Amit thinks West Indies can beat Aussies
WEST INDIES offspinner Amit Jaggernauth believes the West Indies can beat Australia, although it will require a huge effort on the part of the regional team.
"This bunch of cricketers we have assembled is a very talented group and once they play to potential, I could see them winning against Australia," Jaggernauth told CMC Sports.
"Cricket is about who performs on the day, and I think the potential of the guys is great enough to get a win. Of course, this would be an enormous task, but definitely it is not an impossible one."
Test debut
Jaggernauth, who is yet to make his Test debut, has been included in the West Indies 14-man squad for the opening Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica, starting tomorrow.
He warmed-up for the opening Test with figures off five for 33 against the Antigua Pro team, in a two-day practice match in St John's last weekend.
The 24-year-old said he was looking forward to making his West Indies debut soon.
"I am bowling well at the moment. I am not up to where I want to be, but I am getting there and enjoying my cricket at the moment," he said.
"I am hoping to get a game and looking to get into Test cricket. I think that I am ready for the international level, and I am just waiting on my opportunity to get started.
"Every time I play a match now it is about going out there and gaining confidence. It has been great working with the coach (John Dyson) who I think is doing a fine job in getting the best out of the players.
"The experience has been great and I have learnt a lot by being around the coaching staff and the team and will be looking to increase my knowledge of the game, as I move along."
Long career
Jaggernauth said he envisioned a long career in the international game and would work hard to achieve this.
"This is what I want and I am ready and willing to make any sacrifice to get ahead with my cricket career," he said.
"I know that my chance will come and it is about grabbing the opportunity with both hands."
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Samuels' WICB hearing this weekend
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Media reports indicate that Marlon Samuels will face the Code of Ethics & Disciplinary Committee of the West Indies Cricket Board on Friday to answer charges of inappropriate conduct.
Radio Jamaica has reported that Samuels has retained two top Jamaican lawyers K Churchill Neita and Delano Harris - both Queen's Counsels - to represent him at this weekend's hearing.
Samuels and his two attorneys are expected to leave Kingston tomorrow for the hearing which will take place in St Lucia.
Following an internal WICB investigation into bribery allegations, the regional cricket body found there was enough evidence to charge him with misconduct.
The investigation was undertaken by Jamaican attorney Derek Jones, after the International Cricket Council, the sport's world governing body, instructed the WICB to launch its own investigation into the alleged connections with the bookie which were raised by Indian police on West Indies' tour of India in February 2007.
After receiving a report from its Anti-corruption & Security Unit, the ICC said that the report contained allegations that Samuels indulged in "inappropriate activity" and behaved in a manner that was "prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket".
Phone conversations between Samuels and an alleged Indian bookie were taped by the Nagpur police on the eve of the One-day International between India and West Indies on January 21, 2007.
Samuels denied any wrongdoing and the WICB backed him pending its investigation.
Samuels is expected to defend himself in front of the WICB Code of Ethics & Disciplinary Committee chaired by Justice Adrian Saunders.
The Committee also includes Professor Aubrey Bishop, Dr Lloyd Barnett, and player-representatives Richie Richardson and Courtney Walsh.
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Ireland Stoked With Ravi Signing
Ireland coach Phil Simmons has spoken of his delight at finally securing an overseas player for the remainder of Ireland's Friends Provident fixtures.
West Indies pace bowler Ravi Rampaul is the player concerned, and he will go straight into action for Sunday's game against Leicestershire and the clash with Northamptonshire the following day.
The Leicestershire clash will see Simmons return to Grace Road, a ground which has happy memories for him.
In 1996 Simmons played the starring role as he guided Leicestershire to the County Championship title.
In addition to scoring 1,244 runs that season, he also claimed 56 wickets and took 35 catches to help the county claim the title.
His all-round performance saw Simmons win the accolade of Wisden Cricketer of the Year the following year.
Of the capture of Trinidadian Rampaul, Simmons said: "He's played 30 times for the West Indies in one-day internationals, and you don't do that unless you can play a bit.
"He's a very useful bowler, with plenty of pace and movement. He has a passion for the game, and loves to play.
"He's also a competitive type of player, which I like. He'll bring a lot to the dressing room."
The only change to the squad is that Rampaul replaces Andre Botha, who has been left out of the squad because of injury.
Simmons explained: "Andre had tests on Monday, and a scan yesterday. He has had elbow and ankle injuries for some time now.
"In Bangladesh he was able to bowl, but he couldn't do that on Sunday against Nottinghamshire."
"It's better for him and Ireland to get this sorted now.
"We have some huge tournaments over the next year, and our priority is to get him right for not just the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers in August, but the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in UAE next April.
"He's played a lot of cricket over the past 16 months, and the rest will do him a power of good."
Monday's match will see Ireland come up against fellow countryman Niall O'Brien.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is no stranger to facing Ireland, having been part of the Kent side which defeated Ireland two years ago.
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Ambrose: West Indies team improving
Legendary West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose said he has seen some improvements by the West Indies during the recent Test and One-Day International home series against Sri Lanka in the Caribbean.
Sri Lanka won the first Test by 121 runs in Guyana and the West Indies bounced back to win the second Test by six wickets to square the two-match series 1-1.
The regional side also won the ensuing three-match One-Day International series 2-0 with the final game being washed out in St. Lucia.
Although reluctant to make a final verdict after one series, Ambrose, who played 98 Tests for the regional side between 1988 and 2000, admitted the team did show some improvement and appear to be gelling nicely under new skipper Chris Gayle.
"I am one of those guys who don't like to really say things after just one series.
"What I will, however, say is that I have seen some improvements. You can see that they are playing together as a team, which is very important," Ambrose said.
"I think they still need to be a little bit more consistent so we have to see what happens when Australia comes.
"Australia is the best team in the world and so it will be a different challenge, but I must say that against Sri Lanka they seemed to be together and they are playing as a team."
The West Indies will be facing world champions Australia in another three-Test and five One-Day International (ODI) home series in the Caribbean next month.
Australia will begin their tour of the Caribbean on 12 May with the first Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica from 22 to 26 May.
Both sides will clash in the second Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua from 30 May to 3 June and Barbados will host the third Test from 12-16 June at the Kensington Oval.
Ambrose, who claimed 405 Test wickets during his career, said he is optimistic the West Indies will at least be competitive against the Australians.
The tall, Antiguan fast bowler said he will not be shocked if the West Indies spring a few surprises against the Australians.
"Of course, I believe they will be competitive against Australia.
"We all know that it will not be an easy series, but if our guys go out there and compete that is all we are asking for.
"We want them to compete to the best of their abilities," Ambrose said.
"I believe that there might just be a few surprises by the West Indies against Australia. Just don't take anything for granted."
The West Indies and Australia will play a Twenty20 game in Barbados on 20 June before moving on to Arnos Vale in St. Vincent for the first One-Day International on 24 June.
The two sides will also clash in ODIs at the National Stadium in Grenada on 27 and 29 June and will complete the series with the last two one-day matches at Warner Park in St. Kitts on 4 and 6 July.
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Marlon Samuels to know his fate next month
A timely return to form may have helped West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels end the Sri Lanka tour on a good note, but there is little certainty about his future ahead of Australia's visit to the West Indies.
The Jamaican right hander's career still hangs in the balance, depending not on the form he displayed in the recent Test and One Day International series against the Sri Lankans - 29 runs at an average of 7.25 in the two Test matches - but on the outcome of the West Indies Cricket Board's disciplinary committee hearing into misconduct charges, scheduled for early May.
Towards the end of last year, the ICC (International Cricket Council) requested that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) investigate Samuels for his alleged role in match fixing, involving suspected Indian bookmaker Mukesh Kochchar, in the first ODI against India in Nagpur on January 21, 2007.
The regional Board subsequently investigated the issue, and deemed there was enough evidence to charge the player with misconduct, in January of this year.
The matter was since referred to the WICB's code of ethics and disciplinary committee, chaired by former acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Justice Adrian Saunders.
The rest of the committee comprises Professor Aubrey Bishop, Dr Lloyd Barnett, and two player representatives, former West Indies greats Courtney Walsh and Richie Richardson.
WICB corporate services manager, Tony Deyal told the Express yesterday that the matter is still in the hands of the disciplinary committee.
"When the committee has a decision, it will be given to the Board, and the Board will have to enforce it," Deyal said yesterday.
If the ICC are not satisfied with the decision handed down by the disciplinary committee, they have "reserved the right that they can re-open (the case)", according to Deyal.
Compounding his woes, Samuels was also in January suspended from bowling in international cricket by the ICC. Following the recent series away to South Africa, analysis of his bowling action revealed his faster ball, as well as his off-break delivery exceeded the permitted tolerance level of 15 degrees.
Samuels has since had only one decent score, a well-played, unbeaten 54 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Trinidad on Saturday, with a next highest score of 11 across the series.
(c) Trinidad Express
CRICKET: West Indies Fined
CaribWorldNews, PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Thurs. April 10, 2008: The West Indies cricket squad was yesterday fined for failure to meet the minimum rate of overs in the second test defeat of Sri Lanka.
The fine comes as the team gears up for their first One Day International match-up against Sri Lanka again in Trinidad today. Match referee Chris Broad ruled West Indies bowled six overs short, breaching the code of conduct.
Skipper Chris Gayle was fined 70 percent of his match fee for the offence while each team members was slapped with a 35 percent fine. Broad said Gayle failed to ensure the team met the minimum over-rate.
West Indies won the second test by six wickets on Sunday to level the two-test series.
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Jayawardene says Sri Lanka ready to dull West Indies backlash
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is prepared for a West Indies backlash and conditions more suited to the home team in the second and final cricket test starting on Thursday.
"I'm sure they are hurt and I'm sure they'll come back really strong and we need to be prepared for that," Jayawardene said on Wednesday.
"The conditions have definitely changed from Guyana to here. They have been asking for a quicker wicket. Let's see how they go with that."
Jayawardene said he was confident his team could mirror the match-winning performance that sealed a 121-run victory in the opening test in Guyana a week ago, Sri Lanka's first in three tours to the Caribbean. Sri Lanka has a chance now to win its first series in the region.
"We settled into those conditions and played better cricket than them and it's a very good challenge to do the same here," he said.
"We need to make sure that we are playing at the top of our game, which is the important thing. If we can concentrate on that, we can keep putting pressure on the West Indies guys because we know they are playing at home, they have everything to lose and we have everything to gain."
West Indies captain Chris Gayle said his team was desperate to bounce back.
"We are hurt to lose in that manner. We should have at least come out with a draw there," Gayle said. "Having said that, it's already done and it's just up to us to pick ourselves up now, as individuals as well, so that hopefully we can come back as a team strongly."
Jayawardene said Gayle's demotion from opener to No. 6 in the second innings in Guyana spurred Sri Lanka, despite a half century from Gayle and a topscore of 83 from stand-in opener Dwayne Bravo.
"It showed that they were going in a bit of a negative patch. It played into our hands," he said.
Gayle was quick to rebuff that opinion and stressed it was not a matter of avoiding his duty.
"Chris Gayle never shirked from no one or no responsibility. Never," he said. "Whatever the team requires, I will do it."
Gayle said he expected the same from his players in the second test.
"We're going to play harder because a lot of people have created history against the West Indies but we'll try to stop that," Gayle said.
Gayle was encouraged by the look of the pitch and hinted that pacer Fidel Edwards come into the side for injured batsman Ryan Hinds.
"The wicket looks like it has a bit more grass on it," he said. "I think we're looking at a bit more extra bowling there with a pitch a bit more helpful for us."
Sri Lanka is likely to make two changes from the winning 11 from Guyana. Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who injured his hamstring during the first test, is certain to miss out. Right-hander Chamara Silva replaces Jayawardene in the team with Kumar Sangakkara taking up the gloves.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who went wicketless in Guyana, should miss out at the expense of a third seamer with Ishara Amerasinghe in line for a test debut.
Teams:
West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Amit Jaggernauth, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.
Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Rangana Herath, Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Ishara Amerasinghe, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara.
Umpires: Simon Taufel, Australia, and Billy Bowden, New Zealand.
Match referee: Chris Broad, England.
Copyright (c) 2008 the International Herald Tribune
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