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KINGSTON – Amidst another significant break between matches, Barbados manager Tony Howard is bemoaning the length of time it is taking to complete the 2002 Red Stripe Bowl.

His comments come against the background that Barbados could end up spending as many as 20 days in Jamaica to play a maximum of six One-Day matches should they qualify for Sunday's final.

"It certainly could have been condensed. The extra week is a bit too long. It could have been done in two weeks. It would have given all the teams more activity," Howard told NATIONSPORT yesterday during an evening practice session at Sabina Park.

After winding down their preliminary phase last Saturday, Barbados have a break of five days ahead of their semifinal contest against defending champions Guyana on Friday at the Kaiser Sports Club in Discovery Bay.

Between their third and fourth matches, Barbados also had four days off.

"With five days between games, it takes a lot to keep the guys on track, keep them motivated and keep them focused on what needs to be done," Howard said.

"When you're kept indoors for a while, it does take a lot out of the youngsters."

The length of the tournament also raises concerns after a decision to use only umpires from host countries in an effort to cut costs.

"We've been complaining about not having any money. Yet we have made the competition longer," Howard said. "We've made it more expensive, yet we say we have no money. It doesn't add up."

The long breaks have not triggered anything negative among the Bajans, but Howard said a tighter schedule could have created a more positive effect.

On their days off, Barbados have opted for mainly practice sessions.

"The only time we haven't done that is on the day after the game which is deliberate for us because the grounds have been very hard and to keep the muscles ready we've gone to the pool to do some exercises which have been beneficial, especially to the older guys," Howard said.

With so much time between matches, one team opted to journey to the north coast last week to visit the Dunn's River Falls, among other tourist attractions.

© The Barbados Nation