Jamaica: Veterans confirmed for cricket festival (17 Sep 1998)

Former West Indies world record holder, Lance Gibbs, batting stylist Lawrence Rowe and present West Indies opener Philo Wallace head the list of 11 overseas players who have confirmed their participation in the 22nd Milo Melbourne Cricket Festival at

17-Sep-1998

17 September 1998

Veterans confirmed for cricket festival

The Jamaica Gleaner

Offspinner Gibbs, who claimed 309 Test wickets will be joined by fellow Guyanese, West Indies 'A' batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, fast bowlers Reon King and Colin Stuart, and West Indies one-day rep, left-arm spin bowler Neil McGarrell.

The line-up for the 40-over per side encounter also includes former West Indies batsman Carlisle Best of Barbados, the Leeward Islands' Keith Arthurton who, like King, has been selected to the West Indies one-day team for the tour of India and teammate Sylvester Joseph who, as a batsman, is considered one of the brightest prospects in West Indies cricket.

In an innovative move, the 40 overs per side match will see the teams batting alternately with one team batting for 25 overs, the other for 25 overs, the first team coming back for 15, and the second returning to finish the match over the final 15 overs.

According to club president Tony Becca, the new format should provide a day of excitement for the fans.

"I think this will make the festival more exciting. Normally during one-day matches, the better bowlers end up bowling to the tailenders at the end of the match, but this will almost certainly guarantee that at the end, the better bowlers will be bowling to the better batsman. That, at the point, where the match is decided, should be really exciting," Becca said.

In a move to recognise two of the club's greatest players, the two teams participating in the one-day festival will be named after Michael Holding, who captured 249 Test wickets and Courtney Walsh who is just one wicket shy of Malcolm Marshall's West Indies bowling recording of 379.

As was the case last year, the admission fee will be $500 upstairs the club's pavilion, $300 for downstairs, $100 for the grounds, and $300 for the Melbourne Corner where the fans will be entertained with music.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)