Two vying for cricket spot

Two former outstanding Barbados cricketers have expressed a desire to succeed Desmond Haynes as chairman of the national selection panel.

Carlisle Best, one of this country's most successful batsmen at regional level, and Franklyn Stephenson, a professional in three continents, each believes he is capable of performing the role in which Haynes is no longer interested after fewer than two years in the job.

I believe I have an eye for talent and I think I can assist in the development of cricket in Barbados and be part of the process of taking Barbados' and West Indies' cricket back to the top, Best said.

Stephenson, regarded as one of the best Barbadian cricketers never to have played for the West Indies, said his current experience of playing in domestic competitions made him an ideal candidate.

I have an interest in Barbados' cricket. There are quite a few things that needed to be addressed for some time, he said.

My ideas can carry more weight in the right circles. I think I am in tuned with every-day runnings of first division cricket, having been involved for the last four years.

Best, a former Empire and Barbados captain, feels the chairman of selectors should have more responsibility than he had in the past.

He has got to be an integral part of the cricketing structure, he said.

He has got to have an interest in every stage of cricketing development in Barbados and across the region. As such, he therefore has to assist, implement or improve the state of conditions.

The former West Indies batsman also believed that for too long selectors concentrated merely on picking teams.

Selectors have to help see the process from kindergarten to Test cricket, he said.

They have to see that the whole process is crystallised progressively as young players come through the ranks.

They can't just know about Vasbert Drakes and Ottis Gibson, but they have to know about the little boys in primary and secondary schools who are doing well.

If given the job, Best said he would put in place a forum where selectors review policies, establish policies and guidelines from top to bottom.

Stephenson said it was important that a chairman of selectors made sure the best available talent was given a chance.

We've had too many good cricketers who have slipped through our grasp, he said. We have got to be a lot closer to our cricketers' development.

Outlooks and attitudes have changed and too many people dwell in the past about how things were when we were coming up.

An all-rounder with the experience of playing first-class cricket in England, South Africa and Australasia, Stephenson is happy with the level of talent at domestic level.

I like the developments that are going on. I see a lot of good, young cricketers around.

But, in order for further development, he said changes need to be made.

There is a lot that needs to done, including turning our first division cricket into a professional set-up and I think that the closer I can be, the more I can get people to see, he said.

Haynes, a former Barbados opener and West Indies vice-captain, be-came chairman of selectors in September, 1999, but indicated in a recent report to the Barbados Cricket Association's board of management that he would not like to stand for re-election at the end of his term.

Best, who played with Haynes at Test and first-class level, was somewhat concerned about the latter's decision without a public explanation.

You don't just resign from important positions like that in a great institution as cricket without explanation, Best said.

It leaves one to wonder what pressures or influences may exist when you are in a position like that.