Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

New West Indies Team Fizzles Out of ICC Champions Trophy

icc_champions_trophy_2009
Originally uploaded by kitsece2001

Well, the new West Indies cricket team fizzled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, today.

 

 

 

[The ICC Champions Trophy is a 2-week event consisting of One Day International matches. The world's top cricket teams compete for the ICC Trophy and prize money of US $4 million.

 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body for international cricket].

 

Sad to say, this was expected, as the West Indies' loss to Australia on Saturday, guaranteed their early exit from the competition.

 

The West Indies (Windies) match against India, today, was supposed to be a face-saver for the Windies, but their performance was dismal - as they only made 129 runs in 36 overs, providing the Indians with an easy 130-run target to make in 50 overs.

 

And the Indians did make target practice of the West Indies. They made 130 runs for 3 wickets in 32.1 overs, and thus won by 7 wickets.

 

Although In  dia won their match against the West Indies, their point standing of 1, was insufficient for them to advance the semifinals.

 

So, from group A, only Pakistan and Australia have advanced to the semifinals.

 

The other teams making it to the semifinals are New Zealand and England - both from Group B.

 

Hence:

 

1) The 1st semifinal: Australia vs England, will take place on Friday, Oct 2, 12:30 GMT or 7:30 a.m. Jamaica time

 

2) The 2nd semifinal: New Zealand vs Pakistan, will take place on Oct 3,12:30 GMT or 7:30 a.m. Jamaica time.

 

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Surely it has to be back to the drawing board for the West Indies Cricket Board and team.

 

We really need a West Indies team, with capable players, committed to playing their hearts out, for the West Indies.

 

The Board needs to have a re-look at this new West Indies team to ensure that only trainable persons, who are capable of improvement, are combined with committed members from the old West Indies team, to form a new team of competent batsmen, bowlers and fielders.

 

They need to enforce performance-based criteria for each team member, which should also include attitudinal measures. The Board, should by now realize that West Indians are just plain tired of the lazy attitude of most members of the old Windies team.

 

As for the administration side of things - a new CEO (Ernest Hilaire) should take up Office, tomorrow.  He's already creating ripples by saying that he would oust Chris Gayle as captain, based upon comments Chris made some months ago, that test cricket is dead and that he prefers the shorter, more lucrative form of the game  - 20/20 cricket.

 

Well, it would be interesting to see who Mr. Hilaire feels is a good replacement for Gayle.

 

I would say, based upon attitude and acumen, that Dwayne Bravo would be an excellent choice - I just love this young man's attitude, he gives 130%, he's a good all-rounder and seems to be a natural leader - with killer instincts.

 

...He just has the kind of tenacity we need in a captain, to ensure wins.

 

Wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin is also another good choice...based on past performance and intelligence.

 

Speaking of attitude and acumen, the West Indies Board now needs to excuse themselves from their positions and allow a new Board of great managers and administrators with strong ethics, strong work ethic in Sports Business, who will be held accountable for their actions, to take their place.

 

All of them need to retire in the best interest of West Indies cricket...

 

Maybe then we will have a West Indies team and organization, that West Indians will support and truly be proud of.

 

(I would like to thank  kitsece2001 for the use of his Flickr inset photo of the ICC Champions Trophy).

 

Gillian

 

Sources Include

 

1) Match Schedule for ICC Champions Trophy, www.cricinfo.com, September 22-October 5,2009

 

2) Results of ICC Champions Trophy, September 30,2009

 

3) ICC Champions Trophy Points Standing, www.thatscricket.oneindia.in, September 30,2009

 

4) Article, "Gayle captaincy not guaranteed-Hilaire", by Alex Brown, cricinfo.com September 23,2009

New West Indies Team Makes Good Showing, at ICC Champions Trophy

icc_champions_trophy_2009
Originally uploaded by kitsece2001

The New West Indies Cricket team gave a good account of themselves, today, at the ICC Champions Trophy, being held in South Africa.

 

They played Pakistan in the second match of the Championship.

 

[The ICC Champions Trophy is a 3-week event consisting of One Day International matches. The world's top cricket teams compete for the ICC Trophy and prize money of US $4 million.

 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body for international cricket].

 

Results

 

• West Indies 133/10 (133 runs for 10 wickets) in 34.3 overs

• Pakistan 134/5 (133 runs for 10 wickets) in 30.3 overs. 

 

Yes, the West Indies lost to Pakistan, but what the batsmen failed to do in their batting, the bowlers more than made up for, in their disciplined bowling attack.

 

They were unfortunately given an impossible task, with Pakistan only needing to make 134 runs to win.

 

I was especially impressed with Gavin Tonge - his bowling was excellent -

 

He bowled 10 overs, got 3 maidens, limited Pakitsan to a run rate of 2.5 (25 runs/10 overs) an over and dismissed 4 batsmen; he bowled 1 wide and had 2 no-balls.

This is written: Tonge 10-3-25-4 (w-1, nb-2), in cricket scoreboard language.

 

Bernard and Sammy also did well: Their stats were: Bernard 7-0-28-1 (w-3); Sammy 7-0-29-0,

 

[In everyday English:

David Bernard Jr. bowled 7 overs, got 0 maidens, limited Pakistan to a run rate of 4 an over and dismissed 1 batsman; he bowled 3 wides. 

 

Darren Sammy bowled 7 overs, got 0 maidens, limited Pakistan to a run rate of 4.1 an over and dismissed no batsmen].

 

The fielding was also very good...as  the Windies showed grit and determination to fight for a win.

 

[Much kudos should go to the coach, David Williams (former assistant coach), who is filling this position temporarily].

 

The West Indies is competing in Group A, along with India, Pakistan and Australia. These teams are not a walk-over, but can be beaten...

 

Pakistan leads the  group with two (2) points, after defeating the West Indies, today.

 

Please see the ICC Champions Trophy Points Table at CricketWorld4U.com, for continuous Points Tables updates.

 

The next match involving the West Indies, will be played against Australia, on Saturday, Sept 26,2009 at 7:30 p.m. GMT (2:30 p.m. Jamaica time).

 

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Please see:

 

1)   The Schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy, from CricketWorld4U.com.

 

2) The members of each team, competing in the ICC Champions Trophy, from BBC Sport-Cricket.

(I would like to thank  kitsece2001 for the use of his Flickr inset photo of the ICC Champions Trophy).

 

Gillian

Sources Include

 

1) ICC Champions Trophy Points Table, CricketWorld4U.com, September 23,2009

 

2) Schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy, CricketWorld4U.com, September 23,2009

 

3) Members of each team competing in the ICC Champions Trophy, BBC Sport-Cricket

 

4) West Indies vs Pakistan Scoreboard, Reuters.com, September 23,2009

 

5) Article, "West Indies coach Dyson dismissed", RainbowSkill.com, August 14,2009

Caster Semenya and Serena Williams: Will Sports Officials do the Right Thing?

caster-semenya(01)
Originally uploaded by vnnb2

For the past three (3) weeks we've been having a lot of drama in female sports...

Australian newspaper - The Daily Telegraph, amidst reports that the results of the IAAF's gender tests on Caster Semenya, were now known, reported on September 11,2009, that the 19-year old South African 800 metres (800m) runner, was intersex (a pseudo hermaphrodite):

Meaning, she has both female and male sex organs, but is manifesting one type, physically.

It is said that Caster Semenya has a vagina and labia but her testicles are internal and hence, unseen. (In a male, the testicles hang down, outside the body cavity and are clearly visible).

As a result of the presence of testes (testicles), Caster allegedly produces three (3) times the normal amount of testosterone for a woman.

(Testosterone is the sex hormone that stimulates development of male sex characteristics and bone and muscle growth. It is produced by the testicles and in small amounts, by the ovaries).

The Daily Telegraph claims that the IAAF will let Caster keep her medal, but will prevent her from taking part in any female events.

IAAF officials ordered the tests after she set a new world record, during the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

Apparently the IAAF had also asked Caster to do a gender test, after she got a world leading time in the African Junior Championships, in July 2009.

They refused to comment on the Daily Telegraph's report until November, when they will release an official statement.

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Of course South African Sports officials are incensed and have threatened "World War Three"...

But psychological and endocrinological experts, in Jamaica, are saying that her family would have known that she's intersex...

...As her clitoris may have been elongated (beyond the normal length of a female, or her labia, not fully developed)...they would have to have known that something was amiss.

Some experts blame Caster's handlers for this melee, as they say that the World Championships was not the first time that Caster's gender was brought into question.

(Remember also, that this is not the first time that a female athlete's gender has been in question. Previously, an Indian athlete committed suicide as she just couldn't take the pressure being brought on about her gender, by the press).

But one can empathize with Caster Semenya's family. This woman just recently turned 19 and for her very private life to be made so public, must take some getting used to by her and her family.

(The family will need a lot of emotional support from their community, as well as others across the world, who can empathize with what Caster is going through).

If she is in fact intersex:

1) It would not be her fault - she was just born this way

2) What does the IAAF do?

Do they say to this young woman - your athletic career is over, as you classify as neither male or female?...

Or do they force her to have surgery in order to remove the testes, so that she can fully identify as female?

Hmmmh!!??!!...

...Or, do they find a happy, ethical and medical medium in which this woman can compete, as a woman?

The press was very captivated by this story, until the outbursts from Serena Williams (the world's no. 2 in tennis), made during her US Open Semi-final match with Kim Clijsters, took centre-stage.

She was called for a foot fault earlier in the match and on the final point of the match (which she lost), was called again.

Serena, incensed at losing to Clijsters and incensed at being called wrongly, for a foot fault, pointed her racket, menacingly at the line judge.

The line judge, who happens to be Asian (and we know the history of Asian-African American relations in the USA), who obviously felt threatened, told match officials, that Serena had threatened to kill her.

What a prekeh! (what a thing!)

Off course Serena, then retorted loudly, that she had said no such thing.

She shook hands with Clijsters and left the court in a huff...she didn't stay to be interviewed by the press or to wave goodbye to fans.

========

On examination of TV footage from the match, US Open officials are saying that the line judge's call was wrong.

However, they fined Serena US $10,000, for "unsportsmanlike behaviour" and US $500, for racket abuse in the first set.

(The US $10,000 is the maximum amount allowed for a fine for unsportsmanlike behaviour).

They are investigating the possibility of banning her from all Grand Slams for next year and fining her more money.

Now, according to Wikipedia.org, Serena Williams has won more grand slams than any other female in tennis and has won more career prize money.

Hmmh!...

When John McEnroe went on with his antics, during his years of playing tennis, did he get banned for a year?

[John McEnroe was an excellent male tennis player, who was a hot-head - he got angry very easily during his matches and would throw tantrums on the court (including banging his racket unto the court surface and arguing with match officials)].

You know, I'm anxious to know what US match officials will do.

For if they choose to be very heavy-handed with Serena, I'm sure she would have a great court case.

Sure, she acted unwisely, and yes, she's a role model for young girls and young women...but to be fined more money and banned from Grand Slams for a year?...

Oh pp-lease!

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So will Sports officials do the right thing by these two young, talented, sportswomen?

I hope so, because their decisions will set either bad or good precedents in these two sports!

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As usual, GWAP Blog will keep you updated re the ensuing and final decisions by sports officials, regarding these two women.

(I would like to thank vnnb2 for the use of his/her? inset photo of Caster Semenya and paddynapper for the use of his/her? photo of Serena Williams).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Article, "South Africa accused of cover-up over Caster Semenya gender tests", by David Smith, the guardian.co.uk, September 18,2009

2) Various News reports following the US Open Semi-final Match between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, September 13-16,2009

3) Article, "Serena fined for outburst in US Open semis", by SportsNetwork.com, September 13,2009

4) Interviews on Nationwide Radio,  September 11-16, 2009

5) Article, "Caster Semenya has male sex organs and no womb or ovaries", by Mike Hurst, the Daily Telegraph, September 11,2009

6) Article," Gender row athlete: what is intersexuality?," CNN.com/health,August 2009

7) Serena Williams' Biography, Wikipedia.org

8) John McEnroe's Biography,Wikipedia.org

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