin was undone by the reverse swing on James Anderson, plumb LBW playing back to an in-swinger.

The West Indies dipped swiftly after taking tea at 519-7.

Captain Chris Gayle returned despite a strained hamstring, batting with a runner, and showed an aggressive mindset. But he could add only two to his even 100 before his opposite number Andrew Strauss clung on to a sizzling drive at short extra cover off Swann.

Fidel Edwards (8) edged Broad to the wicket-keeper before Swann removed last man Lionel Baker for a duck to sneak a first innings lead of two for England.

Broad took three for 67 and off-spinner Swann earned three for 130. Anderson was probably the best of England’s attack but only claimed one for 70. Panesar claimed two for 114.

England’s intentions were clear from the time they began their second innings with an hour and 15 minutes remaining.

They lost three wickets chasing the game as the TV review system, in its trial phase, again failed another test.

Captain Andrew Strauss survived a blatant edge to wicket-keeper Ramdin off Baker, both on-field umpire Harper and TV man Dar somehow failing to pick up the distinct sound and obvious deflection.

Strauss (14) failed to make use of the let-off as he chipped a return catch to Gayle.

Owais Shah (1) followed a run later, this time a clear edge off Baker picked up by Harper.

But before the end, another TV review sent Alastair Cook (24) on his way, caught behind off Ryan Hinds.

Pietersen already with three fours and a six carried the tourists’ hopes of quick runs into Tuesday’s final day although Edwards’ fiery bouncer off the last ball of the day reminded the England ace it would not all be plain sailing.

Mexico announces strong U-20 team for Qualifiers

2009-03-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

The Mexican Soccer Federation revealed the 20-player roster that will try and help Mexico's Under-20 team qualify for the Under-20 World Cup.

Of the 20 players, 13 have played in the Primera Division. The clubs that sent the most players are the Guadalajara-based clubs: Chivas, Atlas and Tecos (who are technically based in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara).

Among the teams without any players on the roster are America, Cruz Azul, San Luis and Santos Laguna.

Mexico will arrive at te CONCACAF U-20 less than a month after their new coach Juan Carlos Chavez replaced Jesus Ramirez, who resigned to take over as manager of Mexico City club America.

The Mexicansi won 10 CONCACAF U-20 titles between 1962 and 1992, and has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 10 times, (second most in CONCACAF). Mexico finished runner-up at the 1997 U-20 World Cup in Tunisia was the first CONCACAF nation to host the FIFA event in 1983.

Mexico faces Costa Rica from 4pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Saturday before clashing with Canada on Monday and hosts T&T on Wednesday at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

Mexican Roster

Goalkeepers: Liborio Vicente Sánchez (Chivas), Miguel Ángel Centeno (Toluca).

Defenders: Juan Antonio Ocampo (Chivas), Daniel Montes (Chivas), Néstor Vidrio (Atlas), Christian Sánchez (Atlas), Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez (Atlas), Oswaldo Pantoja (Tecos).

Midfielders: Marco Fabián De la Mora (Chivas), David Cabrera (Pumas), Néstor Calderón (Toluca), César Martínez (Monterrey), Luis Pérez (Necaxa), Luis Fernando Silva (Morelia).

Forwards: Antonio Salazar (Chivas), Julio César Nava (Chivas), Javier Cortés (Pumas), Axel Velázquez (Atlas), Arnhold Rivas (Tecos), Jesús Alberto Dueñas (Tigres).

SPECIAL SARWAN AND RAMDIN SET UP MAMMOTH WEST INDIES TOTAL

2009-03-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

SPECIAL SARWAN AND RAMDIN SET UP MAMMOTH WEST INDIES TOTAL

Sunday, March 1 – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados: Ramnaresh Sarwan stretched his 14th Test century into a memorable, career-best 291 and Denesh Ramdin finally registered his maiden hundred as the West Indies amassed 749-9 declared to claim a first innings lead of 149 and leave them with a outside chance of forcing victory on Monday’s last day of the 4th Digicel Test at Kensington Oval.

England, after confidently declaring their first innings on 600-6, were six without loss in their second innings at the close on day four and facing a nervous fifth day.

The day belonged to Sarwan, who resumed on 184, and Ramdin, overnight 25, as they carried their sixth wicket partnership to 261 and the home team within sight of England’s formidable total before being separated.

The 28-year-old Sarwan was as fluent as he was on Saturday, racking up 30 fours and two sixes before he fell tantalizingly short of joining Brian Lara (twice), Sir Garry Sobers, Chris Gayle and Lawrence Rowe as West Indian triple centurions. The Guyanese right-hander’s innings spanned 452 deliveries and 699 minutes.

Ramdin, who has played 33 Tests consecutively since his debut in July 2005, produced a magnificent 166, the second highest score by a West Indian wicket-keeper (behind Sir Clyde Walcott 168 not out against England at Lord’s in 1950).

He was watched in the stands by his father Diaram and produced a unique celebration on passing three figures, going into his pocket to reveal a note that thanked his countrymen Ian Bishop and David Williams, both former Test players, and batting partner Sarwan.

Former fast bowler Bishop, now in the commentary box, had sought out Ramdin before the match to remind him of his immense ability while Williams, now assistant coach, has worked tirelessly with the 23-year-old in the past several years.

After resuming on 398 for five, Sarwan and Ramdin batted throughout the morning session to dull any England thoughts of pushing for victory.

There was one early alarm from a run out chance before Sarwan brought up his second test double hundred with a flailing cut over the slips for his 21st four.

Soon afterwards, England used up their final TV referral for an optimistic leg before appeal against Sarwan from Ryan Sidebottom but the pair rarely played a false shot after that.

They almost saw their side to tea, and past England’s score, but Sarwan fell to the third new ball as Sidebottom produced an in-swinger that snuck through to cannon into the stumps off the inside edge at 595 for six.

Ramdin and Jerome Taylor further flayed the visitors in a sixth wicket stand of 77 off 92 balls.

Taylor was as assured as Ramdin, blasting three sixes, two of them hooked into the Greenidge and Haynes Stand at square leg, and six fours in 53 off 62 balls.

Taylor eventually fell to the persevering Swann, who wrapped up his second five-wicket haul of the series when Ramdin was bowled driving to spark a late declaration by Chris Gayle.

In between, James Anderson claimed Sulieman Benn for 14 to a top-edged pull.

Swann took five for 165 from 50.2 overs while Anderson, who ran in with purpose throughout the innings, was rewarded with three for 125.

England’s openers, captain Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, safely negotiated two overs before stumps.

WINDIES LEGENDS RECEIVE ICC HALL OF FAME CAPS DURING DIGICEL SERIES 2009

2009-02-16T16:32:00.001-08:00

WINDIES LEGENDS RECEIVE ICC HALL OF FAME CAPS DURING DIGICEL SERIES 2009

Monday, February 16 – Antigua Recreation Ground, Antigua & Barbuda: West Indian Cricket legends Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts and Michael Holding were honoured on Monday when they were presented with their International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Hall of Fame caps. During a special ceremony held during lunch on Day 2 of the 3rd Digicel Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground, the three greats received their blue caps from the President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Dr Julian Hunte.

For Holding, the Jamaican who took 249 wickets in 60 Test matches between 1975 and 1987, the moment was extra special as it came on his 55th birthday: “I am truly honoured to have been named in the ICC Hall of Fame and to receive my cap. It’s a special moment for me. It is always good to be remembered.”

Sir Viv was also delighted: “I am thrilled that the ICC and the people around the world have seen it fit to honour myself and other players who contributed to the game. To be honoured alongside Andy and Mikey – two guys who have been part of the journey with me for so many years - is simply great,” said the former West Indies captain and Antiguan National Hero, who made 8540 runs in 121 Tests with 24 centuries. “Thanks to everyone!”

In his heyday Roberts was a firey fast bowler and took 202 wickets in 47 Tests. Today he serves as the head of grounds at the Antigua Recreation Ground and has done a remarkable job in getting the facility ready for the 3rd Digicel Test match: “I enjoyed my days playing for the West Indies and representing the people of the West Indies. I am very happy to be honoured as a member of the ICC Hall of Fame. I will cherish the moment,” the 58-year-old said.

The three players were the first of 13 West Indian legends to be presented with their caps. The remainder of the Legends will receive their Hall of Fame caps at other venues during the Digicel Series 2009. The 13 West Indian Legends are: George Headley, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Gordon Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall.

For match pictures, reports and stats visit www.digicelcricket.com

ENDS

HISTORICAL FACTS ON DIGICEL AND CRICKET

Digicel and West Indies Cricket

Digicel has been a proud sponsor of West Indies Cricket since 2004

West Indies Cricket

Historical Facts:

- 2004 – Digicel signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and became ‘Proud Sponsor of West Indies Cricket’, this covers the;

o West Indies Team

o A-Team

o Home Series

o Away Series

o Cricket Development Fund

- 2007 – Digicel extended its sponsorship contract to 2012. The contract now features;

o Guaranteed US$20 million (US$4 million per annum)

o Plus additional win bonuses for the team

West Indies Cricket Support Initiatives

- Local support of youth cricket clubs, including Trinidad’s Digicel Harvard Cricket Clinic and Grenada’s Digicel St. George’s Cricket Academy

- Digicel Cricket Coaching Clinics, which took place during the Summer of 2007 across the region and featured Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dinesh Ramdin, Lance Gibbs, Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Rampaul. Also joining the clinics as Head Coaches were Kenny Benjamin and Keith Arthurton

- Digicel Cricket Scholarship, which supported Jerome Taylor in his three-month stay in Leicestershire Cricket Club in the UK

- Provided the necessary funds for a High Performance Manager – 2005 to 2007

- Supplied a Psychologist – 2005 – 2007

- Funded a Fielding Coach – England Away Tour 2007

- Digicel Cricket Experience 2008

- Major sponsor of TV broadcasts of all West Indies Away Series matches, as well as providing free TV broadcasts of the ODIs in Pakistan in November 2007

- Free radio broadcasts of the Digicel Series 2009 to radio stations across the Caribbean

Individual West Indies Cricket Players

- Digicel has individual sponsorship agreements with three West Indies Cricketers;

o Chris Gayle (WI Captain)

o Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI Vice Captain) TBC

o Denesh Ramdin (Wicket Keeper)

- Digicel also sponsors:

o Sir Garfield Sobers

o Lance Gibbs

STRAUSS' CENTURY MAKES WINDIES TOIL

2009-02-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

STRAUSS' CENTURY MAKES WINDIES TOIL

Sunday, February 15 – Antigua Recreation Ground, Antigua & Barbuda: England captain Andrew Strauss hit a fluent 169 here Sunday as the West Indies were made to toil on a typically batsman-friendly pitch at the resurrected Antigua Recreation Ground.

At close on the first day of the third Digicel Test, the visitors reached 301-3, cheered on by 6,000 English supporters who swamped the handfuls of local fans.

Strauss, who hit 24 fours and one six off 278 balls, anchored the England effort with fine support from half centuries from Alastair Cook (52) and Owais Shah (57).

West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who won the toss, claimed one for 35 while Fidel Edwards struck late with the second new ball to earn one for 41.

There was a delayed start to the match, just long enough to renew painful memories of Friday's abandonment of the second Digicel Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

This time, however, it was wet run-ups caused by overnight and early morning rain that stalled progress but bright sunshine soon arrived to help ease any concerns.

Strauss began positively as the pitch, widely predicted to help the bowlers due to the ground staff's short notice, showed all the old characteristics of the ARG's batting-dominated past.

Despite his assured stroke-play, there were a few early worries for skipper Strauss. He was nine when Daren Powell had an opportunity to run him out but missed from square leg while, three short of a half century, Gayle dropped a sharp chance at slip off Sulieman Benn.

Strauss and Cook lunched at 58 without loss and stretched their fifth century opening stand to 123 before Gayle claimed the breakthrough.

Cook, who hit five fours off 134 balls, tried to cut an arm ball and deflected to slip where Devon Smith pouced a fine low catch after a bit of juggling.

Any West Indian optimism was soon doused by Strauss and his Middlesex team-mate Shah in an enterprising stand of 153 for the second wicket.

Strauss brought up his second century against the West Indies, off 167 balls, half hour before tea.

The right-hander Shah pushed onto his half century after the break as England threatened total domination.

Shah gifted West Indies his wicket midway through the final session, seeking a suicidal single and run out by Jerome Taylor on his follow through.

The 30-year-old hit eight fours and a six off 100 deliveries.

Strauss, who batted for ten minutes short of six hours, seemed set to see his side to the close but Edwards but removed him with the second new ball. The batsman miscued a pull for Edwards himself to grasp on his follow through.

Kevin Pietersen, eight not out, and night-watchman James Anderson, three not out, survived to the end.

TTFF NEWS - Yorke maintains positive vibe

2009-02-16T16:31:00.000-08:00

“Too early to drop our shoulders”

Those were the words of Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team captain Dwight Yorke as he parted from the rest of the National Team and headed back to Sunderland on Thursday following Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with El Salvador in 2010 World Cup Qualifying action.

Yorke, who was yellow carded during the encounter, which meant that he would miss the March 28 affair against Honduras in Port of Spain, faces an even lengthier suspension after being red carded after the final whistle for alleged dissent towards Mexican Referee Marco Rodriguez. The Referee’s report to the match commissioner stated that Yorke was shown the red for dissent but the card is expected to be under review.

“At the moment we were all very disappointed especially with the way some of the calls went But while we didn’t hang on the lead I think the way in which the events of the game turned out in the closing moments was very much against us and disappointing for all of Trinidad and Tobago,” Yorke told TTFF Media.

“But in saying that it’s important that as a team and a country, all the fans and the people involved in our football continue to believe in our efforts. I think sometimes we tend to press the panic button when we shouldn’t. Yes I know it’s a bit heart breaking the way we allowed the El Salvador team to come back into the match but if you look at the fact that we were 2-0 up and could have been even four of five goals ahead then I would say there were a lot of good things coming out of the game. We will review our mistakes and work on them,” Yorke added.

“The group has worked hard even though there obviously was not sufficient time to prepare together because of the game being played in midweek but hopefully we can work around this in the future. It’s still a long campaign ahead with nine matches and we have a point on the board.”

The former Manchester United hitman, now the number two coach at Sunderland, says he will still make the journey and join the T&T team in training ahead of the Honduras clash.

“I’ve already made my mind up and I’ve passed the message on that I will be with the team going into the next match. It’s important that as captain that I’m around and can train with the boys and get myself ready for the matches after that as well,” added Yorke, who also dismissed outside reports that he favoured Stern John for the penalty because of a close knit friendship.

“This team is unit that will get even better in the time coming up. That was what we had in the 2006 campaign and it’s going to be the same for this campaign. What we need to ensure is that we keep believing and we are spot on with our preparations and everything else relating to our matches both on and off the pitch,” Yorke concluded.

Meantime, this week the administrative and technical staff of the National Team will meet at its offices at Kantac Plaza to review the reports relating to the Argentina training camp and El Salvador encounter as well as begin planning towards the preparation scheme leading up to the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Honduras (March 28 in Port of Spain) and United States (April 4 in Nashville).

Latapy and Cornell Glen arrive in el Salvador

2009-02-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

‘Warriors’ arrive in opposition territory

Twelve members of country’s National Senior Team arrived in San Salvador on close to midnight on Wednesday less than a week from the upcoming 2010 World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlan at 7pm (9pm T&T time).

The twelve players including assistant coach Russell Latapy completed the journey from Buenos Aires via Panama City and checked in at the Radisson Plaza Hotel where they will stay for the duration of trip. The eight overseas-based players will join the camp on Sunday.

With Francisco Maturana in Los Angeles for Friday’s friendly international between El Salvador and Peru, Latapy is heading the team currently and took part in a pool session on Thursday evening along with the rest of players.

There was a host of media representatives present upon the team’s arrival at the airport with television cameramen and photographers situated at vantage positions and some others following the bus’ exit from the airport. At the Radisson on Thursday from as early as 9am there was a steady presence of photographers in the hotel lobby. But they have no access to the section of the hotel which is a separate structure accommodating the T&T contingent located some 200 metres apart from the main lobby.

The reception received by the team upon arrival here was by no means as rowdy as the one given to the team as it exited the Los Andes Stadium on Tuesday following their 2-1 loss to the Argentine Second Division club. Players were mugged by anxious locals while on their way to the bus and Maturana had to be shielded as some tried to make contact with one fan aggressively trying to remove the Colombian’s Adidas Cap off his head, pushing him slightly in the process.

The closing warm up, witnessed by 1,500 fans on a scorching hot afternoon was the only defeat of the tour for the visitors. Juan Martin netted a double before half time while Anthony Wolfe had scored to level it at 1-1.The game was scheduled as a 80-minute affair but the referee ended proceedings five minutes before time for no apparent reason as T&T tried for the equalizer.

“The result I was not too pleased with but it’s the end of what has been good training camp for us in Argentina. All the players are healthy and have been through a very good work out during our time here,” Maturana told TTFF Media.

“Now we have to look ahead to the upcoming days in El Salvador because the main event will happen there on Wednesday. That is where we play for the real points. Nothing from the past will matter so whether we have won the games against them or not, everything depends on Wednesday’s match and we will continue our work towards ensuring that Trinidad y Tobago gets the start that we all want,” he added.

Latapy will conduct an on field session at a nearby Stadium on Friday. The former Falkirk man’s first act on arrival was to ensure that the focus switch was turned on again.

“We had a long trip over to here and a chapter of this trip while we were in Argentina has ended so it’s important that as a team we switch our focus on again which is to play football and take care of things on Wednesday. Nothing else should take priority at this time other than to ensure we do everything in relation to our task here in the next qualifying match,” Latapy said.

TTFF NEWS - Squad named for WCQ vs El Salvador

2009-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Head Coach Francisco Maturana finalized and announced a 20-man Trinidad and Tobago squad that will travel to San Salvador for the upcoming final round 2010 World Cup Qualifying fixture with El Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlan on February 11.

Along with Assistant Coach Russell Latapy, the Colombian made the decision to carry two extra players from the current training camp in Argentina. The players on tour were informed of their selections at a meeting at the Hindu Camp on Monday afternoon. Eight players will return to Port of Spain on Wednesday while the other twelve along with the members of the team staff will depart for San Salvador via Panama City. The team is expected to arrive in San Salvador and check into the Radisson Hotel close to midnight.

Captain Dwight Yorke will arrive in El Salvador on Sunday along with seven other UK-based players. They include Sunderland duo Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones, Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince, Brighton midfielder Chris Birchall, Crewe Alexandra defender Dennis Lawrence, Bristol City striker Stern John and Wrexham utility player Silvio Spann.

A mutual decision was taken that Swansea City striker Jason Scotland not travel for the match on February 11. Swansea boss Roberto Martinez expressed concern over the player’s first hand availability for their FA Cup clash with Fulham the Saturday after the World Cup qualifier. And after discussions with Scotland himself and his agent Mike Berry, it was mutually agreed that the player be excused from the qualifying encounter, according to Latapy.

The list of players who were involved in Argentina, included in the final squad are W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and midfielder Clyde Leon, Clico San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Trent Noel, Caledonia AIA’s Densill Theobald, Puerto Rico Islanders’ Kendall Jagdeosingh, Joe Public defender Keyeno Thomas, Defence Force’s Aklie Edwards, striker Cornell Glen, North East Stars’ Anthony Wolfe, United Petrotrin’s Makan Hislop and Latapy.

Maturana heads off to Los Angeles on Thursday to view a friendly international between El Salvador and Peru which leaves Latapy in charge of the team until Sunday. Two full sessions will take place on Monday and Tuesday prior to Wednesday’s opener for the “Soca Warriors”.

“We have looked at all the possibilities and we believe this is the selection that can take us through the game and help us get the best possible result. It is never easy to come up with the best team but a lot of thought and consideration has gone into it and now we must focus totally on using these players in the right way. I believe they are have the quality to make a very strong team and similarly give a strong performance on the pitch to help us achieve success,” Maturana told TTFF Media.

Assistant coach Latapy also shared his views on the final team selection.

“Our objective in coming to Argentina was to get the team to a level of fitness that is conducive to international football and also to a level of technical awareness and I think that we have achieve this. In terms of naming the squad, all the boys here have done well and it’s always hard when you have to say to players that they didn’t make the squad. It’s always going to be different players for sometimes different games and tactics,” Latapy told TTFF Media.

He said the decision to carry two extra players was a way of rewarding the players for their showing in Argentina.

“Some of these guys are young and they are the future of the national team so the faster we can expose them to these kind of atmospheres the better it will be for them and for Trinidad and Tobago football. We have to use every opportunity we get to do this. But we also have to recognise that they all raised their level of performance, attitude and discipline during this tour which meant it was even harder to decide on 18 players only,” Latapy added.

Both coaches also met with all 20 players in Argentina on Tuesday morning, thanking them for their efforts during the trip and making it known that they will be monitored and involved again in the future. The players returning to Trinidad include Akeil Guevera, Seon Power, Errol McFarlane, Lester Peltier, Jan Michael Williams, Kevaughn Connell, Andre Pacheco and Robert Primus.

T&T were carded to play their final tour match against Second Division club Atletico Los Andes on Tuesday evening in Buenos Aires.

MEDIA RELEASE -- Windies coach looks ahead to Digicel Series 2009

2009-02-03T04:14:00.000-08:00

Windies set for tough work ahead

The West Indies Team is promising to be tough and competitive when they face England in the 1^st Digicel Test Match at Sabina Park. This is according to Head Coach John Dyson as the team prepared for their training session on Monday afternoon.

“The team can take a lot out of the New Zealand series which we played late last year and earlier this year. We played hard and we had a very good team spirit. We are really looking forward to this series against England,” Dyson said. “There are no easy teams around in world cricket. All series are going to be hard, but as always if our guys play as well as I know we can, they can come out of the series looking pretty good. I believe the series will be very competitive.”

The Head Coach added: “We’re not long after the New Zealand series so I expect the team spirit to be as good as it was when we there. We are at home, in our own territory. We know the conditions very well and we’re happy to play again in the sunshine and we are far happier with the weather here.”

The West Indies will have their second training session on Tuesday morning and Dyson noted that all the players were ready for the battle at hand. The 1^st Digicel Test bowls off on Wednesday at 10 am (11 am Eastern Caribbean Time)

“Right now it’s a matter if putting the final preparations in place for the 1^st Test match. We are looking for major contributions from all the players. I expect a good, hard series and I expect us to do very well. ”

SQUAD: Chris Gayle (Captain), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Amit Jaggernauth, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Dale Richards, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor

Full tour itinerary for England in the West Indies for the Digicel Series 2009:

February 4-8: 1st Digicel Test

At Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

February 13-17: 2nd Digicel Test

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

February 21-22: vs Barbados Cricket Association’s President’s XI

At Windward Cricket Club, St Philip, Barbados

February 26 to March 2: 3rd Digicel Test

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

March 6-10: 4th Digicel Test

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

March 14: vs West Indies Players Association XI

(Venue to be determined)

March 15: Digicel T20 International

At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

March 20: 1st Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 22: 2nd Digicel One-Day International

At National Stadium, Providence, Guyana

March 27: 3rd Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

March 29: 4th Digicel One-Day International

At Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

April 3: 5th Digicel One-Day International

At Beausejour Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

U20s end Brazil tour on winning note

2009-01-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers ended their training camp in Sao Paolo, Brazil on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Angolan Professional club CRD Libolo on Tuesday.

Preparing for next month’s final round of qualification for the 2009 FIFA World Youth Championship, the T&T side, coached by Zoran Vranes, got their goals from Sean De Silva in the 61^st minute and got an own goal ten minutes later after the African senior professional outfit equalized in the 73^rd.

De Silva put T&T ahead with a well executed left footed shot from 22 yards out in what was T&T’s strongest showing of the tour.

Vranes later summed up the trip as a valuable training exercise.

“We have gained tremendous experience in the three matches. We had the chance to work at excellent facilities and get some strong competition from the teams we played against here,”he told TTFF Media.

“I think our last game which we won was maybe against the most experienced team but we worked very hard to get the win which is good for the confidence of the players. “

The team arrived back in Trinidad on Wednesday and will resume preparations before their opening qualifying match against Canada on March 7 at the Marvin Lee Stadium,

DIGICEL SERIES 2009 - MORE THAN A MATCH

2009-01-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Digicel bring the cricket experience for West Indies fans “beyond the boundaries”

Thursday, January 29 - Kingston, Jamaica: For true cricket fans, Cricket goes beyond just a match. Cricket is an experience. West Indies cricket unites 15 Caribbean countries and has for years proven that together, the region can achieve greatness.

Next Wednesday, February 4, West Indians all around the world will rally around as the West Indies face England in four Digicel Test matches, 1 Digicel Twenty/20 and 5 Digicel ODI’s in the Digicel Series 2009.

Digicel believes that the cricket experience goes beyond the match. Kieran Foley, Digicel Group’s Head of Sponsorship explains: “Digicel believes strongly in the pride that the West Indies team is capable of bringing to the people in the Caribbean through the power of cricket. Through Digicel, we want to take fans closer to this, to experience an interaction beyond the matches for a richer cricket experience. Our slogan: ‘More than a match’ seeks to maximize the cricket fan’s experience with player diaries, an interactive website, promotions and prizes for fans and the fun and enjoyment of the Digicel Cricket Experience where people can match their skills against some of the West Indies players.”

The game of cricket continues to be a unifying force within the region, emerging as a bridge connecting the many islands which make up the Caribbean. To capture this sentiment Digicel commissioned Soca star Destra to record the Digicel Series 2009 anthem More than a Match where she sings: “Come on, rally on, we in this thing together, we are mighty, we are strong. West Indian pride, we are one.”

In less than one week, cricket fans will experience a potential 26 days of exciting cricket when the West Indies stand up to England in the Digicel Series 2009. Digicel has ensured that this coming Digicel Series will involve fans in more ways than before and promises fans that this series will indeed be ‘More Than a Match’.

DIGICEL SERIES 2009 FIXTURES

MATCHES DATE VENUE

1st Digicel Test Feb 4th -8th Sabina Park, Jamaica

2nd Digicel Test Feb 13th -17th Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

3rd Digicel Test Feb 26th –Mar 2 Kensington Oval, Barbados

4th Digicel Test Mar 6th - 10th Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

Digicel T20 Mar 15th Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

1st Digicel ODI Mar 20th Providence Stadium, Guyana

2nd Digicel ODI Mar 22nd Providence Stadium, Guyana

3rd Digicel ODI Mar 27th Kensington Oval, Barbados

4th Digicel ODI Mar 29th Kensington Oval, Barbados

5th Digicel ODI Apr 3rd Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia

DIGICEL BRINGS CRICKET HOME - ticket prices info !

2009-01-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

West Indies returns home to face England in what is sure to be a thrilling Digicel Series

Monday, January 26 - Kingston, Jamaica: After a closely contested Away Series in New Zealand, the West Indies cricket team has returned home to face England in the Digicel Series 2009.

England arrived in the Caribbean on January 21st for the Digicel Series which involves four Digicel Tests, five Digicel ODIs and one Digicel Twenty20 taking place in six countries across the Caribbean from February 4th – April 3rd, 2009. Digicel is a proud sponsor of the upcoming England Tour to the Caribbean, with the 1st Digicel Test against the West Indies taking place at Sabina Park, Jamaica, on Wednesday, February 4th.

MATCHES DATE VENUE

1st Digicel Test February 4th -8th Sabina Park, Jamaica

2nd Digicel Test February 13th -17th Sir Vivian Richards Stadium,

Antigua & Barbuda

3rd Digicel Test February 26th – March 2nd Kensington Oval, Barbados

4th Digicel Test March 6th - 10th Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

Digicel T20 March 15th Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

1st Digicel ODI March 20th Providence Stadium, Guyana

2nd Digicel ODI March 22nd Providence Stadium, Guyana

3rd Digicel ODI March 27th Kensington Oval, Barbados

4th Digicel ODI March 29th Kensington Oval, Barbados

5th Digicel ODI April 3rd Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia

Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, Kieran Foley, is looking forward to the upcoming series: “We are looking forward to what is sure to be an exciting Digicel Series against England in the Caribbean. Over the last year, the West Indies cricketers have made great progress as a team and individually, with some of the players breaking ground with their batting and bowling during the recent Away Tour to New Zealand.

“For the upcoming Digicel Series, we have once again developed a host of fun and exciting initiatives and we are looking forward to the thousands of fans from across the Caribbean turning up to support their team as they take on England on their home turf.”

West Indies Head Coach John Dyson is expecting “tense, hard-fought” cricket against England in the upcoming Digicel Series 2009: “The much awaited Digicel Series against England should produce some tense, hard-fought cricket between the two teams. England is placed two spots higher than the West Indies at Number five on the ICC Test table, which is enough incentive to spur the West Indies team on to perform well.

“The cricket loving public should be ready for some engrossing cricket. It is time for West Indies to stand up and prove that we are climbing the International Cricket Council’s [ICC] table.”

Starting Wednesday, February 4th, cricket fans will experience a potential 26 days of exciting cricket when the West Indies stand up to England in the Digicel Series 2009 and Digicel promises fans that this series will indeed be ‘More Than a Match’.

DIGICEL SERIES 2009 - TICKET PRICES

1st Digicel Test

Sabina Park, Jamaica

Feb 4-8

Day 1 & 2 George Headly J$1,500

Day 1 & 2 North Stand (Upper) J$1,800

Day 1 & 2 North Stand (Lower) J$1,500

Day 1 & 2 North Stand (Lo Front) J$800

Day 3 & 4 George Headly J$2,100

Day 3 & 4 North Stand (Upper) J$2,400

Day 3 & 4 North Stand (Lower) J$2,100

Day 3 & 4 North Stand (Lo Front) J$1,000

Day 1-4 Mound TBA

2nd Digicel Test

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

Feb 13-17

Day 1, 2 & 3 North Stand EC$50

Day 1, 2 & 3 South Stand EC$50

Day 4 North Stand EC$40

Day 4 South Stand EC$40

All Days Grounds EC$20

3rd Digicel Test

Kensington Oval, Barbados

Feb 26 - Mar 2

Day 1 Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Lower) BD$70

Day 1 Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Upper) BD$80

Day 1 Hall & Griffith (Upper) BD$70

Day 1 Hall & Griffith (Lower) BD$35

Day 1 Hewitt & Inniss (Upper) BD$70

Day 1 Hewitt & Inniss (Lower) BD$30

Day 1 The 3Ws (Lower) BD$50

Day 2, 3 & 4 Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Lower) BD$80

Day 2, 3 & 4 Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Upper) BD$90

Day 2, 3 & 4 Hall & Griffith (Upper) BD$80

Day 2, 3 & 4 Hall & Griffith (Lower) BD$45

Day 2, 3 & 4 Hewitt & Inniss (Upper) BD$80

Day 2, 3 & 4 Hewitt & Inniss (Lower) BD$40

Day 2, 3 & 4 The 3Ws (Lower) BD$60

All Days Grounds BD$10

4th Digicel Test

Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

Mar 6-10

Day 1, 2 & 3 BG/Scotia Bank, (Lower) TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 BG/Scotia Bank (Upper) TT$150

Day 1, 2 & 3 CLICO/C.L. Duprey Stand (Up & Lo TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 Jeffrey Stollmeyer Stand (Lo) TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 Dos Santos (Lower) TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 Learie Constantine (Up & Lo) TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 Carib Beer (Upper) TT$150

Day 1, 2 & 3 Carib Beer (Lower) TT$120

Day 1, 2 & 3 Republic Bank (Up & Lower) TT$120

Day 4 BG/Scotia Bank, (Lower) TT$100

Day 4 BG/Scotia Bank (Upper) TT$130

Day 4 CLICO/C.L. Duprey Stand (Up & Lo) TT$100

Day 4 Jeffrey Stollmeyer Stand (Lower) TT$100

Day 4 Dos Santos (Lower) TT$100

Day 4 Learie Constantine (Upper & Lower) TT$100

Day 4 Carib Beer (Upper) TT$130

Day 4 Carib Beer (Lower) TT$100

Day 4 Republic Bank (Upper & Lower) TT$100

Digicel Twenty20

Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

15-Mar

Trini Posse Stand TBA

All other areas TT$300

1st & 2nd Digicel ODI

Providence Stadium, Guyana

Mar 20 & 22

South West Stand (Green) GY$5,000

South East Stand (Orange) GY$3,500

North West Stand (Red) GY$4,500

North East Grass Mound GY$1,500

Pavilion GY$7,000

3rd & 4th Digicel ODI

Kensington Oval, Barbados

Mar 27 & 29

Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Lower) BD$90

Greenidge & Haynes Stand (Upper) BD$100

Hall & Griffith (Upper) BD$90

Hall & Griffith (Lower) BD$55

Hewitt & Inniss (Upper) BD$90

Hewitt & Inniss (Lower) BD$50

The 3Ws (Lower) BD$80

5th Digicel ODI

Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia

3-Apr

Vieux Fort Pavilion Suite EC$150

Grounds EC$40

All other areas EC$100

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region.

Theobald gets his New Year’s Wish

2009-01-06T21:06:00.001-08:00

Caledonia AIA captain Densill Theobald had his New Year’s wish granted when he got a recall to the National Senior Team ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying encounter against El Salvador on February 11.Theobald had not played for T&T since the 3-1 victory over Cuba in August. He had previously been dropped after a friendly with Guadeloupe in February. But now head coach Francisco Maturana has given him another chance by naming him in the 20-man squad which leaves later this month for Argentina for a training camp prior to the clash with El Salvador.For Theobald, good opportunities come to those who “work and wait for them.”“I think my chance came again because of the added amount of hard work that I had put in the last quarter of 2008. It was a devastating feeling for me when I got dropped and had to look on at the games in the last round but coming from where I grew up I have learnt to struggle through the hard times and turn things around. Knowing that I had been to a World Cup with some of the same players and now I was being left out wasn’t a good feeling. So I knew I had to go the extra mile to get my spot back and thankfully this has been given to me,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Tuesday.“I know my spot isn’t sealed but it’s an incentive to go all out and like Russell (Latapy) said yesterday, all of us players need to go out and fight to earn a spot on the World Cup team and it should be an exciting time for all of us.”He credited the set up at Caledonia AIA for his comeback.“Winning the 2008 FA Cup was a great achievement for us and the work that I was able to put in with the staff and the players at Caledonia played a great part in me getting my form back to a decent level again. I was able to see the positive results and I think it’s important for all players to realize what kind of results can be achieved from hard work and cooperation.“Football in Trinidad and Tobago is heading into an exciting period in 2009 and what we as player and athletes need to realize more is that we need to put down our heads and make it work for the country. The same goes for the leaders and the people in general. There is a lot of crime now but through football and sport we can bring back the love in T&T.”Theobald is one of the few players who has had the opportunity to work along with Russell Latapy in an overseas professional environment as they both were attached to Falkirk FC prior to the 2006 World Cup.“I must say I feel blessed to have had that opportunity to work with the ‘Magic’ in Scotland. The kind of respect he had there and the admiration of the fans and the players was tremendous. I was able to see this man as someone who is very serious and committed to football. He is a totally different person when it comes to being out there on the pitch. I think that he will be a great addition to the staff. Having him involved in a coaching capacity with the team and being around football in T&T just makes it even more exciting for the game in this country,” Theobald said.

Latapy in 20-man squad for Argentina tour

2009-01-06T05:19:00.000-08:00

A 20-man Trinidad and Tobago squad has been named to travel to Argentina for a live-in training camp on January 21 as the “Soca Warriors step up their preparation for the opening match of the 2010 Final Round of World Cup qualification away to El Salvador on February 11.The squad is inclusive of mostly home based players and will be cut following the Argentina leg of the upcoming tour. That will be closely followed by the naming of the selected overseas-based players who will be invited to form the final 18-man squad to face El Salvador.Head Coach Francisco Maturana has kept faith with at least ten players who have been part of the team’s 2010 World Cup campaign thus far. But there are some new faces with Clico San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Trent Noel being recalled and there are also first time call ups for Jabloteh defender Robert Primus and W Connection’s Andrei Pacheco. Noel had one appearance in a 2-2 draw with Puerto Rico in January since Maturana’s appointment while Pacheco was part of the 2007 Gold Cup squad.Puerto Rico Islanders forward Kendall Jagdeosingh has also been invited while there are recalls for 2006 World Cup team midfielder Densill Theobald and French-based winger Kevaughn Connell who is currently unattached but has been in training with French Third Division team Cassis Carnoux.W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip who suffered a stab wound before the Christmas holidays, is also included and is expected to recover sufficiently to take up training on the upcoming tour.Newly appointed Assistant Coach Russell Latapy arrives back in Trinidad on the weekend and will accompany the team in a player/coach capacity.Latapy shared his views on the build up to the El Salvador encounter.“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for the players to come together to prepare for the match against El Salvador. I know it’s a training tour but I would not want any of the players selected to think of it as just a training team or a training trip. They must all go into it with the feeling that it’s a great opportunity for them to fight and earn that place in the final World Cup team,” Latapy told TTFF Media on Monday.“Personally I’m looking forward to the trip because it’s my first one in this capacity and it’s the first time in quite a while that I will get that opportunity to work and prepare with a National Team since I’ve began playing professionally abroad so from that side of it I’m really excited.“But at the same time I think it’s important that I sit down with the Head Coach and we can be able to share our views with regards to the preparation of the team. I’m really looking forward to working with him and the rest of the staff and the boys as well. I think if we can both share our views then it allows me to have his respect and he will have mine as well which I think will be excellent for the team and the football in Trinidad and Tobago in general,” Latapy added.Latapy also shared his thoughts on the amount at stake for players vying for selection on a World Cup team.“I’ve seen a lot of potential in the boys around now and it’s just a matter of us on the staff now being able to get the team to play the right way to get the right results. I think if we can prepare well and get everyone to understand their respective roles and work in proper execution then we will be in fine shape. “Back in my day as a younger player now coming into the national set up there wasn’t much opportunities for players to get professional contracts abroad but that’s not the case now and I think there is a lot more at stake for upcoming players now. And you’ve got to enjoy what you are doing. Players can’t always work hard if there’s no time to enjoy it too. There has to be a time to sacrifice and work hard and a time to play and enjoy a bit of it,” Latapy added.

Team for Argentina tour

Goalkeepers1. Marvin Phillip -W.Connection2. Jan Michael Williams- Ferencvárosi TC ( Hungary )

Defenders3. Seon Power- Joe Public4. Keyeno Thomas-Joe Public5. Makan Hislop- United Petrotrin6. Robert Primus- Clico San Juan Jabloteh7. Andre Pacheco-W.Connection8. Aklie Edwards-Defence Force

Midfielders9. Clyde Leon- W.Connection10. Khaleem Hyland-Unattached11. Osei Telesford-Puerto Rico Islanders12. Anthony Wolfe-North East . Stars13. Keon Daniel-Unattached14. Kevaughn Connell- (France)15. Densill Theobald- Caledonia AIA16. Russell Latapy- Player/Coach17. Trent Noel – Clico San Juan Jabloteh

Forwards18. Errol McFarlane- Superstar Rangers19. Kendall Jagdeosingh- Puerto Rico Islanders20. Cornell Glen – Clico San Juan Jabloteh

Santa Rosa Park website(Blog)

2008-12-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

From time to time I get information sent to me via e-mail. I received this below e-mail from an unknown source which I thought I would share with you. Rest assured that I will investigate the allegations made.

I would like to start by inviting the whole racing community to write that same ARC website(Blog) by logging onto www.santarosapark.com , scroll to the bottom and check out their feedback BLOG ans try to post a message on how racing can be improved. Check later again to see if you message was posted on their website or if it was “administratively deleted”.

Then please tell me via e-mail what your experience was…

I will do so myself as well.

Andre Baptiste

From: contribute all [mailto:contributeall@gmail.com]
Sent: Sat 12/20/2008 12:20 PM
To: webmaster@andrebaptiste.com
Subject: Santa Rosa Park website(Blog)

I don't know whether you have ever tried posting constuctive criticism on that site with respect to horse racing in Trinidad.

We understand that the son of the ARC president is now acting as the administrator of this site and is systematically deleting any contribution that suggests improvement to the racing industry.

.This site was the brainchild of the last CEO Andre Cornelis and was being administered by the racing secretary and his assistant then.

Doesn't seem fright what is happening now.Shivam Maharaj does as he please with the ,deletes whatever he feels like,whenever he feels like.There is no apparent privacy policy as they keep making accusations as to the identity of contributors to the site.This needs to be addressed and brought to the attention of the entire racing fraternity and maybe the public in general.Can you help us?

Would be appreciated.

Stanford 20/20 announces review of cricket programme

2008-12-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

Stanford 20/20 announces review of cricket programme

COOLIDGE, ANTIGUA, DECEMBER 17, 2008 – Stanford 20/20 LLC announces that, as is appropriate, a full review of the 2008 Stanford 20/20 cricket programme is being undertaken in light of the well publicised contractual issues with the West Indies Cricket Board which arose prior to the start of the Stanford Super Series.

The Stanford 20/20 Board was dissolved on Monday December 15^thpending the review and Sir Allen Stanford personally thanked each of the legends of West Indies cricket for their involvement, guidance and counsel over the past three years. The Board has been integral to Stanford 20/20’s commitment to the development of West Indies cricket and the board members continue to play an important role in the review process.

“Stanford 20/20 and the efforts of its board have reinvigorated widespread interest in the game throughout the Caribbean and have enhanced the image of West Indies cricket globally. The board has been instrumental in developing a whole new fan base in the region,” said Sir Allen.

Contrary to some recent negative press speculation, in relation to Stanford’s broader involvement with cricket and specifically the future of the Stanford 20/20 for 20, the Quadrangular Tournament at Lords and the English Premier League, Sir Allen reaffirmed his desire to continue to work with the England and Wales Cricket Board and discussions are currently ongoing between Stanford 20/20 LLC and the ECB.

Sir Allen confirmed that it was his intention to announce the programme for 2009 and beyond by the end of January 2009.

The Fearless One meets Honourable Minister of Sport Mr. Hunt

2008-12-10T10:16:00.000-08:00

James: Take the flak and move on

2008-12-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

James: Take the flak and move on

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, December 9,2008

Toronto FC Rookie Julius James is one of the “Warriors” accepting responsibility for the lackluster showing by Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Footballers at the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships in Jamaica.

James played the second match of Group A which T&T won 2-1 over Barbados last Friday. He was drafted into the team earlier this year and has been in the squad for the latter part of the 2010 World Cup qualifying semi final round.

While the debate continues over T&T’s dismal showing and its failure to go through to the semi-final stages as well as the CONCACAF Gold Cup, James, also one of the younger faces in the current team, no doubt wanted better in Jamaica.

“The experience came to an end in quick time and it’s a huge disappointment to be part of this team because we are the ones that didn’t go through to the next stage,” James told TTFF Media on Monday night prior to heading off at 2am from Montego Bay to the Norman Manley Airport for an early morning flight to Toronto.

“I hope this can propel us to a higher level in terms of our play and hopefully this shame can make us more passionate and more forceful in terms of playing the game at this regional level and getting more respect from the other Caribbean teams. It looks like because we have the World Cup to look forward to, as players we kind of took these games for granted,” James added.

“The experience for me has been a learning one being under coach Maturana as his style is different. He does it the way he wants it and it as opened my eye to a different style of the game Being around some of the older guys has its pluses too because you tend to pick up little things that can help your game.

“As a group of individuals we needed to step it up and I think we could have played differently against Grenada because the way things happened in that game is the reason we are out of the tournament now. Whatever the problem was in that game should never have been and we need to take the flak and get on with it.”

James is heading into the second year of his three-year contract with Toronto FC in the MLS and says that his time there has brought about a huge difference to the way he sees the game… the way of being an outright professional.

“Playing in Toronto is a really a great experience even though I didn’t achieve some of my goals in my first season because I had problems with injuries at the start of it. As a rookie I needed to be playing more. But what the football at that level made me realize is that when you are injured or down, there is always someone there to take your spot. I was forced to learn that the right away You always need to be fit and on top of your game. The experiences there have been very enriching to me as a professional because the other players at my club are mostly seasoned pros who have played all over the world.

He mentioned Jamaican captain and Toronto FC teammate Tyrone Marshall as one of them who has had a massive influence on him since going to Toronto and thanked local coach Nigel Grosvenor for his advice before taking up his move to University of Connecticut.

“A lot of players rush into moving into College in the US especially when they hear about scholarships and I was one of them. But ‘Grovey’ advised me to wait until something better came up and fortunately I was able to end up at UCONN.”

“At Toronto Tyrone has had a very,very big effect on me. My playing and my mental strength has come a long way because of his positive mind. He’s a testament on how a professional footballer should live and play the game,” James said.

Nash happy in WI colours

2008-12-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

Nash happy in West Indies colours

West Indies allrounder Brendan Nash is “totally enjoying” his time in the West Indies team and is also embracing Caribbean culture.

“My family has a very strong Jamaican heritage. I wanted to experience the culture as well as play cricket so I made the decision to return. My sister and myself had glimpses of it when we went there for holidays so I knew quite a bit of what to expect when I made the move to go there,” the soft-spoken 30-year-old said.

Nash was born in Perth after his father Paul – a former Jamaica Olympic swimmer – and mother Andrea moved to Western Australia. His older sister Candice was born in Jamaica. He grew up in Queensland and went on to represent the state team. While representing Queensland, Nash once served as emergency fielder for Australia in a Test match against West Indies.

“I went to watch the World Cup in 2007 and decided at that point that I would make a move to return to Jamaica. I moved around the middle of last year and since then I managed to work my way into the Jamaica team and now the West Indies side. I enjoy my cricket and I’m totally enjoying my time in the side and among a great bunch of team-mates.”

Nash was speaking on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand at the University Oval which bowls off on Thursday at noon (7 pm Eastern Caribbean Time/6 pm Jamaica Time).

As a boy growing up he was exposed to Jamaican culture and explained: “I love the culture. I love reggae music and I’m getting used to jerk chicken” but admitted, “the dancing side of things I’m still not that good.”

Nash played well for Jamaica and earned selection to the West Indies team for the tri-nation series against Canada and Bermuda in Toronto five months ago, where he made his One-Day International debut.

He said the hallmark of his game is his tenacity and willingness to work hard.

“I am a consistent player, I’m not a flashy type of player. You know what you are going to get with me. I am someone with a bit of experience, which I gained from playing in Australia as well as playing for Jamaica. I am primarily a batsman, so that is my strength. I can bowl a bit and I always like to make a contribution in the field. Whatever I can do to help I am willing to do,” he said.

Looking forward to the upcoming two-Test series, he noted: “I think it is going to be a very competitive series. Both captains have said that. Both teams are slightly new in terms of some of the players – they have a few and we have a few who have not played a Test yet like myself – so you could say it is pretty even at this stage.”

Chanderpaul gets ready

2008-12-04T04:52:00.000-08:00

Chanderpaul wants to get better and better

West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is working overtime to get ready for the upcoming Test Series against New Zealand. The champion left-hander said he is looking to achieve his personal goals as well as overall team success. He is of the firm belief the Windies have the ability to win the series and move up the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rankings.

“I want to improve all the time. I try harder, I work harder and I try to eliminate any mistakes. I just try to get better. The aim is to improve my skills. You never know what will happen on the cricket field, but you know once you prepare properly you give yourself every chance to play well,” he said.

In September, the 34-year-old was named the ICC’s International Cricketer of the Year. He is the Number 1 batsman in the latest Test match rankings, published earlier this week.

“I have been playing for so long and I want to win. As much as I do well personally I want to win as a team as well. That would be good for everyone. We have an opportunity here to start winning some games and make some steps up the rankings.”

The West Indies will have their final training session on Thursday morning before they face Auckland in a warm-up match at the Eden Park Outer Oval from Friday to Sunday. The first Test will be at the University Oval in Dunedin (December 11-15) and the second Test at McLean Park, Napier (December 19-23)

“We have a young team, guys who have not experienced these kinds of conditions before. It comes back to how well we can get acclimatized to the conditions out here and get accustomed to the pitches. It is obvious, they all have talent, in the Caribbean we are full of talent but it is how well we can perform in each department,” Chanderpaul said.

“It depends on how well we play and I know we can play well. I know we are capable. Once we perform in all departments it would make for a very good Christmas.”

FIXTURES

Friday, Dec 5 to Sunday, Dec 7: vs Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval

Thursday, Dec 11 to Monday, Dec 15: 1^st Test at University Oval, Dunedin

Friday Dec 19 to Tuesday, Dec 23: 2^nd Test at McLean Park, Napier

Friday, Dec 26: 1^st T20 International at Eden Park, Auckland

Sunday, Dec 28: 2^nd T20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Wednesday, Dec 31: 1^st ODI at Queenstown Event Centre, Queenstown

Saturday, Jan 3: 2^nd ODI at AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Wednesday, Jan 7: 3^rd ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Saturday Jan 10: 4^th ODI at Eden Park, Auckland

Tuesday, Jan 13: 5^th ODI at McLean Park, Napier

SQUAD: Chris Gayle (Captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (Vice Captain), Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh Jnr, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.

STAFF: Omar Khan (Team Manager), John Dyson (Head Coach), David Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Steve Folkes (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Richard Berridge (Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Officer)

TTFF NEWS - T&T Seniors begin quest for ninth regional title

2008-12-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

T&T Seniors begin quest for ninth regional title

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer in New Kingston, December 2,2008

Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Footballers will begin their hunt for a ninth regional title when they kick off the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships against Grenada at the National Stadium, Kingston from 5pm (6pm T&T time) on Wednesday.

The T&T team, under head coach Francisco Maturana, arrived in New Kingston on Monday afternoon and underwent a one-hour session at the St George’s College Ground where they are carded to train again on the eve of the opening match.

T&T, winners of the regional crown in 1989,1992, 1994-97, 1999 and 2001 while hosts Jamaica won it in 1991, 1998 and 2005. Martinique, absent from this year’s finals won it in 1993 while Haiti which faces Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday are the defending champions after defeating T&T 2-1 in the 2007 Final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The Jamaicans, out of the 2010 World Cup race are keen on success in front of their home fans and head coach John Barnes wants nothing but success. Barnes made a late addition to his squad, bringing in Demar Phillips of Premiership club Stoke City. Phillips was instrumental in Jamaica’s 3-0 win over Canada last month. They are eager to make up for their World Cup disappointment and have added several overseas-based players to their squad, including midfielders Andy Williams and Joe Public’s Wolry Wolfe as well as US-based defender Tyrone Marshall, who arrived yesterday afternoon

But Grenada are not intent on making it easy for T&T nor Jamaica to advance to the semi-finals.

The Grenadines, who are ranked at 139 in the world, defeated the Reggae Boyz 2-1 in a friendly international in June. Their team will be at full strength for the tournament, with the addition of the of their overseas-based players, including their captain Anthony Modeste, midfielder, Shalrie Joseph of New England Revolution (USA) and Junior Rudolph Williams.
Modeste told reporters here that his team is going to put on a good show.

"We are very optimistic about our chances because we know the opponents ahead of us and we are coming here to play good football and we are going to take it one game at a time and hopefully we can qualify for the semi-finals," said Modeste.

"We are very confident going up against the Jamaicans because our last result against them was a good one. But Jamaica is a quality opponent, but hopefully we can transform the same game that we played in Grenada and get the result that we want here," Modeste added.

While their focus seems to be on the “Reggae Boyz” first they must over some the “Soca Warriors.”

“We aren’t particular worried but we want to show the rest of the Caribbean that we are the powerhouse of the region and it begins from tomorrow against Grenada,” Clico San Juan Jabloteh striker Cornell Glen told TTFF Media on Tuesday.

“This tournament can decide the future for a lot of players in the team and in a sense it’s good chance for us to improve as a team seeing that the final round of the World Cup qualifiers is right around the corner. But it’s also a tournament we want to go out and win.”

Glen said T&T would not underestimate its opponents.

“The good thing about this team is that it has a lot of young players who are hungry for success. We are not going to take any of these teams lightly and we intend to win every match,” Glen added.

Recalled T&T striker, Errol McFarlane, said he is looking forward for the challenge.

"I hope my inclusion in the team will a positive one," he told the Gleaner upon arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport.

"I hope to add more depth to this already talented bunch of players. This is an opportunity for me to impress the new coach because this is the first time I am playing with him," he said.
T&T captain Aurtis Whitley showed no signs of discomfort, taking full part in Monday’s session. Toronto FC defender Julius James joined the team on Monday night and will have his first run out on Tuesday.

T&T 20-man squad

1. MARVIN PHILLP
2. JAN MICHAEL WILLIAMS
3. SEON POWER
4. CYD GRAY
5. MAKAN HISLOP
6. KARLON MURRAY
7, JULIUS JAMES
8. KEYENO THOMAS
9. AKLIE EDWARDS
10. AVERY JOHN
1I. AURTIS WHITLEY
12. CLYDE LEON
13. OSEI TALESFORD
14. KHALEEM HYLAND
15. ARNOLD DWARIKA
16. KEON DANIEL
17. ANTHONY WOLFE
18. ANDRE TOUSSAINT
19. CORNELL GLEN
20. ERROL MCFARLANE

West Indies in New Zealand

2008-12-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

Gayle set for battle against New Zealand

West Indies Captain Chris Gayle is prepared for the big role he has to play in the upcoming Test Series against New Zealand. The powerful left-hander said that, looking at the opponents, he anticipates a keenly-contested series.

“The battle is going to be a very competitive one. New Zealand have some inexperienced batsmen who will be looking to prove a point. We have some new players who will be looking for opportunities to make a name on the international stage. I’m feeling confident. Whenever the first match comes we will be ready for the main assignment,” Gayle said.

“I have a big part to play as a senior player. I have been here before and I will be doing all I can to help the new players and also to make a big contribution to the team. The build-up has been good. I am hitting the ball very well. We have a match coming up against Auckland where we will look to use to get fully ready for the Test matches.”

The Windies continued their preparation on Tuesday with a three-hour net session in the morning and gym work-outs in the evening. They will have another full session in the nets on Wednesday.

They will face the Auckland team in an official First-Class match from Friday to Sunday at the Eden Park Outer Oval. The first Test will be at the University Oval in Dunedin and the second Test at McLean Park, Napier.

Gayle said he and other team-mates have been monitoring the New Zealand players in the recent series defeat against Australia.

“We have been looking at New Zealand in Australia. We watched the matches and also looked at clips to see what the New Zealand players are all about. Australia beat then, but they will be coming back here, on home soil, and will be looking to hit back at us. We will have to counter that. We have a good idea what will be required,” he said.

FIXTURES

Friday, Dec 5 to Sunday, Dec 7: vs Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval

Thursday, Dec 11 to Monday, Dec 15: 1^st Test at University Oval, Dunedin

Friday Dec 19 to Tuesday, Dec 23: 2^nd Test at McLean Park, Napier

Friday, Dec 26: 1^st T20 International at Eden Park, Auckland

Sunday, Dec 28: 2^nd T20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Wednesday, Dec 31: 1^st ODI at Queenstown Event Centre, Queenstown

Saturday, Jan 3: 2^nd ODI at AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Wednesday, Jan 7: 3^rd ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Saturday Jan 10: 4^th ODI at Eden Park, Auckland

Tuesday, Jan 13: 5^th ODI at McLean Park, Napier