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Perhaps the major reason there has not yet been a substantive coup in the management of West Indies cricket lies within the realm of recognition by the international governing body, the International Cricket Council [ICC].It is certainly not because no alternatives have been proposed. If it is one thing West Indians have given generously, it is their thoughts on how the cricket they love should be run. Taken one by one, the ideas offer partial solutions, as they often deal with one aspect at a time. However, a careful study of the collection (such as the one generated by the 2000 Caricom/UWI cricket conference) yields a comprehensive range of proposals for the development of the game.What we need is the commitment and will to refine the existing body of thought into a practical plan. But as long as people feel that the ownership of West Indies cricket cannot be wrested away from the current proprietors, they will see such action tantamount to a spinning top in mud.There is a hopeless sense that international recognition will not be granted to any new structure because the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) already has it. Maybe we should think about the nature of that recognition and its basis.The ICC recognises the body that represents the national cricketers of its members. The West Indies has a different circumstance in terms of the definition of nation, given its multinational nature.It might be mentally liberating to examine the status quo and explore some possibilities.Legally, as far as we know, the WICB administers the regional game. As far as we know, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) formally represents a substantial number of regional cricketers at various levels, and the WICB formally recognises WIPA as their representative.

It is a little less clear when it comes to contractual relationships. As far as we know, a few players on the senior team have retainer contracts with the WICB. The majority are contracted on a series by series basis. At least, technically that is how it stands, right? We can’t really be sure because memory relates a different reality of players touring without contracts.For now, let’s just imagine a scenario. Let’s say that the CEO of the WICB announces that players on retainer have no choice but to go on the England tour, and that if the others don’t sign the proffered contract, the WICB will just keep running down the list until it gets a squad of 15.So what happens if nobody signs? A squad of what, eight, ten retained players goes? Unlikely, but imagine what would happen if the players, like everyone else in the region, decide that it is time to act. What if they are made aware of plans for an alternative system and find it attractive? What if they all decide not to sign any new contracts; what if nobody renews? What if WIPA endorses another structure and advises players that they would benefit from affiliating themselves with a new order that is committed to rebuilding West Indies cricket and treating its players as the centre of that resurrection? What if it takes less than a year for existing contracts to end? What if in that period there is massive investment in developing a modern, intelligent, entity to manage West Indies cricket?Who would the WICB then be representing? Would it be able to legitimately keep its seat on the ICC? Would the ICC then recognise another West Indian body?It might mean a period of upheaval that could even see the West Indies having to temporarily withdraw from ICC-sanctioned cricket as things get sorted out.But what if at the end we get it right and West Indies cricket begins its genuine rebuilding, would it be worth it?Sometimes a door needs the push of imagination to swing it open.

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New Zealand jumped right back into Rose Bowl contention with a crunching 82-run win against Australia to leave the series level at 1-1. The home side made plenty of 240-plus scores at the Lincoln ground against England without always winning but found 238 was more than enough in the second match to conquer Australia, the current holders.Katey Martin’s good form continued with 45, while Nicola Browne and Amy Satterthwaite both posted 48. Sarah Andrews was Australia’s best bowler with two wickets, while Ellyse Perry, Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar both took one.New Zealand’s new-ball pairing of Helen Watson and Sophie Devine then worked well together, taking two wickets each to set Australia on the back foot at 4 for 43. They could not recover, as Lucy Doolan chipped in with 3 for 42.Australia will take some comfort from a half-century from Jodie Purves, who was included as a specialist batsman while Leonie Coleman kept wicket. Her fifth-wicket stand of 82 with Perry made the score more respectable but by the time it was broken Australia needed ten an over from the last ten overs, which proved too much.

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Saqibul Hasan’s fine allround performance helped Bangladesh A end their one-day series against Zimbabwe A in convincing 58-run win, despite a defiant century from Pete Rinke. The Bangladeshis produced a flamboyant effort with the bat, racking up 331, with Saqibul carting a 55-ball 32 towards the death. Rinke held Zimbabwe’s reply together, but needed more support to get his team close.Nazmus Sadat and Nafees Iqbal handed Bangladesh a flyer with 88 in the first 10 overs. Tushar Imran, the captain, compiled a measured 66 off 64 balls before the middle order upped the tempo again. Mehrab Hossain and Saqibul raced along a more than a run-a-ball, Saqibul striking six fours in his rapid half-century.At 169 for 3 in the 29th over, Zimbabwe were matching Bangladesh stroke for stroke but then they began to lose wickets at regular intervals. The crucial blow came in the 32nd over when Rinke was caught by Alok Kapali, leaving the lower order with too much to do. Saqibul followed up his half-century with a four-wicket spell and Bangladesh can leave highly satisfied with their work over the five-match series.

Group A
With half-centuries from Imran Farhat and Rafatullah Mohamand Habib Bank Limited (HB) chased down Zarai Taraqiati Limited Bank’s (ZTB) 267 with two wickets to spare at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.Despite Aamer Bashir’s 81 and Adnan Raza’s unbeaten 55, ZTB could not set a high enough target. Abdur Rehman, the Pakistan left-arm spinner, took 3 for 54 and Shahid Nazir, Pakistan’s right-arm fast bowler, took 2 for 25. HB’s top order set up the platform for the chase as Farhat and Mohmand added 47 together and then Mohamand added another 79 with Hasan Raza. But Mohammad Khalil and Naved Ashraf triggered a lower-order collapse and four wickets fell for 39 runs. Nazir and Sajid Shah held their nerve and scored the required runs with three balls to sprae. Khalil and Ashraf got three wickets each for the game.National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) bowled out Pakistan Customs for 144 and reached the target for the loss of two wickets at the Sheikhupura Stadium.Tahir Mughal and Wasim Khan, NBP’s opening bowlers, sent back the first four Customs’ batsmen for 60 runs. Then Mansoor Amjad, a legbreak bowler, took three middle-order wickets for three runs though Customs’ managed to last out 47 overs for their paltry score. Usman Arshad top-scored for Customs’ with 35.Salman Butt and Qaiser Abbas set the tone of the chase adding 93 for the first wicket. Abbas was unbeaten on 72 when NBP reached the target in 34.4 oversGroup B
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGP) had an easy chase on their hands as Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) crumbled to 103 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Only two WAPDA batsmen – Masood Asim (30) and Aamer Sajjad (37) got to double figures. Three batsmen failed to score at all. Imran Ali and Tauqeer Hussain, SNGP’s right-arm fast-medium bowlers, took three wickets each.Yasir Arafat was not out on 50 when SNGP reached the target in 19 overs for the loss of two wickets.An 108-run partnership between Shehzad Malik and Azhar Ali got Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) a five-wicket win over Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Rawalpindi.PIA made 277 in their 50 overs with half-centuries from Agha Sabir and Faisal Iqbal. KRL had a setback early in their innings with two wickets falling at 43. But the Malik-Ali partnership was preceded by two fifty-run partnerships between Saeed Anwar jr (52) and Bilal Asad (68) and Asad and Malik(83*). Fazl-e-Akbar and Bazid Khan were the only two out of seven PIA bowlers who got wickets.

Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan fast-medium bowler, has been appointed chief coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced.A PCB spokesman said that Aaqib’s appointment as the head of coaching at Lahore’s NCA would be highly beneficial for the young players training at the academy. “Aaqib brings to this position vast experience as an international cricketer and as a professional coach,” said the spokesman.Aaqib, 34, played the last of his 22 Tests in 1998, having taken 54 wickets. He was an under-recognised part of a much-feared Pakistan pace attack of the 90s, overshadowed mostly by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He did however forge a more successful one-day career, taking 182 wickets from 163 matches.He was part of Pakistan’s triumphant 1992 World Cup squad and once held the record for the best bowling figures in an ODI – 7 for 37, including a hat-trick – which he achieved against India in Sharjah in 1991.Aaqib has stayed attached with international cricket since his exit nine years ago and has attended several coaching courses and workshops in recent years. He completed a PCB Level-2 Coaching Course (2003) and has participated in Asian Cricket Council (ACC) High Performance Course (2004). He has also attended the Cricket Australia/ACC Cricket Skills course for fast bowling and batting, held in Bangkok (2004-05).Aaqib has successfully completed assignments as fast bowling coach at the Lahore Regional Academy at Sheikhupura (2001), head coach of Lahore Region at Muridke (2002) and fast bowling coach at NCA (2004-05).His stint as fast bowling coach was widely acknowledged as a successful one, having worked with and improved several young fast bowlers, including Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Irshad and Samiullah Niazi.Aaqib has also coached several national age-group teams and under him Pakistan won the Under-15 Asian Championship in 2002 and the Under-19 World Cup in 2004. He also had a successful coaching stint with the Pakistan ‘A’ squad.

Australia 5 for 141 (Rolton 71*) tied with New Zealand 7 for 141 (Fahey 43, Rolls 41). Australia won the bowl-off 2-1
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Australia won a thrilling women’s Twenty20 international against New Zealand in a bowl-off after the match had finished in a tie.Karen Rolton was Australia’s hero with the bat, cracking 71 off 59 balls. With Australia needing three to win from the final delivery, she smacked the ball to deep midwicket but could only manage to run two.In the bowl-off, both sides missed with their first two attempts before Australia’s Sarah Andrews hit the stumps in the third round, only for Nicola Browne to level things up immediately. Julie Hayes, who took 2 for 19 during the New Zealand innings, secured Australia’s victory when she hit with the fifth and final ball.Twelve past Test players from Queensland were presented with baggy green caps during the day as part of Cricket Australia’s attempts to recognise all their male and female representatives. Five one-day internationals also received a commemorative lapel pin with their player number.Joyce Brewer, a 91-year-old who appeared in the first women’s Test in Brisbane in 1934, was honoured alongside players including Katherine Raymont, Julia Price and Joanne Broadbent.

Corey Anderson celebrated his return to the national side with an 87-ball 88, but his effort was not enough to help Northern Districts chase down 279 against Auckland in Hamilton.ND began shakily in the chase, losing Dean Brownlie for a five-ball duck. Daniel Flynn and Daryl Mitchell then laid a strong base, adding 76, before Anderson took over. He struck six fours and two sixes, and was aided by contributions from BJ Watling and Tim Seifert. However, fast bowler Lachie Ferguson dismissed Anderson in the 46th over to tilt the contest in Auckland’s favour. ND ran out of fuel, losing their last four wickets for 21 runs.The match was set up for Auckland, thanks to fifties from Brad Cachopa and Robert O’ Donnell, after they were reduced to 109 for 4 in 20.2 overs. The pair repaired the early damage and then lifted the innings with a 130-run partnership off 142 balls. The stand ended when Scott Kuggeleijn got rid of Cachopa for 93, but O’Donnell ensured that his side passed 250 and eventually finished with 278, which proved 11 more for ND.Peter Fulton’s half-century, followed by a collective bowling effort, led Canterbury to their second successive win in the competition, after beating Otago by 65 runs in Alexandra.Having been inserted, Canterbury lost their openers cheaply before Fulton revived the innings with his 36th List A fifty, which contained 10 fours and one six. Each of the middle-order batsmen had starts but failed to build on it, with allrounder Sam Wells claiming three wickets. However, it was enough to haul Canterbury to 228.Otago’s chase had begun on a poor note with both the openers falling for ducks. It was a sign of things to come with Otago sliding to 163 all out within 40 overs. Hamish Rutherford and James Neesham mounted some resistance with a 45-run fourth-wicket partnership, before No.9 Neil Wagner swung his way to an unbeaten 37. Todd Astle, one of the three bowlers to pick up two wickets, put the seal on Canterbury’s win when he bowled Warren Barnes for a duck.George Worker’s century trumped Luke Woodcock’s, helping defending champions Central Districts to a 32-run win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.After Ben Smith was dismissed by Dane Hutchinson for 4, Worker and Jesse Ryder added 126 together at a rapid pace only for the middle order to fumble. From 139 for 1, Central Districts slumped to 199 for 6 and Worker soon followed for 114 off 120 balls. Marty Kain’s (22) cameo lower down the order meant that Central Districts were pushed to 241.Woodcock followed three wickets with a counterattacking century, his first in List A cricket, and helped Wellington close to the target from a shambolic 35 for 5. The collapse seeped into the lower order as well as the hosts were skittled for 209. Woodcock hit two fours and six sixes before he was the last man dismissed. Central Districts’ new-ball bowlers – Seth Rance and Bevan Small – claimed combined figures of 17-3-65-7 to trip up the chase.

Australia’s selectors have cast an eye to the future with their Chairman’s XI for Sri Lanka’s first warm-up match in Adelaide starting on Saturday. The side for the three-day match is made up of those who were not picked for the round of state games and has focussed on youth.Ronchi, the aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman, missed out on Western Australia’s Pura Cup team to face Victoria due to Adam Gilchrist’s return, but he has the chance to shine as captain of the XI. Ronchi’s team-mate Aaron Heal, the left-arm slow bowler, will also play after making way for Brad Hogg while Mick Lewis, the veteran of the group at 33, will be back in Adelaide following a successful domestic trip with Victoria’s one-day side last week.Doug Bollinger has been included after being pushed out by Brett Lee and Stuart Clark at New South Wales, who are hosting Queensland from Friday. He was overlooked by the Blues despite taking eight wickets in the Pura Cup win over Western Australia.South Australia have four representatives in Cullen Bailey, Australia’s back-up legspinner who missed the state’s trip to Hobart, Paul Rofe, Tom Plant and Callum Ferguson. The match was hastily arranged following a request from the Sri Lankan management, which felt one warm-up was not enough ahead of the two-Test series in Brisbane from November 8.Chairman’s XI Lloyd Mash, Greg Moller, Phillip Hughes, Luke Ronchi (capt, wk), Callum Ferguson, Tom Plant, Cullen Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Aaron Heal, Mick Lewis, Paul Rofe.

Michael Neser is turning into an Ashes hero for Australia after admitting he started the summer unsure if he would ever play Test cricket again.Neser, 35, top-scored with a vital 35 from 49 balls when Australia were bowled out for just 152 on day one at the MCG. He then took 4 for 45 with the ball, nicking off Jacob Bethell, Joe Root and Ben Stokes to tear the heart and soul out of England as they were bowled out for just 110 on a stunning 20-wicket opening day.He had started the summer outside of Test calculations coming off a serious hamstring injury last year and was then not picked in Australia’s initial 15-man squad for the first Test in Perth, but was called in when Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott suffered injuries.Related

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He earned a recall for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane, where he took a maiden Test five-wicket haul on his home ground. However, he was squeezed out for the returning Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon in Adelaide.But with both men injured, he earned his fourth Test cap and his first red-ball Test at the MCG and was in shock after starring in front of a record crowd of 94,199.”I didn’t know if I was going to be playing for Australia again and to be in the position I am now, I’m very privileged,” Neser said. “It’s unreal. I dreamt of this as a kid. Every Boxing Day I would wake up early, and me and my brother would play back out at cricket for hours and come back in and watch cricket. The whole day just is cricket for us and to be part of it, it’s a dream come true. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”Neser’s Sheffield Shield experience proved invaluable as the surface played very similarly to domestic seam-friendly MCG pitches in recent times. Neser’s experience for Queensland and for Australia A in the last two years saw him take an aggressive approach with the bat and a patient one with the ball.”The ball definitely nipped around a bit there with the new rock,” Neser said. “So it was just a matter of trying to find ways to put pressure back on their bowlers, and knowing that when we bowled, we had to just be patient and let the wicket do the work.”

The future of Australia’s Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney cannot be guaranteed beyond 2008, according to a report due to be presented to the ICC next week.Eight of the 10 Test-playing nations, including Australia, share the same main season, and countries are becoming increasingly unhappy at Australia’s monopoly.”We’ve got a traditional season that we’ve been operating for a long while, and we’re keen to keep working with other nations to do that,” Peter Young, Cricket Australia’s media manager told . “The Boxing Day Test and the New Year’s Test are iconic parts of the Australian summer.”South Africa, who also have their own Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests – except when they play in Australia – submitted a complaint to the ICC to request a review of the games’ scheduling. This prompted the ICC to form a committee, led by their chairman Malcolm Gray, and the resulting recommendations will be submitted to the ICC’s executive boards at the annual meeting in London next week.”The South African submission was along the line of concern that the existing scheduling and arrangements are equitable,” Gray said, “and the West Indian submission was based on their financial situation, putting forward that under existing arrangements it doesn’t afford them sufficient financial support.”But the impact on Australia would be significant if, after 2008, their two bumper Tests could not be guaranteed. CA and the Australian government commissioned a report that was released earlier this month that revealed the Boxing Day Test against England in December generated $86.4m for Victoria’s economy, even though it only lasted three days.