CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Kingston: They don’t expect to win the Red Stripe Bowl, but their purpose here is more than just about participating.

For Canada, it is another stage of their build-up for next July’s International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy among ICC associate and affiliate members in which the top three teams qualify for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

When their manager was asked what they were hoping to gain from their four matches in the Caribbean, Karam Gopaulsingh never made mention of lifting the title. Development was the'key' word.

'The competition against better quality players tends to lift the performances of our players,' the Trinidadian-born Gopaulsingh told Nationsport.

'Seeing some of the internationally recognised players will help develop our youngsters, help them to shape their styles and also their attitude and respect for the game.'

It is the fourth time Canada are competing at this level and the manager has seen a level of progress over the years.

'Our performances keep getting better and better, but it’s hard when you play (only) one serious competition at this level,' he said.

'It’s difficult for the guys to adjust to the level at which we compete to this. Before you know it, it’s over.'

He made mention of some 'hesitancy' and 'silly mistakes' among the players during their seven-wicket defeat against Barbados at the Kensington Club ground last Wednesday.

'They won’t be any second round to improve on those mistakes, but I think they will take the lessons back with them.'

Gopaulsingh has a heavy background in cricket. He played in Jamaica’s senior Cup competitions for the University of the West Indies while he was a student at the Mona Campus between 1957 and 1961.

After moving to Vancouver soon after, he played for the provincial team and the Canada national team before getting involved in the administration of the sport in the early 1970s.

A former school principal, Gopaulsingh has been a member of the Canadian Cricket Association Board of Governors since 1974, vice-president for close to 20 years and chairman of selectors for about 15 years.

Another experienced professional is part of Canada’s management team this season.

Andrew Kirsten, brother of South Africa Test opener Gary Kirsten, is coach of a side which he believes has the potential to make it to the World Cup.

In his short stint, Canada have beaten Holland and an MCC side and won the ICC’s Americas Cup in which they had victories over Bermuda, Cayman Islands, United States and Argentina.

The next hurdle is the ICC Trophy.

'There are probably about seven or eight nations that realistically have a chance of making the top three in that tournament,' Kirsten said.

'I guess any one of them can make it, but I’m confident in Canada’s chances of making it.'

As a seasoned professional who played consistently for Western Province’s 'B' side in South Africa up until last year, Kirsten knows what quality cricket is about and has seen some of it in Canada since taking up his new job.

'You have some very talented players in Canada, but the problem is that they don’t play enough cricket at a high level for them to become very good players.'

Canada’s climate usually only allows them to play cricket during the summer months of July to September.

'They need to play more cricket at a high level like what we see here,' added Kirsten, holder of a South African Level 3 coaching certificate and who was coach of the University of Cape Town’s Premier League side for three years.

Interest in the sport is becoming higher and it is reflected by the fact that there are about 300 teams spread across Canada.

The team here includes only four players who were actually born in Canada but everyone has citizenship and they are proudly wearing the Canadian colours in the Caribbean.

© The Barbados Nation