GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 24, 2013
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New Year crisis meeting plans to rescue Windies cricket HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) - Newly appointed director of cricket Richard Pybus and coach Ottis Gibson have begun discussing plans to rebuild the stature of the regional side following a series of embarrassing defeats overseas. Pybus, who joined the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) late October, Gibson and West Indies selectors have scheduled a crisis meeting in the Caribbean for early next year to plot the way forward ahead of their next Test series. Four of the West Indies’ last five Tests have ended in heavy defeats undoing the strides made over the previous year where the side had strung together six straight Test victories. “We’ve had some discussions already about where we are and my thoughts on what we need to do to move forward,” Gibson said. “There’s a meeting pencilled in for us when we get back, including the selectors, to try and plot the way forward. We have five months before the next Test series which gives us some time.”
Meantime Chris Gayle is likely to be available for the two Twenty20s that round off the tour next month, following the One Day series, after picking up a hamstring injury during the one-day series in India and was ruled to have not recovered in time for the 50-overs segment of this trip. He is currently in Sydney as part of his rehabilitation programme, and Gibson said the main target for him was the World Twenty20 defence Clyde Butts West Indies suffered a twonil hammering against New Zealand in the just ended threematch series after losing to India. Reports suggest that discussions involving Gibson, Pybus and the selectors are likely to focus on the status of players such as Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards, who have doubts over their viability for Test cricket, and whether to recall other experienced figures such as Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo.
South Africa recall fast bowler Abbott for second Test
(REUTERS) - South Africa have recalled fast bowler Kyle Abbott for the second Test against India in his home town of Durban starting on Boxing Day (December 26). Abbott, who replaced the injured Morne Morkel, made his Test debut against Pakistan in the final match of the series at Centurion in February when Jacques Kallis pulled out with a hamstring problem. Despite recording match figures of nine for 68, including seven for 29 in the first innings, he was not retained when the squad was selected to tour United Arab Emirates eight months later. The 26-year-old Abbott, who plays for the Durban-based Dolphins franchise, has taken eight wickets at an average of 13 in the current domestic provincial competition. South Africa and India drew an epic first Test on Sunday when the Proteas fell eight runs short of chasing down a record victory target of 458, ending the game with seven wickets down in their second innings. Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile.
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: Sir Colin Cowdrey 113 (WI vs IND, Gwalior, 1987-88) Today’s Quiz: Which two never played in a Test match featuring Rohan Kanhai? GeofferyGreenidge; Andy Roberts; Tony Howard; Viv Richards; Bernard Julien Who is the first WI to be dismissed by the first delivery of an ODI game? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Richard Pybus
in Bangladesh. “We’re in communication with him and the people he’s working with in Australia,” Gibson said. “He’s still injured so would be an unnecessary risk to fast-track him with what lies ahead. The World T20 is coming up - a format where he is king. He should be available for the two T20s.” West Indies next Test assignment is in May when they host New Zealand in a return series here in the Caribbean.
Ottis Gibson