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Despite a
devastating series loss to England in which the West Indies
slipped to two of its worst batting performances, Brian Lara
says he has no plans to step down as captain.
Lara, whose batting form has also been dismal in the series,
says he has the final Test under way in Antigua and the one-day
series that immediately follows to think about.
In addition, he was named captain for the tour by Bangladesh,
which begins this month.
Lara has failed to manage more than 36 runs in any of his six
Test innings, and has failed to score on two occasions.
However, the talented left-hander from Trinidad and Tobago is
the only West Indian named in a new section of Wisden's Cricket
Almanac, published this month.
The section identifies the top 40 cricketers in the world last
year.
The West Indies captain ended the year as the world's top-ranked
batsman, but he has slipped down the rankings because of his
recent poor production.
Three members of the touring English team were named in the
Wisden 40: Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and all-rounder
Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff was also named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the
Year.
TRACK and FIELD
Some of the biggest names in international athletics
will be on stage at the National Stadium in Kingston on May 7 at
the inaugural Jamaica Invitational.
World Championship 200 meter gold medalist Kim Collins of St.
Kitts/Nevis has been confirmed, along with several Americans,
including Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones, in addition to the
outstanding Maria Mutola of Mozambique.
Top Jamaican athletes, 400 meters runner Lorraine Fenton, long
jumper James Beckford and juniors Usain Bolt and Germaine
Gonzalez will also be on hand.
Some big-name athletes who had been expected will miss the meet
because of an international meet in Japan on May 8.
SOCCER
Jamaica's soccer chiefs are not underestimating the
challenge of Haiti in the first two World Cup qualifiers, home
and away, June 12 and 20.
The Haitians have been showing good form, reflected in their
rapid rise up the FIFA world rankings, which took them past Cuba
to third place in the Caribbean.
Strained political relations between the two countries are not
expected to be a factor in the games, with Haiti expected to
play its home game in Miami.
Jamaica's under-19 squad is in Germany for a tournament, which
runs until Tuesday.
Teams from England, Spain, Italy and Turkey are also taking
part.
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