Windies apologise for rout

CRICKET: While England celebrated a 10-wicket victory in their first test against West Indies, the ramifications of the home side's capitulation were clear yesterday as the West Indies Cricket Board made a public apology for their side's performance.

With four West Indies players - who were not named - also reprimanded for partying at the ground after the game, the hosts would seem to be in disarray, 1-0 down in the four-match series and with just four days to go until the second Test in Trinidad.

Skittled for their lowest Test total of 47 in the second innings on Sunday, the West Indies players will go to Trinidad with their pride seriously dented and the words of the WICB ringing in their ears. In a statement the WICB said the team "sincerely apologises to the West Indies public for the shocking performance on the fourth day of the first Cable & Wireless Test match that resulted in a 10-wicket loss to England.

"The team further apologises for the inappropriate conduct of four members of the team who were seen in a party stand at Sabina Park following the loss."

Team manager Ricky Skerritt said the matter was being investigated and the players would be dealt with appropriately.

"I am disgusted at the thoughtlessness and shamelessness displayed by these players following such an horrific performance," Skerritt said.

England coach Duncan Fletcher told reporters yesterday his team had to carry over their intensity and application into the second Test.

"(Steve) Harmison's performance showed all the players that hard work does pay off. That's what I said to Steve in the changing-room after the match," Fletcher said. Harmison took seven wickets for 12 runs in 12.3 overs on Sunday.

Fletcher also praised Simon Jones, who came through his first test since the horrific knee injury he sustained against Australia 16 months ago.

Fletcher said the momentum gained from the win at Sabina Park put the team in a perfect frame of mind for the second Test.

"We must have an advantage," he said. "Our confidence is high, especially in the bowlers."

England have no injury worries for the second Test, while West Indies will wait on the fitness of fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who suffered a side strain at Sabina Park, before naming their 12.

Elsewhere, South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten has confirmed he will retire from Test cricket after the current tour of New Zealand.

The 36-year-old opener is South Africa's most prolific Test batsman with 7,210 runs, placing him third behind India's Sachin Tendulkar and West Indian Brian Lara among current players.

In a statement, Kirsten, who had originally planned to quit Tests last year, said his retirement was overdue. "My wife, Deborah, and I had made a decision that when our first child arrived I would retire, but with Joshua now nearly four months old it has overlapped a little," Kirsten said. "I was lucky enough to play with and against some wonderful cricketers and I take many great memories with me."

Tendulkar and Lara are the only two current players to have scored more than the 21 Test centuries Kirsten has to his name.

Left-hander Kirsten made his Test debut in the 1993-94 tour of Australia. He has a Test average of 45.92. He became the first player to score a century against all nine other Test-playing nations when he made 160 against Bangladesh in East London in 2002.

South Africa's United Cricket Board (UCB) said it hoped to use Kirsten's experience in a future role within South African cricket.

Meanwhile, Asian cricket authorities are pushing for China to be included as an affiliate member of the game's ruling body, Indian board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said yesterday.

The game has already taken root in China and the world's most populous nation will become a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) later this year, Dalmiya said.

Cricket was introduced in China around 1860, but has been played mainly by British expatriates in Beijing and Shanghai.