Haynes calls for challenge matches

Former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes is repeating the call for more cricket for regional players. But he has a different perspective.

Recognising the financial constraints facing the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), he has called for challenge matches to supplement the Busta Cup four-day tournament and the Red Stripe Bowl One-Day trophy.

'We no longer have county cricket to assist us, so we have to look at other avenues to build our cricket in the region,' said Haynes, who took over as chairman of the Barbados selectors in January.

'One can say that our only viable option (for more cricket) is South Africa, and soon we don't know how long that will be so,' said the former Barbados captain who turns 44 tomorrow.

'We have to address the cricket (on-field) aspects of our game and if it is possible to have challenge games in the off-season I believe these things would be vital to our game and should be sanctioned by the WICB as a first-class game.'

Currently the West Indies season is one of the shortest among Test-playing countries with teams playing just five preliminary Busta Cup matches before the semifinals and final. The competition is over in seven weeks.

The Australian season runs from November to March with players having the benefit of ten State matches before the final. The South African season is of similar length, while an English player may have more than 15 first-class matches in a season running from April to September.

'As you know, what is lacking from most of our players is that they have been in a situation only once or twice and when they have to confront that situation it is difficult for them,' said Haynes, who made over 7 487 runs in 116 Tests.

'It would be good to get them in situations where they play competitive cricket for longer periods. You can't just watch a guy two or three times and decide all of a sudden he is ready for Tests.'

He said the corporate community could aid in this area by sponsoring these games which would help players to gain much needed experience and exposure before they were elevated to a higher level.

It would serve as a golden opportunity for the West Indies selectors to spot emerging talent on the horizon, he said.