Former West Indies cricketers having a hearty laugh. Front row from left are Sir Garry Sobers, Gordon Greenidge and Sir Viv Richards. Behind them from left are Richie Richardson, Ian Bishop and Desmond Haynes. In the back row are Courtney Walsh (left) and Curtly Ambrose

	Gordon Greenidge alongside his famous partner Desmond Haynes formed what was the most successful opening pair the West Indies have had. The duo played 89 Tests together and walked out on the pitch together on 148 occasions. They stayed unseparated on 11 occasions yielding a record 6,483 runs at an average of 47.32, inclusive of 16 century stands, the best being 298 against England in Antigua in 1990.
Unlike his happy go lucky partner, Greenidge was the serious type. Panther-like, he would uncoil and spring into action and the bowler soon realised this seemingly motionless creature had both the strength of a dozen and the ability which few others possessed. Together they strove to excel and sometimes did match each other stroke for stroke.
	Carl Gary Greenidge batting in the indoor nets at 3Ws Oval yesterday afternoon. Take a close look at this lad. Whom does he remind you of? If you said Gordon Greenidge, you were on the ball! He's Carl Gary Greenidge, son of West Indies batting legend. Carl is a cricketer like his father, and from tomorrow he will be training with the Barbados team before he returns to England. The 26-year-old was born in England but was educated in Barbados at The Lodge School and The St Michael School. He now plays county cricket and will be turning out for Gloucestershire in the 2005 season, after switching from Northamptonshire. Compliments of the Nation News

Getting it right for World Cup

Date March 10, 2006 Compliments of the Nation News

Let the thoroughbreds who made West Indies cricket run alongside the youngsters to help boost West Indies' chances for a successful CWC, 2007. Let us have some vision. Pick the team now and let them practise beginning with

Let the thoroughbreds who made West Indies cricket run alongside the youngsters to help boost West Indies' chances for a successful CWC, 2007. Let us have some vision. Pick the team now and let them practise beginning with the Stanford 20/20. - Rev Wes Hall.

EVERYONE WITH an interest in West Indies cricket would concur with Rev. Wes Hall's plea. The following, summarised from New Process For Selecting West Indies Team by Jeff Layne, Barbados Advocate, August 2, 2001, should be instructive.

"A selection of consensus - would allow the six regional boards to select their West Indies team of 16 players: three openers, four middle order batsmen, one all-rounder, five pacers, one spinner and two wicket-keepers.

"The six teams would be publicly collated. The players getting the most votes in the respective positions are automatically selected. At completion of the camp (training sessions) the players will vote "privately" for the captain and similarly the one with the most votes is selected. It would then be the captain's prerogative to pick his vice-captain."

I would now want, "in addition to the foregoing" to consider the involvement of the thoroughbreds, Lloyd and Sir Viv, co-managers to replace Tony Howard and Imran Khan, a medical doctor as the physio, Gordon Greenidge batting coach, Curtly Ambrose bowling coach, Joel Garner fielding coach "since both Logie and Harper are already committed to foreign teams" to replace the four Australians.

The Duckworth/Lewis system must also be replaced (the JEFMAR Method is offered as an alternative) since it would be a travesty if what took place with the unfortunate first-round elimination of CWC 2003 host country South Africa should happen again.

Obviously, we have to do it right if we are to have the best World Cup ever.

- JEFF LAYNE

Windies cricket legends to meet with Texas billionaire

Date October 03, 2005 Compliments of the Nation News

by PHILIP SPOONER

SEVERAL LEGENDS of West Indies cricket met in Antigua last night in what is expected to be part of a major development in the game in the region.

The DAILY NATION understands that the meeting was organised by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, who invited the former players to aid with the structuring of a new project.

Three former greats - Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon Greenidge and Joel Garner - were spotted at Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday afternoon preparing to go to Antigua. Greenidge confirmed he was attending the meeting, but said he was unaware of the full details.

The details of the project are expected to be unveiled today at a massive news conference at the Sticky Wicket Restaurant, which is home to the West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame.

Indications are that over US$1 million could be pumped into the new project with the current players in the region as the central focus.

Last month Stanford indicated his willingness to pump money into West Indies cricket.

Seeing himself as a West Indian, Stanford said: "We have a great product - our cricket - a rich history and legacy. In October I am going to make an announcement about something that is going to take place one year from now and I truly believe the announcement will be part of the re-emergence of cricket as a world-class, professional sport throughout the region."

philipspooner@nationnews.com

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