The ongoing tussle between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) continued yesterday with the WIPA accusing the board of “unilateral” decision-making.In a media release signed by president and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA criticised the regional board for “this unilateral process that the WICB continues to insist on taking in deciding what is to be or not to be…”, which WIPA “cannot accept”.Ramnarine was referring to Monday’s announcement by the WICB that they had agreed to a five-year extension of the current sponsorship contract with Digicel, until 2012. The deal is reportedly worth US $4 million “without any deductions”.The statement said that: “while WIPA is pleased to know that the West Indies Cricket Board is always looking for ways to improve its finances through its sponsors or any other company”, the lack of consultation with the players was a blatant breach of the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] between both parties.Ramnarine added: “This [recent unilateral action/absence of consultation] by the WICB continues to undermine the maintenance and strengthening of good relations between both parties. Furthermore, WIPA is now forced to pay more careful attention to the protection of the players’ intellectual property rights,” the release continued.The WIPA head referred to Article 11 of the MOU, which he said made it “quite clear” that “prior consultation with WIPA is necessary before any such sponsorship agreement is signed”.”It would appear,” Ramnarine stated, “that WICB chose to ignore advising WIPA of its intention to re-negotiate with Digicel. Having come to an agreement without consulting with WIPA, the board decided to make the deal public and as an afterthought, stated that WIPA would be forwarded a copy of the agreement for its perusal.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has refused to intervene in the tussle between the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and the Indian board (BCCI), maintaining that national cricket boards should take their own decisions regarding the ICL.”The ICC Executive Board has taken a policy decision that the BCCI was the only competent authority to deal with the issue. It is up to the BCCI to decide whether to recognise the ICL or not,” an ICC spokesman told . “The executive board had told the BCCI that it was an internal matter and it was left to them whether to recognise the ICL or not. The ICC had told them that cricket should not suffer.”The Indian and Pakistan boards have come down heavily on players aligning with the ICL by banning them from playing for their country or in official domestic tournaments. The ICL has so far signed 51 players including several international stars, among them Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Lance Klusener, while Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Chris Harris have also been linked with it.

North West Cricket are holding a camp in Potchefstroom in December for professionals. Fifteen players have so far signed up for what the former Netherlands bowling coach Ian Pont, who is leading the camp, claims “is a viable alternative to the MRF camp in Chennai for fast bowlers, and the WCA in Mumbai for batsmen”.”South African conditions are closer to English ones,” Pont told Cricinfo, “and Potchefstroom additonally offers high-altitude training, with exceptional strength and conditioning facilities at North West University.”The camp has so far attracted seven English players, all from Northants – where David Capel, who will help out on the course, is head coach. He, Pont and the former Leicestershire player Gordon Parsons will look after the bowling, while Gary Kirsten, Monty Jacobs and Alex Cilliers will coach batting skills. Dr Jaco Peens is leading fielding and fitness.The week-long camp will take place at Sedgars Park from December 5 and costs $1000. There are still a few places up for grabs.

May 1997 – At 20, makes his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka at Hyderabad. Scores 10 as a fragile New Zealand batting order falls 53 short of its target.November 1997 – Has more success in his Test debut, scoring 54 against a strong Australia at Brisbane. Would prefer to forget the second innings, when Glenn McGrath trapped him lbw first ball.February 1998 – Takes advantage of a weaker opponent, Zimbabwe, to score his maiden Test century at Wellington in his fourth match. Displays the style he will become known for by bringing up the milestone with a six over long-on and finishes with 139.May 1998 – Strikes a blistering 142 from 179 balls in a Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, launching six sixes and helping New Zealand to a comfortable victory.August 1999 – Scores an unbeaten 107 in the third Test against England at Old Trafford. He struggles through the rest of the tour but New Zealand register an important 2-1 series win.December 2000 – Joins with Nathan Astle to set a New Zealand Test record fifth-wicket partnership of 222 against Zimbabwe at Wellington. McMillan’s contribution is 142 and he earns the Man-of-the-Match award.February 2001 – Scores his first ODI century in crunching style, belting five sixes on his way to 104 from 75 balls against Pakistan at Christchurch. He equals Chris Cairns’ record for the fastest ODI hundred by a New Zealand player.March 2001 – Breaks the record for most runs in a Test over when he clubs 26 from Younis Khan’s part-time legspin at Hamilton. McMillan makes batting look ridiculously easy, hitting five fours – including three reverse- pulls and scoops – and one six.October 2003 – After being dropped from the tour of Sri Lanka earlier in the year, McMillan returns with a superb fighting 83 not out against India at Ahmedabad to save New Zealand from what looked like a certain defeat. In the second Test at Mohali, he is one of four batsmen to score a century, but his unbeaten 100 is his last Test hundred.

November 2004 – McMillan clashes with Adam Gilchrist in a Test at Brisbane when the two disagree over the etiquette of walking. Gilchrist, a self-proclaimed walker, gives McMillan a spray because he does not walk after Steve Bucknor turns down an appeal for caught behind.June 2006 – Loses his national contract after a poor run of ODI form. Considers taking up a career as a salesman to help pay the bills.December 2006 – Is recalled for the home one-day series against Sri Lanka. Has little impact but keeps his spot for the CB Series in Australia.February 2007 – Caps off his comeback with the fastest century in an ODI by a New Zealand player. Blasts 117 from 96 balls – the century comes from 67 deliveries – as he overshadows Matthew Hayden’s 181 and steers New Zealand towards a successful chase of 347 at Hamilton. In typical McMillan fashion, he brings up his hundred with two successive sixes off Adam Voges.September 2007 – Proves that the frenetic Twenty20 format suits his destructive style as he finishes the World Twenty20 as New Zealand’s leading run-scorer. He makes 163 at 40.75 with an impressive strike-rate of 181.

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, has expressed confidence in his bowling attack as his team aims for a maiden Test victory on Australian soil.”The last time we were there, we drew a Test match [the second Test in Cairns, 2004]. I think we are getting closer and closer. Mentally we are a very strong unit and the guys have developed themselves very well,” said Jayawardene. “The best chance we have got would be right now because we have a good bowling attack. We feel that with the attack we’ve got, we can take 20 wickets. That’s the most important thing in winning a Test match.”We’ve done that in England and in New Zealand. Our next goal would be to do that in Australia. With this bowling attack our chances are much better. If the batsmen get the runs required and we fight like hell and support the bowlers, we have got a very good chance.”Jayawardene also spoke about the benefits of giving responsibilities to individual players. “We have given responsibility to individuals and over a period of time they’ve realised that they are responsible for their actions and for their performances. It is not just oriented around a few players, everyone has to contribute. Everyone realises how important they are to the team.”We’ve given them that confidence and they strive on that. That’s why we’ve started performing well overseas on a consistent basis. If we can keep that mentality and a strong mind frame, our chances are very good.”Assessing the opposition, Jayawardene said: “With the lack of experience by the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Australia’s batting would be their strongest going into the series. The bowlers, they have, are a good unit but not as experienced as when they had McGrath and Warne. They are still a very good all-round side. We still have to respect that and challenge them in all departments. “Muttiah Muralitharan may be just nine short of overhauling Shane Warne’s world record of 708 wickets, but Jayawardene said that it would not detract his team’s focus of winning the series. “I’ve spoken to Murali and his sentiments are that he will break the record whether it will be in Australia or elsewhere. For him the Australian tour is about performing well and winning. Down the line if he can break the record it will be great but even if he doesn’t break it, it is not an issue for us.”Sri Lanka leave for Australia on Tuesday (October 23) and the first Test starts in Brisbane on November 8.

Scorecard

UAE fought back brilliantly on the third day against Bermuda, with Arshad Ali cracking 185, his highest first-class score. At stumps, UAE led by 241.Arshad and Naeemuddin Aslam, his overnight partner, put on 133 for the second wicket before he was run out. Kashif Khan departed to Kevin Hurdle soon after, but from them on it was UAE’s day.Arshad and Saqib Ali made Bermuda’s bowlers toil with a gutsy fourth-wicket stand of 155, with Arshad dominating the attack – cracking 22 fours in his hundred. He was bowled by Malachi Jones for 185, only his second hundred.Saqib carried on where Arshad left off, though he lost partners at regular intervals and UAE slipped from 321 for 3 to 367 for 7 before Qasim Zubair joined Saqib in an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 42. Jones emerged with the very respectable figures of 4 for 66.

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