Windies kept on a tight leash by S.Africa
By Fazeer Mohammed
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) – West Indies struggled to establish an impregnable position, as South Africa’s fast bowling hostility prevailed over their defiant batting on the opening day of the second Test here.

West Indies reached 240 for eight in their first innings when stumps were drawn, after they chose to bat under overcast skies on a hard, true at Sahara Park Newlands pitch yesterday.

Although Shivnarine Chanderpaul spent nearly five hours over an unbeaten 64 not out and shared a hundred-run, fourth-wicket century partnership with Marlon Samuels for the second time in as many Tests, the visitors failed to dominate as Dale Steyn made amends for his below par performances in Port Elizabeth.

After West Indies opener Daren Ganga became an early victim, Steyn returned for a later spell with the second new ball and snared the scalps of Denesh Ramdin, Rawl Lewis, and Jerome Taylor to end the day with four wickets for 60 runs from 20 overs.

A surprisingly heavy and patchy-looking outfield that resulted in full-blooded strokes to the boundary slowing up well before reaching the ropes, probably robbed the Caribbean side of another 50 runs.

But with the hosts facing the same predicament when they start their reply, the West Indian fast bowlers could make life very difficult for the Proteas again if they repeat the hostility and discipline that contributed to their convincing victory at Sahara Oval St George’s.

Untidy and seemingly overconfident when they conceded 408 runs in the first innings a week earlier, the South Africans returned to the tactics that have contributed to four successive series victories.

“They came out with a plan,” said Samuels after the day’s play. “It was obvious they were sticking to bowling outside the off-stump throughout.

“The outfield didn’t help as well. It’s the heaviest I’ve ever seen it for a match at this level. The pitch was also a bit of a challenge with a tennis ball-type bounce.”

Samuels, the Man-of-the-Match in the first Test, restrained himself yet again for almost 3-1/2 hours in helping Chanderpaul to lift the innings from the discomfort of 77 for three with a 106-run stand.

Steyn had removed Daren Ganga for three to a catch to ’keeper Mark Boucher to immediately reverse the trend of seven days earlier, and even though Gayle smashed two huge sixes off Makhaya Ntini and Runako Morton attempted to match his captain’s aggressive strokeplay, two wickets just before lunch tilted the balance back South Africa’s way.

Going for one big drive too many, Morton, on 23, found Ntini unerringly at deep mid-off in Jacques Kallis’ first over.

Gayle, who was increasingly struggling with what appeared to be a “re-aggravation” of his lingering hamstring injury, fell to Andre Nel for 46 as he lunged at a delivery without any foot movement and Neil McKenzie celebrated his first Test after four years in the wilderness with a diving catch to his right at gully.

Speaking after the day’s play about his gratitude to be back in the Test arena, McKenzie, who replaced Herschelle Gibbs, said he was prepared to bat wherever his captain wanted him to.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” he admitted frankly. “I’ll go in wherever it’s necessary. We’re hoping to bat only once here.”

Resuming after lunch, Samuels and Chanderpaul were watchful to the point of near strokelessness in the afternoon period, when they added 77 in a turgid two hours without appearing in any real difficulty on an increasingly placid surface.

But it was the irrepressible Ntini, who struck two vital blows after tea in successive overs to wrest the initiative from the West Indies.

Samuels stroked Steyn for two boundaries to reach his second half-century of the series, but the extra pace of Ntini saw him pushing late at a full-length delivery to be caught at the wicket.

Dwayne Bravo’s poor series with the bat continued when he perished in Ntini’s next over, again playing to the on-side and being well held low at second slip by Kallis before he had scored.

From the relative comfort of 183 for three, the visitors were wobbling at 185 for five, when Denesh Ramdin, also desperately short of runs at the start of the series, partnered Chanderpaul for over an hour in adding 35 runs for the sixth wicket.

South African captain Graeme Smith’s eagerness to get to the second new ball was justified as Steyn wreaked havoc almost immediately.

Ramdin played across a swinging full-length delivery to be plumb lbw for 21, and Rawl Lewis’ first innings in Test cricket after almost two years ended after just one delivery as he was comprehensively bowled, also attempting to play to leg.

The Grenadian leg-spinning all-rounder was drafted into the final 11 at the expense of the unlucky Darren Sammy on the expectation that the straw-coloured pitch would offer assistance to the slow bowlers later in the match.

Steyn then disposed of Jerome Taylor as the tail-ender could not get out of the way of a short-pitched delivery and offered a simple catch to the bowler, leaving Daren Powell to hang on with Chanderpaul until stumps were drawn.

Amid the wreckage at the other end, Chanderpaul soldiered on resolutely to a 61st Test half-century.

He however, will need to be more assertive on the second morning if the West Indies are to push closer to the 300-run mark which could be competitive depending on how well the West Indies attack can utilise the conditions.

WEST INDIES 1st innings
C. Gayle c McKenzie b Nel 46

D. Ganga c wkpr Boucher b Steyn 3

R. Morton c Ntini b Kallis 23

M. Samuels c wkpr Boucher b Ntini 51

S. Chanderpaul not out 64

D. Bravo c Kallis b Ntini 0

D. Ramdin lbw b Steyn 21

R. Lewis b Steyn 0

J. Taylor c and b Steyn 8

D. Powell not out 0

Extras: (b-5, lb-10, w-1, nb-8) 24

Total: (for eight wkts) 240

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-71, 3-77, 4-183, 5-185, 6-220, 7-220, 8-237.

Bowling: Steyn 20-5-60-4 (nb-8), Ntini 21-5-63-2, Nel 20-5-58-1 (w-1), Kallis 9-1-11-1, Harris 19-5-33-0.

Windies kept on a tight leash by S.Africa

Alpha United slice ‘bread-boys’ Topp XX to clinch first K&S title
By Joe Chapman

Alpha goalkeeper Sean Johnson is reportedly to receive a $100 000 incentive for not conceding a goal during the tournament, said coach Wayne Dover.

The 2007/8 final climaxed the 18th edition of the all-local Christmas tournament where last year’s runners-up and five-time champions, Bakewell Topp XX, had to again settle for second place.

The final clash was the lone game of the night since the ground was in a sodden state. Originally the third place playoff between Pele and Winners Connection was also scheduled for the night but that game was postponed.

From the outset Georgetown’s Alpha United (with a large backing) were aggressive and by the third minute of the game they had forced two corners against the home team Topp XX.

Two minutes later Abrams proved his magical footwork could leave his opponents bewildered. From a one-two with schemer Shawn Bishop, Abrams was fed the ball and placed a magnificent shot away from the Topp XX custodian Michael Marks, who failed to save as he was left planted by the snapshot.

Ten minutes later home boy Javin Crawford, the left defence had worked his way down the right flank before passing the ball to captain Kayode McKinnon whose poor shot denied his team the equaliser. Soon after striker Collie Hercules’ header was off mark from close range after McKinnon’s cross was directed in the box, once again restricting Topp XX from levelling the scores.

The visitors, on the other hand, lost Dwight Peters who pulled up in the 23rd minute, and was replaced by Quincy Madramootoo.

Topp XX continued their counter-attack, moving the ball from midfield up to the striking line but were denied a shot as good defence forced the turnover.

Abrams had continued his assault with daring runs, at times past the Topp XX defence, but the state of the ground cancelled a few of them.

He should have gotten his second goal of the game when he sent a diagonal shot which beat the sprawling defence of Topp XX and went past custodian Michael Marks to knock the far post before going out dangerously.

Topp XX exchanged starting forward Kevin Beaton with substitute Kurt Murphy, in the second half, hoping to add punch to the forward line, but the Alpha United side stood tall to the task. Their defence men gathered against the Topp XX side, led by senior national Golden Jaguars’ Howard Lowe and young Kelvin Smith in the middle back, Gordon Henry and Shermon Morris on the right and left back positions respectively, with Johnson holding his unblemished record in goal.

Abrams continued his runs, this time in the 63rd minute he went down the right flank, but before reaching the edge of the 18-yard box, he ‘chucked’ the ball and with a defender coming, instead of taking on the opposing player, he shot the ball off the mark.

Two minutes later Romain Haynes was called into play as Shevon Seaforth, who strangely was having a poor game, was taken off.

Alpha then decided to test Marks, who was standing in for the absent Richard Reynolds in Topp XX’s goal, and on two occasions he had to get second chance opportunities to hold the ball.

Alpha United though stood out in defensive mode and made sure of at least one goal-scoring chance made good by one of the tournament’s leading goalscorers, when it mattered most.

Senior team can emulate junior side - GCB boss
By Ravendra Madholall
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh is hoping that the senior squad which left Guyana yesterday for the away games, a part of the 2008 Carib Beer regional four-day competition, can emulate their junior counterparts.

He expressed a lot of confidence in the side which open their campaign against home team Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.

At the Under-19 level, Guyana have done well, winning Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) regional tournament since 2006.

It is this momentum that the cricket boss is hoping will spill over to the seniors, who have not won the regional title since 2002 despite winning six titles since the inauguration of the four-day competition in 1966.

“They have not done well over the past few years at the senior level despite having some senior players (with senior West Indies experience) in the squad but with this young side I am highly confident that they are capable of bringing back something this year,” Singh opined.

Two of the victorious Under-19 players, Gajanand Singh and Veerasammy Permaul, are in the squad.

After the Queen’s Park Oval match in Trinidad and Tobago, the Guyanese will head off to Barbados and Jamaica before a break for the Allen Stanford regional 20/20 knockout cricket competition which is set to commence on January 25.

World Cup, Lara make headlines
By Kevin Pile
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Cricket World Cup opened a new chapter in sports for the Caribbean in 2007 but the glittering fairytale that was Brian Lara’s career drew to a close as the legend exited the world stage he had long dominated.

Hosted across nine nations and costing regional governments hundreds of millions of United States dollars, the tournament ended in sore disappointment for West Indies and their fans and led to Lara’s sudden retirement.

The World Cup, staged from March 13 to April 28, unveiled history as the cricket-mad region hosted international cricket’s showpiece for the first time ever, and it virtually overshadowed several other accomplishments of which the Caribbean could boast.

Jamaican Asafa Powell rebounded from the huge disappointment of a third place finish at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, to set a new world record time of 9.74 seconds in the 100 metres at the IAAF Rieti Grand Prix in Italy in September while Haiti crowned themselves as champions of the Digicel Caribbean Cup, the region’s premier football competition.

All this paled in comparison to the Cricket World Cup. Dubbed by organisers before the start as the “best World Cup ever”, the tournament possessed the finest elements of a classic melodrama – thrill, disappointment, surprise and unfortunately, tragedy.

Already beset by controversy over exorbitant ticket prices and austere security restrictions which barred fans from bringing musical instruments into venues, the tournament was hit by low attendances, the early exit of two major teams and the death of one of their coaches.

March 17 emerged as a dark day for cricketing giants, Pakistan and India. Installed among the pre-tournament favourites, Pakistan crumbled to ICC Associates Ireland by three wickets at Sabina Park in Group D while in Group C in Trinidad & Tobago, India spectacularly crashed to Bangladesh by five wickets at Queen’s Park Oval.

With these losses, both teams were tumbled out of the tournament prematurely.

A day later, an even darker shadow was cast over the Cricket World Cup when Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found dead at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. When Jamaican police ruled Woolmer’s death as murder, the tournament was teetering on the brink of collapse and even though organisers managed to salvage it, it continued under a heavy cloud.

West Indies, seeking to claim the prestigious tournament for the first time since their back-to-back wins in 1975 and 1979, had their dreams of a win on home soil shattered with another of what has become their trademark performance.

Though they progressed almost effortlessly from the group stage with comfortable wins over Pakistan, Zimbabwe and minnows Ireland, they subsequently lost their first four matches of the Super Eight second round to eliminate any chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Their only win during this stage came against Bangladesh and with a loss to England in their final match. West Indies finished the tournament sixth. That they could only place higher than Bangladesh and surprise team Ireland spoke volumes of the regional side’s lowly standing in world cricket.

The team’s World Cup expedition was mired in rumours of internal wrangling and disunity among players. Lara’s sudden announcement that he would retire after the final match against England, added further fuel to the raging fires of speculation.

A new-look Kensington Oval, refurbished at the cost of US$69 million, was filled to capacity on April 21 as regional and international fans poured into the facility to capture their last glimpse of Lara’s mercurial talent and maybe witness a West Indies win.

Neither materialised. Lara scored 18 before he was run-out in West Indies’ total of 300 and England then got home with a wicket and a ball to spare, to win a tantalising encounter.

West Indies’ wretched campaign also signalled the end of the line for the team’s under-fire Australian coach Bennett King as he also resigned.

There was no disappointment for two-time defending World Champions Australia who played flawless cricket throughout the tournament to capture an unprecedented third World Cup.

In the final at Kensington Oval, they beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs in a fractious affair ruined by rain and confusion by match officials over playing conditions. The farcical ending to the tournament was perhaps a justifiable, if not ideal way, to conclude the onerous, seven-week campaign.

West Indies licked their wounds, regrouped and took aim at England during the summer but could find no success there either as they were comprehensively whipped 3-0 under the new leadership of Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan who had replaced Lara.

The tourists managed to draw the high-scoring first Test at Lord’s in May which was marred by rain but were then hammered in the remaining three matches of the series, as they capitulated meekly.

West Indies suffered a huge blow at the start of the second Test at Headingley when Sarwan, also their best batsman, injured his shoulder while fielding during the England first innings and could take no further part in the match or the series.

Totals of 146 and 141 followed in reply to England’s mammoth 570 for seven declared and West Indies lost by an innings and 283 runs.

It was much of the same at Old Trafford where the regional side also succumbed to a 60-run defeat and the fourth Test at Riverside followed a similar script with a seven-wicket loss.

West Indies’ gloom was brightened only by Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s matchless form. The indomitable Guyanese scored heavily to compile 446 runs at an average of 148 with two centuries, and assumed the run-scoring mantle laid down by Lara’s absence.

In the process, he passed 7 000 runs in Tests, joining the prestigious club of great West Indies cricketers that included Brian Lara, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd.

In December during the five-match ODI series in Zimbabwe, Chanderpaul also eclipsed 7 000 runs in One-Day Internationals, becoming only the third West Indies batsman to achieve the feat, after Lara and legendary opener Desmond Haynes.

With England scenting a clean sweep of the summer’s fixtures, West Indies rebounded in the Twenty20 Internationals and One-Day Internationals to save face.

They shared the Twenty20 series at the Oval 1-1 and then bounced back from a 79-run loss in the opening ODI at Lord’s, to win the next two to capture the series, under stand-in captain Chris Gayle.

It was a crowning moment for the Jamaican Gayle who had earlier been threatened with censure by the West Indies Cricket Board for stinging criticism over aspects of the tour’s organisation by the board.

In September, the West Indies’ disappointing run continued at the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa where the regional team exited in the first round.

Hammered by hosts South Africa by eight wickets in the opening match in Johannesburg despite a whirlwind century by Gayle, West Indies slumped to another loss in their second match against Bangladesh to bow meekly out of the tournament.

It was India’s turn to prove their mettle in this new, innovative version of the game. Under the guidance of new captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, they beat Pakistan by five runs in a dramatic final in Johannesburg to take top honours.

Administratively, the WICB continued its musical chairs. In January, Dr Roland Toppin, the man identified to become the WICB’s CEO said he was no longer available to take up the position.

In February, the WICB announced that former banker Bruce Aanensen would take up the vacant post from April but the Trinidadian’s tenure was short-lived.

After several bruising battles with West Indies Players Association president Dinanath Ramnarine over players’ contracts, Aanensen announced his resignation in August.

His move followed Julian Hunte’s appointment as WICB president in July, the St Lucian replacing Ken Gordon in the top post in regional cricket. He was elected unopposed.

Controversy also followed Marlon Samuels with Indian police accusing the Jamaican batsman of sharing match information with a bookie during the team’s four-match series in India earlier in January.

The International Cricket Council mandated its Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the matter and subsequently recommended to the WICB that they carry out an investigation of their own.

In contrast, there was glory for former Barbados and West Indies all-rounder Ottis Gibson who rolled back the years to emerge as the leading bowler in the English County championships.

Representing Durham, the 38-year-old Gibson grabbed 80 wickets in the four-day competition and scored 723 runs across all competitions, to emerge with the inaugural Professional Cricketers Association Most Valuable Player award.

He was subsequently appointed England’s temporary bowling coach for their November tour of Sri Lanka, a post that was subsequently made permanent.

Gibson’s appointment meant a loss for the WICB to whom he had applied for the vacant post of West Indies head coach. Australian John Dyson, a former Test opener, was then entrusted with the responsibilities of transforming the fortunes of the embattled regional side.

At the regional level, Barbados captured the Carib Beer Cup in January after playing unbeaten throughout the competition. Led by inspirational captain Ryan Hinds, the tournament’s top all-rounder, Barbados won four of their five matches to emerge as champions.

However, their quest to complete the double of winning the Carib Beer Challenge Trophy was foiled as Trinidad & Tobago beat them by 49 runs in the final at Guaracara Park.

The tournament brought to the fore the explosive batting of teenager Kieron Pollard who plundered 390 runs in his first year at regional first class level.

His 126 in T&T’s opening round match against Barbados came off 150 balls and included 11 fours and seven sixes. While that innings served notice, his 117 against the Leeward Islands later in the tournament confirmed the player’s promise.

Despite his lack of international experience, Pollard forced himself into the 15-man World Cup squad.

In October, Jamaica’s long wait for regional limited-overs glory was ended when they captured the KFC Cup.

Without a title since 1999, the Jamaicans beat defending champions Trinidad & Tobago by 28 runs in the day/night final at the 3W’s Oval at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

Earlier in August, Guyana continued their impressive performance in the West Indies Under-19 tournament when they won the three-day title in St Kitts.

Their hopes of doing the double were dashed by Jamaica, however, who produced a superb performance in the one-day final to secure that title.

In October, the long awaited Patterson Report was released, detailing its many recommendations to transform the structure of West Indies cricket.

Commissioned by the WICB and prepared by former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson, along with Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr Ian McDonald, the 138-page document recommended a name change for the WICB and a shake-up in the structure of the board.

According to the report, the WICB should be renamed Cricket West Indies, comprising a Cricket West Indies Council and a Cricket West Indies Board.

In athletics, Powell continued to be the talk of the town for more than one reason. Without a major medal to his credit, he entered the World Championships in Osaka in August as a favourite to take the 100 metres.

But in the final, he was upset by American Tyson Gay who clocked 9.85 seconds to take the gold while Bahamian Derrick Atkins finished with silver in 9.91 seconds. Gay completed a clean sweep of the sprints by winning the 200 metres.

It left Powell disappointingly with bronze and yet another failure at a major championships following the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The next month in Italy, he reminded the world of his sublime talent by carving out a new world record in the event. The time earned him the IAAF Performance-of-the-Year Award in November.

His flop characterised the Caribbean men’s performance at the championships as only Bahamian Donald Thomas was good enough to capture gold when he captured the high jump with a leap of 2.35 metres.

Jamaican Usain Bolt took silver in the 200 metres and shared in another silver performance in the 4x100 metres while Bahamas were also runners-up in the 4x400 metres.

Jamaican Veronica Campbell gave the region reason to celebrate when she captured gold in a thrilling finish to the women’s 100 metres.

In one of the closest 100 metres races in recent history – it took the judges several minutes to determine the winner – Campbell edged out American Lauryn Williams in a time of 11:01 seconds with Carmelita Jeter of the United States third.

It was Campbell’s first world sprint title and it followed her 200 metres Olympic title in Athens three years ago.

Campbell was forced into second in the 200 metres behind American Allyson Felix and picked up her third medal at the games when Jamaica copped silver in the 4x100 metres relay.

In July, the Caribbean shone at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic with powerhouses Jamaica giving a strong account of themselves.

Dexter Lee won the Boys 100 metres and was followed home by compatriot Nickel Ashmeade for the silver while Ramone McKenzie took the 200 metres gold with Ashmeade crossing the line to take bronze.

Barbadian Shane Brathwaite also stood out at the youth games when he snared the Octathlon by tallying 6261 points. In the process, the 17-year-old created history by becoming his country’s first World Youth champion and their first-ever athletics gold medal winner in a global competition at any level.

There was no such success for the region’s girls as the Jamaican trio of Latoya McDermott (400 metres), Shermaine Williams (100 m hurdles) and Misha-Gaye DaCosta (high jump) landed silver while Bahamian Nivea Smith landed bronze in the 200 metres.

In July, the Pan-American Games in Brazil also brought success as Antiguan sprinter Brendan Christian delivered his country’s two medals by winning the 200 metres and taking bronze in the 100 metres won by the Netherlands Antilles’ Churandy Martina.

Bahamian Chris Brown joined the fun with gold in the 400 metres while Dominican Chris Lloyd was good enough to claim bronze in the same event.

Jamaican Maurice Smith won the decathlon event and Bahamas powered their way into winners’ row when they took the Men’s 4x400 metres relay.

Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London sustained the success for the Caribbean with a win in the women’s and the country’s 4x100 metres relay team followed that up with another gold.

There was gloom for American Marion Jones, the wife of Barbadian Olympic medallist Obadele Thompson, as she admitted to a New York court in October that she had taken performance enhancing drugs and subsequently lied to a federal inquiry.

The 31-year-old Jones told a court hearing she had used the steroid known as ‘the clear’ in the buildup to the 2000 Sydney Olympics where she won five medals but blamed her Jamaica-born coach Trevor Graham.

Jones, who announced her retirement following her admission, was subsequently stripped by the IAAF of her medals and results dating back to September 2000 and asked to return the prize money earned.

Football also grabbed the headlines with Haiti elevating themselves to the position of Caribbean champions. In the final of the Digicel Caribbean Cup, they upset favourites Trinidad & Tobago in the final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the twin-island republic.

Alexandre Boucicat and Fucien Brunel scored on either side of halftime to set up Haiti’s victory while the hosts responded late in the encounter.

The cream of T&T’s national players remained locked in a dispute with the local federation over bonus monies owed them from their appearance at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

A ban was imposed on the players in question, leading to a weakened squad for the Gold Cup contested in the United States in June where T&T failed to win a single match.

Also in June, the players took the federation to court over the matter. Local football authorities subsequently lifted their ban and agreed to take the matter to the court of arbitration in London.

In November, there was a changing of the guard in Jamaica’s football as Captain Horace Burrell, who oversaw Jamaica’s historic outing at the 1998 World Cup in France, took over the reins of power from the embattled Crenston Boxhill.

The change came against the backdrop of the Reggae Boyz’ lowest ever position in the 14-year history of the FIFA rankings, as they slipped to 103rd in October with Cuba, Haiti, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados all ranked higher.

Changes came fast and furious within days of Burrell’s appointment. Technical director Bora Milutinovic was fired after completing just one year of his four-year contract and was replaced by Rene Simoes, the Brazilian who had guided the Reggae Boyz to the World Cup finals eight years earlier.

Burrell also announced two internationals against El Salvador and Guatemala for November at the National Stadium in Kingston, matches that Jamaica won 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.

The Caribbean shone internationally on the horseracing circuit as Barbadian Patrick Husbands captured the jockeys’ title in December at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada and Jamaican apprentice Jermaine Bridgmohan won at the Tropical at Calder meet in Florida in January.

For Husbands, it was his fourth jockeys’ title at Woodbine, adding to his triumphs in 1999, 2000 and 2002. In a season when his mounts collected earnings of CAN$9.17 million, Husbands rode a whopping 21 stakes winners – the most for the season – and landed the Triple Tiara (Fillies Triple Crown) with Sealy Hill, capturing the Bison City Stakes, the Wonder Where Stakes, and the CAN$500 000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks.

The performance was good enough to hand him his fifth Sovereign Award, Canada highest horseracing honour.

In golf, Trinidad & Tobago’s Stephen Ames reminded the world he merited his place on the PGA Tour with a win at the US$4.6 million Children’s Miracle Network Classic in November.

After a disappointing campaign where he missed the cut four times, including at the PLAYERS Championship where he was defending champion, Ames rounded off his season in fine style with the one-shot win in Florida.

After a downward slide in the rankings for most of the year, he finished the year in a healthy 33rd place and 31st in the money rankings with earnings of US$2 103 426.

It was also a year of sorrow for the Caribbean sporting fraternity, as several stalwarts passed away.

Cricket suffered two major losses in October as outstanding cricket administrators, Barbadian Stephen Alleyne and Trinidadian Richard De Souza, passed away.

Alleyne, the CEO of World Cup Barbados and a former Barbados Cricket Association president, died suddenly at his home in Barbados at age 47 while De Souza, a former WICB director, succumbed to cancer at age 59.

In November, Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Herb McKenley died in his homeland at age 85.

WICB CEO hails sponsors and Carib Beer Series
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Dr Donald Peters, Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), yesterday heaped praises on Carib Brewery Limited on its continued sponsorship of the Carib Beer Regional Series, which starts its 2008 season this weekend.

He was speaking at the official launch of the regional four-day championship at the Banquet Hall, Queen’s Park Oval in the city.

“On behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board, I wish to express our sincerest thanks to Carib Brewery Limited for the sponsorship of the Carib Beer Cricket Series 2008,” Dr Peters said.

Dr Peters said cricket – over the past 60 years – has emerged and become the national sport of the region and that managing the game in the 21st century has become an “expensive and complex activity of international business”.

Funding for regional cricket, Dr Peters said, has become arduous for the WICB, and the board has benefited from securing valuable sponsorship.

“In a region of only six million people, the ability to fund international cricket is becoming increasingly difficult for the West Indies Cricket Board. Over recent years, however, we have come to depend on the corporate citizens of the region to partner with the WICB in order to produce the kind of cricket that our population is so passionate about,” Dr Peters stated.

He said the Carib Series is one of the region’s more important tournaments, used to showcase new talent, provide playing opportunities for top players and to bring excitement and entertainment to the fans.

“At the WICB, we want to continue to foster partnerships for what I refer to as Corporate West Indies, so as to get the funding support we need to develop our players and to become world class cricketers and part of a winning tradition,” Dr Peters added.

“Our West Indies team have demonstrated by their recent performance in South Africa that they are developing into a formidable team and we need Carib Brewery Limited to continue to provide the cricket environment where player performances can be enhanced,” Dr Peters said.

Also speaking at the launch was Commercial Manager of the WICB Paul Skinner, who stated that this year’s tournament, the sixth in the current series will feature seven teams, the six regional teams and the Combined Campuses and Colleges.

“This is the first time that the Combined Campuses and Colleges will be participating in the tournament, and this is one of the changes for this year.

With the addition of the seventh team, the tournament will have seven rounds of four-day games, with each round consisting of three games. Therefore in any round, six teams will be action, with the seventh team having a bye,” Skinner explained.

He said that the first round of matches will commence tomorrow and the first three rounds will take place during consecutive weekends.

Skinner said that the tournament then breaks -- to allow teams to compete in the regional Stanford 20/20 competition -- and resumes on February 29, immediately after the conclusion of the Stanford competition.

He added that teams will earn points for their results in the league phase, and the winner of the four-day competition will receive the Carib Beer Cup.

The top two teams on points after the league phase will play for the Carib Beer Challenge Trophy, which will be played in a five-day format from April 24 to 28.

The league winners will receive US$12 500, while the Carib Beer Challenge champions will collect US$5 000.

Skinner stated that there will also be ‘man-of-the-match’ prizes for all the games and individual awards for the best wicketkeeper, batsman, bowler, all-rounder, fielder and most promising fast bowler in the tournament.

In the opening round of matches starting tomorrow, Jamaica will be at home to the Leeward Islands at Sabina Park, the Windward Islands tackle Barbados at Arnos Vale in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago play visiting Guyana at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Super Symonds’ century puts Aussies in control
By Julian Linden
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Andrew Symonds smashed a breathtaking century in a record partnership with Brad Hogg to put Australia in control of the second Test against India yesterday.

The powerful all-rounder demolished India's bowling attack with an unbeaten 137 after Hogg made a vital 79 to steer Australia out of danger to 376 for seven at stumps on the first day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India appeared to have the Australians in trouble when Rudra Pratap Singh (4-108) and Harbhajan Singh (2-88) ripped through the top-order in the first half of the day but Symonds and Hogg put the home team back in control with a brilliant display of big-hitting.

The pair came together after lunch with Australia reeling at 134-6 but proceeded to pile on 173 runs in better than even time, setting a new record for the highest seventh-wicket partnership at Sydney.

Symonds, 32, was especially brutal against the Indian bowlers, smacking 17 boundaries and two massive sixes as he raced to his second Test hundred, while Hogg clubbed 10 fours to post his highest Test score.

Hogg missed his chance for a maiden Test century when he was caught by Rahul Dravid at slip off Indian skipper Anil Kumble in the final session, leaving Brett Lee (31 not out) to share an unbroken stand of 69 with Symonds as Australia pressed ahead with their bid to equal their world record of 16 consecutive Test wins.

Symonds was twice given the benefit of the doubt to loud appeals from the Indians before he had reached 50 but hardly played another false shot as the tourists failed to capitalise on their great start.

EARLY WICKETS
RP Singh captured four early wickets with his deceptive left-arm seamers while Harbhajan bagged two with his wily off-spin and Sachin Tendulkar showed a safe pair of hands by holding three sharp catches at first slip.

RP Singh dismissed openers Phil Jaques for a duck and Matthew Hayden for 13 in the first hour of play to reduce Australia to 27-2 after they had won toss and elected to bat on a glorious day.

The 22-year-old then snared the scalps of Mike Hussey for 41 and Adam Gilchrist for seven in the middle session after Harbhajan picked up the prized wickets of Ricky Ponting for 55 and Michael Clarke for one, both lbw.

Ponting and Hussey added 92 for the third wicket but departed in the space of three balls after lunch as India captured 4-15 in five overs.

Ponting was unlucky to be given out after television replays showed he made contact with the ball before it struck his pads.

However, Symonds had better fortune when he was given not out when he appeared to edge a catch behind on 30 then given the benefit of the doubt on a close stumping chance on 48.

Symonds made the Indians pay by scoring 98 in the extended last session as Australia passed their first and second innings scores from last week's first Test in Melbourne, which they won by 337 runs.

AUSTRALIA first innings
P.Jaques c Dhoni b RP Singh 0

M.Hayden c Tendulkar b RP Singh 13

R.Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 55

M.Hussey c Tendulkar b RP Singh 41

M.Clarke lbw b Harbhajan 1

A.Symonds not out 137

A.Gilchrist c Tendulkar b RP Singh 7

B.Hogg c Dravid b Kumble 79

B.Lee not out 31

Extras: (b-2, lb-4, w-3, nb-3) 12

Total: (for seven wickets, 89 overs) 376

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-27, 3-119, 4-119, 5-121, 6-134, 7-307.

Bowling: RP Singh 21-3-108-4 (nb-1), I.Sharma 17-2-65-0 (nb-2, w-3), S.Ganguly 6-1-13-0, Harbhajan Singh 20-2-88-2, A.Kumble 20-0-82-1, Tendulkar 5-0-14-0.

South Korean champ Choi declared brain dead
SEOUL, S.Korea (Reuters) - South Korean boxer Choi Yo-sam, who lapsed into a coma last week defending his World Boxing Organisation title, has been declared brain dead and will soon go off life support, a hospital official said yesterday.

Choi, who won the December 25 intercontinental flyweight title fight on points, was sent to the canvas just seconds before the end of the 12th and final round by a hard right to the jaw from Indonesian challenger Heri Amol who landed a flurry of punches before the bell.

Choi, 33, staggered to his feet but collapsed shortly after the bout. He left the gymnasium on a stretcher and never regained consciousness. Doctors said he suffered cerebral haemorrhage.

"Choi will go off life support after midnight (1500 GMT), due to the family's wish that he not die on the same day as his father, which is January 2," said a spokesman for the Asan Medical Centre, the Seoul hospital that has been treating the boxer.

Choi's family has requested that his organs be donated, the spokesman said.

The fight brought back memories of a 1982 title bout in Las Vegas between lightweight champion Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini of the United States and Kim Duk-koo, where the South Korean challenger died from injuries sustained in the fight.

Choi Yo-sam won the WBC light-flyweight title in 1999.

VRV Singh to replace injured Zaheer Khan
MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - India fast bowler Zaheer Khan is to return home from the tour of Australia after suffering a heel injury, the Indian cricket board said yesterday.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer missed the second Test in Sydney that started yesterday due to a heel injury in his left foot.

Fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh will join the squad as a replacement.

"Zaheer will not be able to take part in the rest of the series .... He will return immediately ...," a board statement said.

Vikram Rajvir, 23, has played five Tests and was last month called into the squad for the final Test against Pakistan after injuries ruled out Zaheer and Munaf Patel.

Zaheer's injury further weakens India's pace department already hit by fitness woes. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was ruled out of the tour with injury and the board had said Munaf needs match practice before playing international cricket again.

The visitors trail the four-Test series 1-0 after losing the opening game in Melbourne by 337 runs.

Banks to lead Leewards in Carib Beer Series opener
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) - The Leeward Islands yesterday named their squad with all-rounder Omari Banks as captain for their opening Carib Beer Series match against Jamaica at Sabina Park starting tomorrow.

Banks, who has played 10 Tests and five One-Day International (ODI) matches for West Indies, will lead a 14-man squad that has four newcomers and is a blend of youth and experience.

The Anguillan takes over from West Indies 'A' team captain Sylvester Joseph, who is on a self-imposed break from first-class cricket, and Test batsman Runako Morton, currently on tour in South Africa.

Antiguan wicket-keeper/batsman Devon Thomas, who is in the West Indies squad for the ICC Youth World Cup in Malaysia next month, is among the uncapped quartet in the Leewards squad which ended a six-day training camp in St Maarten on Tuesday.

The other new faces are batsmen Montcin Hodge of Anguilla, and Orlando Peters of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Antiguan leg-spinner Anthony Martin.

Experienced left-handed openers Shane Jeffers and Austin Richards Jr, who played a lone International Twenty20 game for the Windies in England last summer, were not considered for selection because of injuries.

Veteran all-rounder Wilden Cornwall, like Richards, is recovering from recent knee surgery.

With Joseph, Morton, Richards, Jeffers and Cornwall out, Banks will shoulder the batting responsibility with Tonito Willett and Steve Liburd.

Ex-Test pacer Adam Sanford will spearhead the bowling attack with West Indies 'A' team fast medium bowler Gavin Tonge and Lionel Baker, a former Windies youth seamer.

Off-spinner Chaka Hodge and Martin, very successful in the Leewards tournament with more than 30 wickets, will compete for the main spinner's role, supported by Banks, a more than reliable off-spinner.

Former player Hugh Gore is returning to manage the squad after last doing the job about five years ago, and John Archibald resumes the coaching duties after stepping down three years ago.

Leewards squad - Omari Banks (captain), Montcin Hodge, Javier Liburd, Steve Liburd, Tonito Willett, Orlando Peters, Maxford Pipe, Lionel Baker, Devon Thomas, Chaka Hodge, Gavin Tonge, Adam Sanford, Anthony Martin.

Coach - John Archibald; Manager - Hugh Gore.

Slow outfield hampers both batsmen and bowlers
By Telford Vice
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - A slow outfield hampered both batsmen and bowlers on the first day of the second Test between South Africa and West Indies yesterday.

West Indies, who are one-up in the three-match series, were struggling at 240 for eight in their first innings at the close.

"South Africa came with a plan to starve us, to bowl outside off-stump and not give away any runs," Marlon Samuels, who scored 51 and shared a stand of 106 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (64 not out), told a news conference.

"We simply had to stay there and play a patient game as well. The outfield also took a lot of runs from us. This is the first match in which I've played in which the outfield is so thick."

South Africa opening batsman Neil McKenzie agreed with Samuels, but said the outfield also added to the bowlers' workload.

"It's one of the slower outfields we've played on, and it was hard work for the bowlers running in because it was quite heavy underfoot," McKenzie said.

McKenzie, who has opened the innings just once before, is playing his first Test since he was part of the South African team who took on New Zealand in Auckland in 2004. He replaced the out-of-form Herschelle Gibbs.

"Beggars can't be choosers, but I'm looking forward to the challenge," McKenzie said. "I've been waiting four years for the opportunity and hopefully I can do something."

Samuels said West Indies had faith in Chanderpaul to build their innings today.

"It's not the target that we set out to get, but I think we're still on the right track knowing that Shiv is there as a set batter," Samuels said.

Cloud hangs over Lara ahead of Carib Beer match against Guyana
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – A cloud hangs over the fitness of former West Indies captain Brian Lara for Trinidad & Tobago’s opening Carib Beer Series match against Guyana, starting tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The left-handed batsman is nursing a shoulder injury and although he looked in good touch at a net session at the Oval yesterday, team manager Omar Khan said a final decision on whether the mega batsman plays this weekend will not be made until today, following discussions with Lara’s medical team.

The 38-year-old Lara, who retired from international cricket in April, has been included in a 14-man-squad which will be reduced to 13 on Thursday.

President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Deryck Murray had said at a press conference last week that the batting star’s appearance in the tournament would give cricket lovers in T&T an opportunity to say thank you to Lara for his outstanding cricket career.

“We want to give him a proper send-off as a member of the national team. This is the ideal opportunity for the public to come out and say thank you to the great batsman,” Murray said.

Murray stated that Lara will limit his appearance to the Carib Beer four-day series and will take no part in the Stanford 20/20 Series, scheduled for January 26 to February 24.

Lara played in 131 Tests and scored 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88. He still holds the record for the highest individual Test innings of 400 not out, scored against England in 2004.

He also holds the record for the highest First-Class score of 501 not out for Warwickshire in the English County Championships.

The T&T team led by newly-appointed captain Rayad Emrit will round off their preparation with a net session at the Oval this morning, while the Guyanese with Ramnaresh Sarwan at the helm will train in the afternoon at the same venue.

Wild Bunch place creditable second in Trophy Stall dominoes

They ended with 218 games, three behind winners International Six who won with 221.

Halley, a member of International Six, who also played in the competition, was holidaying in Guyana.

Here, Wild Bunch skipper, Jermain Jackson collects the second-place trophy from Halley.

Sprinter Gatlin banned for four years
By Gene Cherry
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin has been banned for four years for a 2006 positive test for testosterone, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Tuesday.

USADA general counsel Bill Bock said a three-member U.S. arbitration panel, in a 2-1 split decision, had banned Gatlin for four years.

The suspension through to May 24, 2010, could end the career of the 25-year-old Gatlin if he does not successfully appeal to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The decision has not been released publicly.

The Washington Post reported on its Web site (www.washingtonpost.com) that two out of the three American Arbitration Association arbitrators had said they could not give less than a four-year ban because of a previous positive test.

A third dissented, the Post reported.

"It took them five months to come to this? It's ridiculous," Jeanette Gatlin said in a telephone interview from her Pensacola, Florida home.

"I think everybody is blindsided by this opinion."

Gatlin, who has denied knowingly, taking performance-enhancing drugs, still hopes to compete again, his mother said.

"There is no doubt about that," she said. "We will be talking to his lawyer later today."

Gatlin could not be reached for comment. His lawyer, John Collins, declined to comment.

Gatlin failed a drugs test in 2001 for a prescribed medication for Attention Deficit Disorder. He was reinstated by the International Association of Athletics Federations the following year.

The American won the 2004 Athens Olympic 100 metres title and completed a 100-200 double at the Helsinki world championships in 2005.

He won each of his five 100 metres competitions in 2006, including tying the then world record of 9.77 seconds in Doha and winning the U.S. title.

But after it was announced that Gatlin had returned a positive test for the male sex hormone testosterone at the 2006 Kansas Relays, he was suspended while his case was referred to arbitration.

Jazz end Trail Blazers' 13-game winning streak
NEW YORK, NY (Reuters) - The Utah Jazz ended the Portland Trail Blazers' 13-game winning streak with a 111-101 victory on Monday.

Carlos Boozer scored 19 points and had nine rebounds and Deron Williams added 18 points for the Jazz, who used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to take command of the game.

Andrei Kirilenko added 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Jazz.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 36 points for Portland, and Brandon Roy had 17.

The Trail Blazers, who had not lost since December 2, shot 48.4 per cent from the floor but the Jazz made 51.2 of their shots, connecting on 43 field goals to Blazers' 31.

The Detroit Pistons won their ninth straight game with a 114-69 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Richard Hamilton scored 22 points and Chauncey Billups contributed 13 points and 12 assists in the biggest margin of victory for the Pistons in four years.

Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 18 points.

Chris Bosh scored 29 points as the Toronto Raptors recorded a 97-92 victory that ended the New Orleans Hornets' five-game winning streak.

David West had 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets while Chris Paul added 23 points, 16 assists and seven rebounds.

Hedo Turkoglu's jump shot with less than a second left in overtime sparked the Orlando Magic to a 112-110 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The win was the fourth straight for the Magic, who got 22 points from Jameer Nelson and 17 points from Turkoglu. Dwight Howard added 17 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Ben Gordon scored a season-best 39 points for Chicago.

Gerald Wallace scored 36 points to rally the Charlotte Bobcats to a 107-103 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers.

Wallace scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Bobcats end a four-game losing streak. Jermaine O'Neal led Indiana with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Baron Davis had 23 points, Monta Ellis scored 20 and Al Harrington provided 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Golden State Warriors' 112-95 road win over the Houston Rockets.

Rafer Alston led Houston with 22 points. Yao Ming finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.