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Kevin Pietersen will not bat at No.4 in the first Test despite the absence of Marcus Trescothick at the top of the order. Andrew Flintoff said Pietersen would fill the No.5 position even though he has a better record further up the batting list.”Kevin has proven that he can bat at Test cricket,” Flintoff told . “He’s got a fantastic record. We think for the strength of this side we’re better suited with Kevin batting at five. It’s just the dynamics of the team. We’re happy with Kevin at five.”Pietersen averages 46.85 from 15 innings batting at No.5 compared to 53.88 from 17 innings at No.4. Flintoff’s words indicate Paul Collingwood could get the job at No.4, a move that would be a backward step for England, according to Darren Lehmann, who captained South Australia in a tour match against the visitors on the weekend.”He’s the key,” Lehmann said. “He’ll take Australia on. And he should bat at No.4 because of Trescothick going home. The big thing for him will be that the grounds are a lot bigger. In England the grounds are so small that Pietersen and some of the other batsmen hit Warne and Lee for a lot of sixes. The Australians will bounce him a lot.” reported Pietersen acknowledged he would be the target for short-pitched bowling. “There’s been a lot made of it and it’s going to happen whether you bat at one or 11,” Pietersen said. “Nowadays it doesn’t matter. You’re going to get it.” After his century in last week’s tour match against New South Wales, Pietersen admitted a skied hook shot off Brett Lee early in his innings had almost brought him undone. “I know it was a bit of a naughty shot,” he said. “It’s the way I have been training, the way I have been playing.”

Deep Dasgupta, the former India wicketkeeper, feels that Bengal’s cricketers do not get their recognition and that was a main reason why seven from the state, himself included, signed on with the Indian Cricket League (ICL).”Our Bengal team has talent but are the players getting justice? Take the India A team that is currently in Kenya; it has no players from Bengal, despite the fact that Bengal have been in the Ranji Trophy final two years running,” Dasgupta wrote in his column for , a Kolkata-based daily. “Nor does the squad for the Twenty20 World Championship. So what do the likes of Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Subhojit Paul hold on to, how do they remain hopeful? I came to Mumbai and saw Under-19 players had also signed up with the ICL. Money can’t be the only factor for them; the opportunity to play and compete in different environments also plays a part.”Dasgupta, Jhunjhunwala, Paul, Subhomoy Das, and Shibsagar Singh were among the players who signed up with the ICL, leaving the Bengal side depleted. It is widely believed that the Indian board (BCCI) will slap bans on players who have joined.”The Bengal team may find replacements for us; cricket doesn’t stop for individuals,” said Dasgupta. “But some questions need to be asked. Do we give cricketers their due respect? Once he retires he’s thrown on the rubbish-heap, so what’s the harm if he settles his dues before that?”Dasgupta, who said he joined the recently-floated league because he has “always liked a challenge” and also for financial reasons, did not feel the ICL was in conflict with domestic cricket. “Even after coming to Mumbai and signing up with the ICL, I still consider myself a Bengal player. Whatever I’ve got in cricket I’ve got because I played for Bengal.”But once we took this huge decision, it seems a huge gap has opened up. A gap that could have been had both sides wanted it. A problem can be solved only if there is dialogue. There should be charges, counter-charges, the feelings should come out in the open. Where there is no discussion how can there be any chance of a solution?”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Both teams face a nervous wait for the conclusion of a pulsating final Test as Damien Martyn’s unbeaten 93 crept Australia to within 44 of their target with only four wickets remaining. Australia, who may not be able to use Justin Langer, seemed set for a comfortable chase during a brilliant 165-run partnership between Martyn and Michael Hussey, but when Hussey departed for 89 the side lost 4 for 39 to refresh a previously ailing South Africa over the last 90 minutes.Makhaya Ntini charged through Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne after Nicky Boje finally removed Hussey, and Jacques Kallis, a debutant captain under unfamiliar pressure, ended a dangerous drive from Andrew Symonds. The last three batsmen fell for nine runs in a dramatic turnaround as South Africa’s mood changed from one of impending defeat to hope of a first positive result in six Tests against Australia this summer.Through the chaos Martyn remained calm, like he had throughout an innings that was crucial to his career prospects, and Australia finished at 248 for 6. The reshuffled order meant Hussey was promoted to his preferred spot of opener and while his place was assured after his brilliant entry this summer, Martyn was at an important stage in a three-match comeback that was not convincing until today. Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, picked Martyn’s experience for this type of uncompromising situation and by stumps he had repaid them. On Tuesday he will aim for a 13th century and an Australian victory.Playing with casual determination, Martyn deflected the fast men and spent a lot of time taking runs from Boje, often through cut shots. This was the version of the player who wooed audiences worldwide before the Ashes blip that he worried had ended his career. Given an unlikely chance, Martyn waited until the third Test to reconfirm his capabilities as a match turner.He hit 12 boundaries and looked unflustered in his 184-ball stay that was crucial throughout the final two sessions, and Australia were relived that he was unbeaten at the end with Brett Lee on 9. The second new ball is due in nine deliveries and Ntini, who picked up 3 for 60, and Pollock will be dangerous on a surface that offers the most when the ball is hard and shiny.

The purpose of Hussey was on display as the zinc on his nose wore off when sweat dripped down his face. Despite gaining a trio of early reprieves, he uncovered some cracking pull shots and sweet cover drives mixed with determined defence during his 197-ball innings that included 12 boundaries. Hussey’s second half-century of the match came from 140 deliveries and he drove the chase again in the final session with his hard running and careful placement.His early performance was not a smooth one and he could have been dismissed to lbw appeals from Andre Nel on 0 and Pollock on 5. Both were rejected by Steve Bucknor, and Hussey was also lucky to escape an edge to Mark Boucher off Makhaya Ntini on 19. The mistakes were costly and South Africa finally got their man when Boje trapped him playing back with the score on 198 and the target less than 100.Symonds came in and thrashed a brutal 29 off 26 balls that reduced the aim further and just as a fast finish seemed likely he edged Kallis to Boucher. Hitting a six over cover, driving fours and pulling two more boundaries, Symonds eased the pressure on his team-mates before leaving as quickly as he arrived at 224. Gilchrist then fell first ball, Warne went with a similar edge to Ntini and the South Africans were back.After reaching 258 in their second innings, the home side’s push for victory started well when AB de Villiers took a sharp diving slips catch to a Matthew Hayden nick from Ntini before Ricky Ponting (20) collected a fine inside edge to an unconvincing drive off Kallis. With the score at 33 for 2, Kallis deserved to be pleased, but he was hindered by an illness to Nel, who was visibly struggling and able to deliver only two overs before leaving the ground for treatment.Australia also had their problems with Langer after he was hit in the head by Ntini with the opening ball of the first innings on Saturday. Reports ranged from him batting No. 4, which didn’t happen, to playing if the team really needed him or not at all. He turned up at the ground late in the day dressed in street clothes and as the wickets fell did not pull on his whites.There was no doubt about the performance of Lee as he finished off South Africa’s innings in only 15 balls this morning, knocking over Boucher for 63 and Ntini for 0. The smooth end gave Australia some useful momentum, but despite an impressive push by Martyn and Hussey the game had ebbed again by stumps.

Australia
Matthew Hayden c de Villiers b Ntini 0 (0 for 1)
Ricky Ponting c Boucher b Kallis 20 (33 for 2)
Michael Hussey lbw Boje 89 (198 for 3)
Andrew Symonds c Boucher b Kallis 29 (228 for 4)
Adam Gilchrist c Boucher b Ntini 0 (229 for 5)
Shane Warne c Boucher b Ntini 3 (237 for 6)
South Africa
AB de Villiers b Clark 4 (9 for 1)
Boeta Dippenaar c Hayden b Clark 20 (55 for 2)
Herschelle Gibbs c Martyn b Warne 53 (100 for 3)
Ashwell Prince c Symonds b Warne 9 (120 for 4)
Jacques Rudolph c Gilchrist b Clark 0 (140 for 6)
Shaun Pollock c Gilchrist b Lee 44 (186 for 7)
Nicky Boje c Symonds b Warne 4 (194 for 8)
Mark Boucher c Gilchrist b Lee 63 (258 for 9)
Makhaya Ntini b Lee 0 (258)

The Rubies, captained by Gill Richards, claimed the Super 4s title after completing an unprecedented clean-sweep throughout the competition, their second title since the inaugural victory in 2002.In the final round of matches, which were held at Loughborough University on July 7 and 8, the Rubies finished unbeaten, claiming their sixth victory in a row as they brushed aside the Emeralds and Sapphires.”It’s an awesome achievement to win the Super 4s trophy. We worked hard as a team throughout and it has paid off,” said Richards. “Players like Lydia Greenway and Holly Colvin have played particularly well. Lydia finished as top run scorer and Holly took three marvellous five-wicket hauls. But it is a team game and all of us showed great team spirit all the way through””To remain unbeaten for the whole competition is a tremendous achievement. The players can be really proud of themselves and I am sure many of them will be back next year for another season at Super 4s. I am so happy for all the team.”On Saturday they took on the Emeralds, their then closest rivals for the title. Colvin took another five wicket haul as they bowled out the Emerald’s for a paltry 69. In reply, the Rubies knocked the runs off with the loss of three wickets. The victory ensured the title for the Rubies who then completed a clean sweep by beating the Sapphires by 15 runs.In the other matches, England captain Charlotte Edwards returned to action with an unbeaten 69 as the Diamonds beat the Sapphires by eight wickets, then followed this with 94 not out as they beat the Emeralds by nine wickets.

In an unprecedented move in English cricket, Duncan Fletcher yesterday confirmed that James Anderson and Liam Plunkett – both of whom have been injured this season – could play in the final round of Championship matches for counties other than their own to assess their fitness ahead of England’s tour of Australia.Lancashire, still gunning for the title, could not be expected to field a match-unfit Anderson; nor Durham to select Plunkett in their relegation match against Yorkshire. Instead, other counties who have nothing at stake, will be asked to field the two players which is essentially an extension of the loan system; Oliver Newby, Lancashire’s fast bowler, played for Nottinghamshire on loan last year while Alamgir Sheriyar, contracted to Kent, was lent to Worcestershire.The move clearly hints that Fletcher wants both players in his squad of 16 to tour Australia and the coach, speaking to , confirmed there would be a number of reserves stationed at Perth, with two coaching staff. Fletcher and the England selectors will announce their Ashes squad on Tuesday, before which the likely England players will all undergo a medical at Loughbourgh on Monday.As ever, Fletcher remains tight-lipped and noncommittal regarding the England captaincy, although he did express his long-standing doubt over the immense pressure captaincy would put on Andrew Flintoff. “It’s always been my concern that it’s a lot to ask.”Possible England squad
Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Read, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Monty Panesar, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and James Anderson.

1st day

Scorecard
Shane Warne shone with the bat, striking his maiden first-class century from just 72 balls, after Hampshire’s top order had again slumped. Their collapse to 130 for 7 included another failure for Kevin Pietersen, caught at second slip by Martin van Jaarsveld. Simon Katich (56) offered some resistance but it wasn’t until Warne and Tim Burrows, the debutant wicketkeeper, joined forces that Hampshire’s fortunes took an upturn. Burrows was a perfect foil for the flamboyant Warne and they added 131. Warne’s century is the early leader for the fastest hundred of the season and means he is no longer left with a highest first-class score of 99 against New Zealand at Perth. “Now I’ve got the first one out of the way, I am hoping there will be a few more around the corner,” Warne told . “It was an ambition, I’ve got 5000 first-class runs but wondered if this would happen. I was getting very nervous out there.” The Hampshire innings raced along at almost four-and-a-half runs an over and Kent were not much slower. David Fulton led the reply but Sean Ervine bowled Robert Key for 20 to continue a poor day for England batsmen. A wicket apiece for Chris Tremlett and Richard Logan leaves the match evenly balanced.
Scorecard
Surrey put their horror showing against Nottinghamshire behind them and piled up an imposing total on a run-filled day at The Oval. Alistair Brown capitalised on the solid foundation laid by Scott Newman’s 117 to strike a dashing century of his own at better than a run-a-ball. Newman’s innings was the first time this summer he had managed to convert a solid start into a significant score and showed many of the skills that earned him Academy recognition two winters ago. Rikki Clarke, short of runs so far this summer, was on course for a century until he was caught behind. Glamorgan were hampered by a depleted attack with Darren Thomas able to bowl only three balls before being forced off with a groin injury. Brown and James Benning took advantage and added 114 for the sixth wicket. Benning made his second fifty in two matches and because of Surrey’s pace of scoring the loss of two late wickets did not affect the balance of power.
Scorecard
Middlesex were indebted to their middle-order as they posted a competitive total at Lord’s. Plenty of batsmen got a start, including Andrew Strauss, who reached 27 before he fell to a miscued pull off Steve Kirby. Owais Shah (63) and Ed Joyce (75) cracked attractive half-centuries – Joyce’s innings continued his prolific start to the season and he has now passed 500 runs in only six innings. But each time a significant stand threatened to develop Gloucestershire struck back. However, Middlesex bat a long way down and this was evident as Paul Weekes and Ben Scott added 119 for the seventh wicket. Jon Lewis returned to mop up the tail and although Middlesex will be disappointed that none of their batsmen converted into three figures they have a useful total to bowl at.2nd day

Scorecard
Warwickshire’s unbeaten County Championship record – dating back to the start of the 2004 season – is under serious threat after Sussex took control of their meeting at Hove. Some stubborn lower-order resistance propelled Sussex passed 400, although progress was slow with James Kirtley facing 164 balls for 30. A more aggressive contribution came from Johann van der Wath, who struck 34 from 52 balls. The tail was able to take advantage of a Warwickshire attack missing Ashley Giles, who sat out play with a muscle injury in his right leg. It is not thought to be serious but he is awaiting the results of a scan. However, he may bat with a runner and his contributions will be needed after Warwickshire struggled to 141 for 5. Once Sussex had broken the opening stand of 75 they chipped away steadily. Mushtaq Ahmed twirled through 17 overs, claiming Nick Knight and Alex Loudon.

The blush was unmistakable. Chris Gayle, when asked about his “relationship” with St Kitts, couldn’t hide a naughty smile. Gayle had played a first-class match in St Kitts only once before, scoring 78 in two innings, but the questions were obviously pointed references to Natasha Berridge, Gayle’s Kittsian girlfriend. Gayle said that he wasn’t showing any “favouritism” to the ground but his quickfire 83 definitely made the first day of Test cricket at Warner Park a memorable affair for the locals.Think Gayle, and you think spontaneity. The ease with which he carries himself, the lilt with which he jives, the calm shouldering of arms, the sudden burst of power, all appear impromptu. Yet, there’s a calculated streak that adds to the danger and Gayle admits to a certain level of premeditation. He’d decided to bide his time – in the first eight overs, even loose balls were only tapped or flicked; he’d decided to take the “fight” to the “aggressive Sreesanth” – in the eighth over, with clouds hovering over the ground, he punched a four to long-on and upper-cut, in true Sanath Jayasuriya-style, over point; he wanted to take on Harbhajan Singh – “He was playing his first Test of the series and I tried to put the pressure on him as early as possible” – and soon had the commentators running for cover.Rahul Dravid recently compared Gayle to Virender Sehwag, for being able to start with an impact. Both can demoralise, make good balls look ordinary and generally leave the whole place in a total mess. But one area where Gayle falls short is with regard to conversion. While Sehwag manages a hundred every other time he gets a fifty (12 hundreds, 11 fifties), Gayle has missed out on a hundred 24 times after crossing 50. Gayle admits it’s a concern, as does Lara. “It was another excellent knock by Chris,” said Lara, “but I don’t know if I’m more disappointed or he is [at the end].”I think he’s played four out of five very good innings and hasn’t gone on to get a triple-figure score. That’s unfortunate but I suppose when it comes the flood-gates are going to open … But Chris is improving and personally I would like to see him go on to get big scores. That’s the trademark of an opener – you get rid of the new ball, get to 30-40 and then go on to get a big score.”It’s been more than a year since Gayle’s reached a three-figure score – in May last year he amassed a monumental 317 against South Africa. Gayle knows it’s a problem. “I’m very disappointed with not being able to get the big scores. It’s been a while since I have a Test century and I really work hard to achieve it. I’m a strong guy and next innings or next game I can achieve it. You never know. One of the things that’s worked is that I’ve tried to be more consistent with my batting. I try to aggressive at the start of my innings, whenever I’m aggressive I’m in control of the game more.”Gayle and Daren Ganga might sound like a duo specialising in fusion music, but Lara pointed out their effectiveness by pulling out a telling stat. “I don’t know if you guys heard, but Chris and Daren has a partnership of 43, compared to Desmond and Gordon who average 47.” Of course, these two have walked out to open in only 31 innings – compared to the 148 that the legendary Greenidge and Haynes managed – but the start’s been promising.”Myself and Daren talked a lot and tried to utilise the wicket,” said Gayle of their collaboration. “The first hour was very important and we tried not to lose a wicket as much as possible and communicate well between the wickets as well … Daren and I are very close, good friends off the field as well. We really communicate and share a joke with each other while batting out there. He always tells me to look to drop the ball and run. If I have a problem with a bowler, we communicate that as well and he tries to take more strike. And I might do it as well.”Going by today’s evidence, Ganga had slightly more problems – facing 105 balls compared to Gayle’s 127. Yet, one wonders what strike rotation Gayle was talking about. Having got 19 singles, one double and 13 boundaries, he didn’t need to. He was in St Kitts, remember.

Stuart MacGill is tired of hearing that his style does not complement Shane Warne’s. At the SCG the pair operates as well as clock hands and MacGill has pleaded for a chance to continue a successful partnership that has appeared in only ten Tests.”Somebody needs to look at the numbers and realise this is not the first time Shane and I have worked well together and that after a certain number of wickets we have made a strong case to be a regular feature,” he said. “It’s disappointing that other bowlers can bowl in partnership and Shane and I can’t.”The combination bowled Australia to victory with 13 wickets against Pakistan in January and today seven wickets were harvested, MacGill capturing 4 for 39 and Warne 3 for 23 as they sparked a stunning collapse. In an era of abundance for Australian legspinners, the two first-rate performers have been used together sparingly, but the case for retention is growing, especially as the team is experimenting with back-up bowling options.In Tests where both bowlers have played MacGill has 48 wickets at 23.57 and Warne has 41 at 30.15. MacGill said he still wished he was given a chance during the winter in England. “Shane took 40 wickets on the Ashes tour and as far as an advertisement for a second spinner that’s as good as you are going to get,” he said. “It’s a question that will remain unanswered. I may not have fired a shot over there but we’ll never know.”While Warne and MacGill blew the World XI over, Glenn McGrath made the early indents with a testing pre-lunch spell of 2 for 11 from seven overs that pushed him passed Courtney Walsh’s fast-bowling world record of 519 wickets. McGrath said overtaking the mark was a “big honour” and he was already looking for the next milestone.”Courtney was a cricketer that I looked up to and admired, a freak of a player who competed for 21 years straight, hardly taking a break,” he said. “I can’t see myself catching the next two [Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan] but without doubt my next goal is to reach 600 Test wickets.”

The England team after putting the Sri Lankan team into bat on a rainaffected first day of the second under-19’s Test match at Northamptonfailed to press home the advantage.Sri Lanka, one down in the series, were at one stage 79 for 3 butrallied to make 223 for 5 at the end of day thanks to a stand of 98between Thilina Kandamby (58) and Jehan Mubarak (46) in 34 overs. Theopeners Ian Daniels (38) and Nimesh Perera (27) put on 51 runs in 12overs when the latter was out to Tim Murtagh. Malintha Gajanayake wasthe next to go, dismissed by Justin Biship for 1. Then Daniels left at79. The fourth wicket stand between Kandamby and Mubarak initiated arecovery before left arm spinner Monty Panesar bowled Mubarak for 46.Finally Kandamby succumbed to Bishop.Kaushalya Weeraratne and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara played out tillthe end of the day.

April has been just another wacky month in the wacky world of West Indies cricket.Filled with typical incongruities and oddities, it has ended with puzzling twists that, at least according to those who now preside over its destiny, have overnight turned doubt and despair into new hope and optimism.The sudden official confidence in the resurgence of a team that has nosedived from top of the world to within an inch of rock bottom in a decade, is based principally on the return to the captaincy of Brian Lara for the third time, and the eventual signed accord between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) on several of the issues they allowed to undermine the game they are supposed to promote.The supposed new dawn broke this weekend with the first of seven one-day internationals against Zimbabwe. Its high noon is a year down the line, with the first World Cup to be staged in the West Indies. Zimbabwe’s cricket is in even more of a mess than ours. It has created such a decimated team of wide-eyed juveniles that Lara should be able to successfully launch his third and final attempt at moulding a strong team and leaving a legacy to match his phenomenal, long established batting reputation.The first genuine test only comes once India, one of the best led, best balanced and strongest of opponents, arrive in two weeks for five ODIs and four Tests. If Lara’s elevation generally came as a surprise – even, judging by his own comments, to himself – it was signalled months ago when Ken Gordon, the WICB president, appointed him as the only current player on his ‘Win World Cup’ committee, even above then captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul.Gordon described Lara last week as the logical choice as new captain, based on his “unquestioned” experience and knowledge. But much the same was said by earlier presidents when Lara was first installed, in place of Courtney Walsh in 1998, and again when Wes Hall persuaded him to take over from Carl Hooper in 2003. Expectations were similarly high on each occasion but came to nothing.Lara first resigned in 2000 after “two years of modest success and devastating failure” to take a break from the game. Last year he withdrew from the team in solidarity with players dropped because of the sponsorship row with the board rather than fight their cause in the prime position as captain. Why Gordon and the former players who have now implored him to take the helm once more are persuaded it can be different this time is not clear. Every West Indian, desperate for an end to years of defeat and distress, will pray for the promised revival under Lara and wish him well. Perhaps it will be third time lucky and, for all the glory his batting has brought to West Indies cricket during its most dismal times, he deserves a more fitting finale than he has had in his previous stints at the helm (ten wins against 23 losses in 40 Tests, 37-42 in 82 ODIs).Yet such a record, along with his frequent statements over the past year that, in his 37th year, captaincy was no longer a consideration and he aimed to cut down on ODI appearances so as to prolong his Test career, do not correspond with the claim that he was the only logical choice.Quite the opposite. It is clear that this is a short-term measure designed to provide a bridge to the World Cup. It takes no account of the long-term future that required a new, younger captain, especially as his immediate opposition would be Zimbabwe.The most disturbing aspect of the whole business was Gordon’s dismissal of the alternatives as not ready for the role, even to the extent that no one was named as vice-captain. That, we were officially and bafflingly informed during the first ODI yesterday, would be decided by Lara “should the need arise during the match”. Ramnaresh Sarwan, aged 25, six years an international cricketer and twice vice-captain, must be even more confused than when Guyana preferred Chanderpaul to him as their skipper immediately after he was first chosen West Indies’ deputy. Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga and Wavell Hinds, all experienced cricketers, and others with ambitions to lead the West Indies one day must also be nonplussed by Gordon’s blanket rebuttal. But that is the way of West Indies cricket, typified by several other recent events.April started with the resignations within days of each other of two of its most prominent leaders, Chanderpaul as captain and Roger Brathwaite as the board’s chief executive officer. Two men thrust into their positions by default, they joined a host of others who had found the challenge beyond them. Soon, the longest serving member of the board, Chetram Singh, never one to be out of the limelight for long, was openly and consciously slating his president on some specious grounds, following up by hailing Chanderpaul, whose captaincy he had championed, for making the right decision to quit.

In the meantime, Clive Lloyd, the eminent former captain rejected after he was nominated as vice-president at the board’s directors meeting last year, was named head of a reformed cricket committee. As was immediately evident, it is a post that carries far greater authority. The first problem requiring the attention of Lloyd and his colleagues, all members of the teams he led during the glory days, was the prolonged and tiresome impasse between the WICB and WIPA over retainer contracts. They had all passed this way before, on the opposite side as players. Now they declared in a public statement that they were “at a loss to understand the reasons for this matter being dragged out as long as it has”. It was a sentiment widely shared by those who still cared about West Indies cricket.Lloyd’s committee described what had been put forward as “a good offer, fully competitive with other full member countries of the world” and, as only ten days remained before the start of the series against Zimbabwe, recommended a cut-off date for the players to sign so that a new captain and team could be named.There was one drawback. The board was still drafting its contracts so the deadline had to be shifted. It was not until 3 a.m. last Wednesday that the deal was finally done: 23 years after the retainer scheme was first mooted by then WICB president Allan Rae to Lloyd’s team, specifically to combat the exodus of players to apartheid South Africa. As those who have managed to maintain their interest in West Indies cricket through all the nonsense of recent times, waited to know if there would be anything to watch in the coming weeks, there were other bewildering developments.One of the WICB’s representatives in the contracts negotiations was Desmond Haynes, the former West Indies opener who, only eight months earlier, was secretary of WIPA. Now one of Barbados’ directors on the board against which he once had a protracted court action, he has found a fellow director to be the new president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association Gregory Shillingford, who was fired as the WICB’s chief executive officer three years ago.And if these contradictions were not perplexing enough, there were the full page, colour advertisements in Thursday’s newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago. Each featured a prominent image of Brian Lara. One proclaimed: “Born Leader – Raise Your Hand!, the other Lara In The Lead!” One was for Digicel, sponsors of the team that Lara captains once more, the other for TSTT, the Trinidad and Tobago off-shoot of Cable & Wireless, Digicel’s fierce rivals with whom Lara has a personal contract.Only in West Indies cricket.