Lara, who has been in prime form in 2004, a form which has extended to 2005, won the Test Cricketer of the Year, the 2004 International Cricketer of the Year and a special award for his record breaking 400 not against England at the Antigua Recreation ground. Lara scored 1178 runs at 58.90, in twelve test matches, with three hundreds and four fifties.

Grenadian opening batsman, Devon Smith, won the First Class Cricketer of the Year. Smith scored 842 runs at 76.54, with four hundreds and three half-centuries Jamaican Xavier Marshall won the Youth Cricketer of the Year Award, after scoring 575 runs in five games at 71.88, with two hundreds. Marshall also scored 303 runs in five games at 75.75, in the Presidents Cup.

Chris Gayle predictably won the One Day International Player of the Year. Gayle played 23 matches for the West Indies; he scored 722 runs at 38.00 and also claimed 21 wickets, with a best of 3/20. Dwayne Bravo won the Emerging Player of the Year award, while Jamaica won the Under-19 team of the year and Barbados won the First Class team of the Year, following the teams successful defense of their double crown championship.

The winners of the awards were determined by a panel, which includes commentators, West Indies Team Manager, Anthony Howard and the senior selection panel.

In delivering the awards, WIPA President and CEO, Dinanath Ramnarine stated that the organisation was concerned with the well-being of the players, which they represent on and off the field. The West Indies Players Association represents all the players of the game in our region- the young, the old like some of those who have become commentators and even match referees, and the present representatives of the West Indies at all levels he added.

Ramnarine also stated that WIPA was prepared to adjust to better served the needs of its members. In fact, we are amending the WIPA constitution to expand the composition of our own team, to make it more representative of the game and its supporters. Our new management group, our starting eleven, will comprise 6 cricketers elected by the players and 5 nominated members that would include people of different professional backgrounds. The only stipulation is that they must love this sport and be prepared to help voluntarily, he added.

Ramnarine also announced the launch of the West Indies Players Fan Club (WIPFC). The President of that group will form part of WIPAs five-man group of Directors, since becoming President of that group makes that person a Director of WIPA.

WIPA will also be launching WIPA in the Community Project to go into the communities to promote the game. Instead of waiting for cricketers to come to us we will now be going to the cricketers.

We strongly support sports, especially cricket, as a means of keeping our young people away from drugs and crime. Cricket, with its traditions of team play and pursuit of excellence, will help them.

Web Posted - Thu Jun 02 2005
By Dorian Bryan

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