A public announcement of his identity Ð almost certainly either incumbent Courtney Walsh or current vice-captain Brian Lara Ð Òis expectedÓ to be made tomorrow afternoon, 22 days before the first Test starts in Jamaica, the WICB revealed in a Press statement yesterday.
Although the statement did not make it clear, Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Tony Marshall confirmed yesterday that the selectors would again put forward their nomination to the board which would make the final choice.
ÒMy summons to the board meeting establishes that will be the procedure,Ó Marshall said. ÒI donÕt anticipate any problems.Ó
Although the board rebuffed the selectorsÕ recommendation last June of Lara as captain for the recent ill-starred tour of Pakistan and Sharjah, preferring to retain Walsh, informed opinion is that Lara will gain preference this time.
The earlier decision was made by what the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TCCB) called Òround-robinÓ telephone calls to individual representatives. Incensed by the procedure, it accused the WICB of a Òcalculated plotÓ to destroy Lara, Òits captain, its national hero and its world-class performerÓ.
The selectors remain the same Ð chairman Wes Hall, Joey Carew, Mike Findlay and team coach Malcolm Marshall Ð and they are unlikely to change their minds following the West IndiesÕ heavy defeats in all three Tests and three One-Day internationals in Pakistan and the loss to England in the final of the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.
It is also improbable that the full board, meeting in session, rather than members contacted by telephone, would again go against the selectors. The disunity that would follow would be even more serious than the first time.
The meetings will start this morning with a de-briefing session at which manager Clive Lloyd and coach Marshall will present their reports on the tour of Pakistan and Sharjah to WICB president Pat Rousseau, chief executive officer Stephen Camacho and the selection committee that, according to the statement, would also include Walsh.
That will be followed by Òa directional meetingÓ chaired by the head of the WICB cricket committee, Jackie Hendriks, the former Test wicket-keeper who is now also president of the Jamaica Association.
Also attended by Camacho, Hall, Lloyd, Marshall and director of coaching Reg Scarlett, it will Òmake recommendations for improvements in the short, medium and long termÓ.
The special general meeting of the full board will follow tomorrow morning to discuss the Pakistan and Sharjah tour reports and the forthcoming series against England as well as to appoint the captain.
The WICB said it would also hold its regular meeting with the executive of the PlayersÕ Association, comprising the president, Walsh, vice-president Lara and secretary Roland Holder.
Fast bowler Walsh, 35-year-old veteran of 13 years of international cricket, took over as captain from Richie Richardson in April, 1995, having served as caretaker for tours of India and New Zealand in 1994-95 while Richardson was recovering from acute fatigue syndrome.
He is four matches away from his 100th Test and 23 wickets short of Malcolm MarshallÕs West Indies Test record of 376 wickets.
Lara, 28, has been on-and-off vice-captain since WalshÕs first match in charge, against England in Antigua in 1994 when he compiled his Test record score, 375.
He led the West IndiesÕ to victory over India at Kensington Oval last season in his only Test as captain when Walsh was out with an injury.