Active Australian captains in general, but Ricky Ponting in particular, are not the type of men who busy themselves heaping praise on opposition players. Under Ponting’s captaincy, that time honoured Australian cricket tradition of publicly targeting opposition batsmen has not waned.

The latest instalment was Mitchell Johnson’s pre-series boast that his side believed Shivnarine Chanderpaul to be susceptible to the short ball so they intended to test their theory during the three Tests.

And so when Ponting – upon completion of the Second Test – had more than half a sentence of incoherent mumbling kudos for Kemar Roach, it was enough to cause one to sit up and take more than passing notice.

The Board of Directors of WIPA is pleased to report on its Board Meeting which was held last week in Barbados at which a number of important matters were discussed.

 
The WIPA Board was presented with several reports including financial details of all its activities that have been undertaken in 2009 including the WICB/WIPA issues. The events considered included the Balls of Fire Charity Match, WIPA in the Community Development Programme and the WIPA 20/20 Club Champions League tournament. Reports on the mediation that took place in July/August and the early part of September 2009 between WIPA and WICB, the New York Agreement made between WICB and WIPA and the upcoming Special Arbitration regarding “team rights” and the India 2009 home series were received for review and WIPA’s draft Strategic Plan was discussed.

By Roman Pitt

Congratulations are in order for the Trinidad and Tobago team who have produced some really splendid performances in India.  There is no doubt their success is attributable in part to the unstinting support they received from the cricket authorities, media and fans from back home.

In my observations in the October edition of this paper, I noted the shoddy treatment of West Indies players by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the attitude of some commentators to the players, and the possible impact on West Indies cricket.  I want here to provide some examples, limiting my comments to only the most talented of the cricketers, and the most egregious circumstances, and to urge that the Board do much better in the future. In 1973-74, the WICB waged war with the world’s greatest cricketer, Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, requiring him to prove his physical fitness, as if the great man would conceal injuries so that he could be selected to play for his country.