Wednesday February 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 37
ICC changes will benefit Windies cricket Port of Spain, Trinidad – President Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron said the amended key principles covering governance, financing and structure recently agreed by the International Cricket Council will allow the West Indies Cricket Board to grow and develop the game in the Caribbean and the Americas far more robustly and vigorously. The WICB was one of eight full members of the sport’s World governing body that supported the key principles at a recent Executive Board meeting in Singapore. Cameron said the new financial arrangements meant that there will be more revenue for all members of the ICC including the WICB, a Test Match fund to sustain the longest version of the game over the next decade, and a clear pathway for Associate Members nations to become eligible to play Tests. Read The President’s Speech In Full. He said the new financing proposals will allow the WICB to negotiate, on a bilateral basis, tours to other countries for which it will earn direct revenue. “Increased revenue in these areas will redound to the benefit of West Indies cricket through more funds invested into development, longer first-class seasons and
other areas,” said Cameron at a media conference on Monday at the Hyatt Regency here. “The WICB projects an increase of more than 100 per cent in ICC revenue for the upcoming eight-year cycle of international matches based on the proposals when compared to the previous eight-year cycle.” He added: “The WICB and all other full members now play international cricket based on the Future Tours Programme which is spread over a period of eight years. It is negotiated between members and compiled by the ICC, and is based on two cycles of four years and it obliges us to play every full member twice – once home and once away – in every four-year cycle. “Currently, West Indies have the most unfavourable allocation of matches of all the full members of the ICC, based on the current FTP schedule, and this is largely the reason the WICB is set to have a major deficit at the end of the financial year, September 30, 2014.” Cameron said the newly approved proposals will however, allow the WICB to increase the number of profitable tours it hosts, while reducing the number of unprofitable tours it is obliged to host under the current FTP. “Based on the proposed
WICB CEO Michael Muirhead, President Dave Cameron and Director of Cricket Richard Pybus bilateral structure, the WICB will be able to negotiate fees when the West Indies team plays in away series, as was the case prior to the establishment of the FTP,” the WICB President told his audience that also included WICB Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan, Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead and Director of Cricket Richard Pybus. “As the West Indies team continues to regain strength, the WICB will be able to negotiate more for our brand,
which is a most significant consideration.” He said: “Also, where the WICB hosts unprofitable tours, we will now be able to access the newly proposed Test Match Fund to help offset costs. “We can inform you now that the WICB has already secured commitments from from the major boards to play an increased number of matches and series during the next eight-year cycle. This will allow WICB to grow revenue significantly through television and sponsorship
with increased opportunities to play against the more attractive teams in the game.” On the possible introduction of a two-tiered system for Tests that could lead to relegation, Cameron said: “As it stands, the top nine teams – including West Indies – will continue to play Test matches. The risk of ‘relegation’ is only realistic for the 10th-ranked team. West Indies is currently ranked seventh and is in no realistic position to be ranked 10th in the foreseeable future.
“With the increased revenue and a fortified development programme, the WICB is determined to ensure that the West Indies team is nowhere near being ranked 10th in the World, allowing us to continue to play all formats of the game in full – and put us in a strong position to negotiate with every other full member for participation in home and away tours.” On the impact the new governance structure will have on the WICB, Cameron said: “We want to make it abundantly clear: The WICB has not relinquished any powers as a full member of the ICC. The WICB remains a full member of the ICC with full voting rights on all matters. “The WICB will be eligible for membership to all committees, chairmanship of all committees, and the presidency and chairmanship of the ICC.” He said: “As such, I am a member of the Financial & Commercial Affairs Committee and will retain that position following the organizational transition. “The WICB is extremely confident it will not be hurt by the organizational transition of the ICC and the World governing body will be stronger outfit as a result.” (WICB Media Release)
India hang on for a draw after McCullum triple Brendon McCullum brought the whole of New Zealand to its feet in becoming the first New Zealander to 300 runs, New Zealand then possibly indulged for about half an hour after having fought hard for close to two days, following which Virat Kohli scored a century to make sure India didn’t lose the Test they would have thought they had won two days ago. New Zealand won the series 1-0, and India ended their second successive tour without a win. Given 67 overs to survive, India were in strife and would have lost their third wicket in the 13th over had Kohli walked or even shown signs of guilt after edging one through to BJ Watling, but he showed those niceties were not for him when there was a Test to be saved. For about 46 minutes in the morning, the New Zealand economy came down to a standstill, the GDP took a beating and Basin Reserve cheered every single on as McCullum became the first New Zealander in 84 years of
their Test cricket to register a triple-century. What made it sweeter was that he had come out in the first session of day three with an innings defeat and a squandered series lead imminent. By the fifth morning, though, the match had been saved, McCullum was 281, and it was time for a little indulgence, a phase of play where he would bask in the applause. Before McCullum could get there, though, his partner Jimmy Neesham became only the seventh man to score a century on debut from No. 8. He had played a vital part previous evening in keeping McCullum together as his body and his concentration threatened to disintegrate after close to five sessions of intense grind. Neesham took all the pressure off by taking a majority of strike and the responsibility of run-getting. Neesham began the day on 67, and continued to bat in a carefree manner. His driving into the leg side remained a feature of his batting, and he was no slouch when India pitched up too far
outside off. His pace on the fifth morning again allowed McCullum to stay in the background, but McCullum went from 284 to 288, 289 to 293, and from 293 to 297 in boundaries. The anticipation arose as much with each of those shots as it did with good defensive ones. When, on 293, he edged one that fell short, the Basin heaved. Off the second ball of the 199th over, McCullum took the single to go to 298, but that gave Neesham four balls to beat him to his landmark. Neesham was 94. And he pulled the third ball, and managed to lob the deep square leg who had completely misjudged this. Off the next ball, McCullum ran as hard as Neesham; the hundred was now done. When McCullum steered the first ball of the next over between slips and gully, the triple had been achieved. Father Stu McCullum was in attendance, seemingly the whole of Wellington too, there was not a bum on seat, and the applause continued for about four minutes.
It was an emotional moment, and McCullum could face only two balls as the only New Zealand triplecenturion. When he did edge Zaheer Khan, he didn’t take Neesham along with him. Had he done so, they would have set India 380 in 77 overs. Instead they batted on for 10 more overs to add 55 more runs, refusing to dangle a carrot. Perhaps all the hard work over the last two days was too much to ask to be risked, especially when they led in the series. Be it at it may, the extra time allowed Neesham enough time to register the highest score for a No. 8 debutant and to take New Zealand to their highest total ever. India played out the four overs before lunch all right, but in the first two overs after the interval, Trent Boult and Tim Southee got the openers. Shikhar Dhawan fell padding up to a ball that would have clearly bounced over the stumps. Steve Davis went the other way soon as he let Kohli off when it could have become 31 for 3 with 55 overs (Continued on page 35)
Brendon McCullum is congratulated by the Indian team after his 302