31
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 16, 2014
Advance strike notice among task force recommendations
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – A recommendation of advance notice of strike action is among eight proposals put forward by the task force investigating the controversial abandoned tour of India. The proposals, contained in a report delivered to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Saturday, also include those aimed at improving player relations with the board and team management, and enhancing personal player development. This stems from the month-long enquiry conducted by prominent attorneys Michael Gordon QC and Sir Richard Cheltenham, along with former WICB president Sir Wes Hall. The results were presented to the
Former WICB president Wesley Hall
WICB at a Directors meeting in Port of Spain. Chief among the list of recommendations was that
any Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the Board and players union, WIPA, contain a provision to deal with disputes. “A new CBA should contain a provision such as is contained in legislation relating to Essential Services, to the effect that before the withdrawal of labour or any other industrial action is taken that a minimum period of notice be given by WIPA to WICB (say 14 days) of any industrial action contemplated by WIPA or the players as a result of an identified dispute,” the task force report said. “We would recommend that a similar provision be put into the individual player’s contracts. This would obviate any circumstance as
occurred in India. Breach of such a condition would be a breach of contract.” On the recent ill-fated tour of India, the one-day squad abandoned the series following the fourth onedayer in Dharamsala, scuppering the fifth ODI, the one-off Twenty20 and the scheduled three-Test series. Also, to deal with the contentious issue of tour contracts, the task force report recommended that the WICB provide contracts to players three weeks prior to any tour, with the players required to resubmit the signed documents one week before the tour. “Failure to return a signed contract will disqualify the player from selection on the team,” the report suggested.
The task force also called on the WICB to “build pillars of trust and respect with the players who are the Board’s employees”, with WIPA and senior players playing key roles; a simplification of the Windies team management structure with clear roles for manager, coach and captain and the recruitment of a sports psychologist on a retainer basis. Further, the task force has recommended that the WICB print and issue an employee’s handbook to WIPA and every player selected for West Indies duty,
and hold bonding sessions twice a year with team management and players “to foster harmonious relations”. The report also recommended a return to the concept of a tour management committee comprising the team manager, head coach, captain, chief selector and a WIPA representative or senior player. T h e t a s k f o rc e w a s set up by the WICB in the aftermath of the impasse which followed the abandoned tour of India in October.
North Ruimveldt persevere...
From back page
Lara stars in losing effort for Aussie Legends PERTH, Australia (CMC) – Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara stroked a typically flashy half-century but failed to prevent Australian Legends from a 50-run defeat to Perth Scorchers in an exhibition Twenty20 clash here yesterday. Chasing 180 to win at Aquinas College, the Legends XI ended on 129 for five with the left-handed Lara finishing unbeaten on 51 from 50 balls.
Lara started slowly before easing into his rhythm, and beginning to find the boundaries with touches of his old class. The double worldrecord holder was the only batsman in his starstudded side to pass 20 as Dean Jones (16), Andrew Symonds (13), Justin Langer (9) and Adam Gilchrist (1) all fell cheaply. Despite the loss, former Test star Langer said playing in the same team as the West Indies great
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Alvin Kallicharran (2) Kieron Pollard
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which WI made a double-century on his Test debut? (2) Who is the first WI to take a wicket with his first ball in ODIs? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
The sad look on Festival City Warriors’ Eon Alleyne (right), as he collects the second place spoils, underlines his team’s burning desire to lift the top prize in this year’s Guinness Greatest of De Streets competition last Sunday night. Superstar Brian Lara is mobbed by autograph-hunters during the exhibition game yesterday. (Photo courtesy Cricket Australia website)
was satisfaction enough. “This is so much fun,” the left-hander said. “To be on the same field as Brian Lara – I used to idolise him. Even when I played against him I loved watching him bat.” Earlier, Ashton Turner thumped a top score of 75 from 38 balls while Englishman Michael Carberry stroked 28, in his debut match for Scorchers ahead of the Big Bash League starting later this
week. Marcus Harris chipped in with 23 and Sam Whiteman got 22, while Scorchers seamer Yasir Arafat, who played for Legends, was the best bowler with two for 30 from four overs. Symonds (1-43) and Andy Bichel (1-50) were roughed up by the Scorchers batsmen but M i c h a e l K a s p ro w i c z proved miserly with one for 22 off his four overs.
gan to flow, resulting in the equalising goal by their top marksman Shepherd, following play between himself, Millington and Forrester, Shepherd converted in the 12th minute. Williams missed a penalty in the 18th minute after Richardson played the ball in the no-zone area, but Leopold Street held on to make sure the scoreline remained 1-1 at lemon time. No more goals materialised in the second half. Millington missed a clear-cut chance to score when he latched onto a loose ball but shot it wide to an open goal and extra time was ordered by the referees. A regrouped and rejuvenated Leopold Street unit
took the playing area and attacked their opponents, resulting in Rajkumar duplicating the efforts of Williams, by placing the ball through the legs of Richardson in the first minute of extra time, following which Leopold Street used defence all the way to claim the third place prize of $200 000, with Sparta Boss picking up $100 000. The Fair Play award was won by Cross Street. Three exhibition games whetted the appetite of the fans who waited for the action to begin while Banks DIH handed out novelty prizes including a $100 000 hamper to one lucky spectator.