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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 27, 2016
Kumble impressed with Florida preparation (ESPNCRICINFO) - INDIA coach Anil Kumble is “very impressed” with the facilities at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida, which is set to host two T20 in-
matches last month. “I certainly didn’t expect the facilities to be as good as what they are in the United States,” Kumble said in Lauderhill on Thursday. “I certainly felt
facilities here. “It’s a wonderful initiative and we are really looking forward to our matches here. It’s going to be a sell-out. We know U.S. … the expats and the huge Indian Diaspora who are wait-
Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida ternationals between West Indies and India over the weekend. This will be the first time India will be playing international matches in the USA. The Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, close to 50km north of Miami, is the only ICC-certified ODI standard stadium facility in the USA and hosted six Caribbean Premier League
that it could be a makeshift. I had heard about Florida and this ground, but very impressed with the facilities that we have seen today. It’s the first time that I’m seeing this ground and the wickets are good, ideal probably for a T20, and the practice facilities have been good. The outfield looks fantastic. So all in all, (I’m) really impressed with the
ing for quality cricket to come to the U.S. We have played in the past in the West Indies and a lot of Indians come over from the U.S. to watch us. So this is a great opportunity for all of them and I’m sure this is the start of a new beginning in the United States and I’m sure there will be a lot more of the Indian team in the U.S. going forward.” The two-match series is going to be the first of what
will develop into an annual event in the USA as part of efforts to “reach out to new markets and audiences,” BCCI president Anurag Thakur had said. The Indian squad arrived in Florida from the West Indies on Tuesday, before they were joined by T20 captain MS Dhoni and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on Wednesday. Even though India won the Test series 2-0, the players from the Test squad are coming with hardly any recent match practice because of the rain-affected fourth Test in Port-of-Spain where the last four days didn’t see any play. Kumble was still optimistic about the confidence the team would carry from his first series as coach. The Central Broward Regional Park has previously hosted four T20Is - in 2010, New Zealand played two matches against Sri Lanka, and returned in 2012 for two games against West Indies.
WICB meets WIPA, Players (WICB) - WITH two years left in the current Memorandum of Understanding/Collective Bargaining Agreement (MOU/CBA) with the West Indies Cricket Board, West Indies Players Association and players; the WICB took a proactive move to host a players’ symposium in Florida last Wednesday (August 24) to address some of the pressing issues. Among the issues discussed openly were: MOU/ CBA – WICB, WIPA and players, Future tours, ICC events, Finances of WICB and World Cricket and Life during and after cricket. WICB president Dave Cameron says “the ongoing dialogue aimed at finding amicable solutions is the main aim for us as an organisation and we are keen on confronting the issues facing us as we seek to enhance the overall cricket product. We will continue the dialogue. We will encourage players to voice their concerns through an appropriate medium. We will work together for a solution. We know the players are the most important features of our Brand and we wish to engage them as is necessary and require them to be more competitive on and off the field.” The meeting which at
L-R: West Indies players Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo sit with WIPA president Wavell Hinds and WICB president Dave Cameron. points became contentious, “was solution-oriented and the WICB continues to make efforts to facilitate the best environment for players,” the president noted. Action items coming out of the meeting included - the players who fall in the ‘free agency’ status have been asked to make recommendations through WIPA on: Eligibility for selection for all formats of the game and how they can qualify highlighting percentages or number of regional matches to participate in. Player selection/avail-
ability at international level The players present at the four-hour session in Florida included the Twenty20 squad for the two matches versus India and the retained players; while first class players in all six regions were able to access the discussion via tele-conference. There was a keynote presentation from Daren Ganga who is now a Sport Administrator with the University of Trinidad and Tobago and is an international radio and television broadcaster. His presentation focused
on Responsibilities of a Professional Athlete. Ganga stressed the need for excellent performances on the field of play, but made a great case for work off the field as a role model as they prepare for life after cricket. The other officials who shared information were CEO Michael Muirhead, WIPA president Wavell Hinds and Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne. The CEO emphasised the “need for the dialogue and more solutions as the sport industry continues to evolve”.
Umpire Leslie Reifer Jr to make international debut in Paytm T20 Series UMPIRE Leslie Reifer Jr is set to make his international debut when he stands in the second Paytm Twenty20 International between West Indies and India on Sunday. The 26-year-old from Barbados will become one of the youngest umpires in international cricket history during the Paytm T20 Series. The matches will be played at the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale today (Saturday), and tomorrow (Sunday). First ball daily is: 10:00hrs (09:00hrs Jamaica Time/19:30hrs India Standard Time). “This is a dream for me and I’m delighted to be appointed to stand in these matches here in the United States. I will have TV (television umpire) duties on Saturday with the first match, and I will get the chance to stand in the middle
Umpire Leslie Reifer during the second match on Sunday,” Reifer said. “I started as an umpire at age 18 and from the day I started it was always my dream to reach the international level. I just want to keep improving as an umpire and strive to reach higher standards.”
South Africa targeting Kiwi’s tail (ESPNCRICINFO) - SOUTH Africa did not have the chance to get into New Zealand’s lower order in Durban, but they have identified it as an area to exploit in Centurion. “That’s the one weakness New Zealand have. They are not a team that bats until 10 or 11,” South Africa’s stand-in captain Faf du Plessis said. “If you can get inroads and get through those high-quality batsmen in the top order, you can put some pressure on them.” Without Brendon McCullum, New Zealand batting experience comes in the form of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, and they are yet to settle on a No.5. Henry Nicholls is the incumbent but is yet to prove his worth with one half-century in six Test innings. BJ Watling provides the lower-middle order muscle with the tail starting at No.7, something Kane Williamson explained can’t be helped. “We always pick the best team we can, the best balance we can,” New Zealand captain Williamson said. “It’s always nice to have a seam-bowling all-rounder that is so sought-after in any international side but it’s a luxury we don’t really have at this stage but if you don’t have that, you compromise.” He hoped Doug Bracewell, who is likely to keep his place, unless New Zealand go into the match with two specialist spinners, could fill that role in the future. “Someone like Doug Bracewell is looking to try to play that all-rounder role and improve in it going forward. He can bat and bat well so it’s just experience at this top level will continue his improvement with that bat.” For Williamson, the immediate focus, though is on the other side of the game. “What’s most important for us is that we pick a team that can take 20 wickets,” he said. To that end, New Zealand have opted for the extra bowler in each of three matches they have played in sub-Saharan Africa this winter. In Zimbabwe, they fielded three seamers and two spinners, in Durban they went with four seamers and a spinner. The core of both compositions is the three quicks who played in both countries - Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner - who each offers something different. Southee and Boult make use of swing and seam movement while Wagner extracts bounce. In what will be Wagner’s first Test on what used to be his home ground, Williamson is hopeful he will do most of the damage. “Wags has been outstanding for a long period of time, particularly on surfaces that don’t offer a huge amount in terms of swing movement or seam,” Williamson said. “He creates opportunities through creative bowling tactics.”