Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued a statement on Tuesday in reaction to the news that wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas has been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council for corruption.

The charges, according to a statement issued by the ICC early on Tuesday, involve "contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021."

“Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been made aware that charges have been laid by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), involving West Indies player Devon Thomas.”

The statement continued: “CWI is not directly involved in the process but remains firm in denouncing corruption in cricket, and fully supports the ICC ACU in its efforts to uphold the integrity of the sport.

While the matter continues, CWI will not make any further comments in respect of these charges.

In collaboration with ICC and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), CWI remains committed to sensitizing and educating our players and officials on anti-corruption in sports.”

Bangladesh “A” reached 175-5 off 49 overs at stumps on a rain-affected day one of the second four day “Test” against West Indies “A” at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Afif Hossain and Saif Hassan have top-scored so far for the hosts with 37 and 31, respectively.

Akeem Jordan has taken 2-24 in his 11 overs, so far, while Kevin Sinclair, who has also bowled 11 overs, took 2-37.

The West Indies have made two changes to their XI from the first Test with Gudakesh Motie and Yannic Cariah being replaced by Keacy Carty and Anderson Phillip.

West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas has been charged by the ICC with seven counts under the Anti-Corruption codes.

The ICC has provisionally suspended Thomas with immediate effect after charging him under their Anti-Corruption codes on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The charges involve "contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021," according to an ICC statement released on Tuesday.

He has also been charged under several other codes, including failing to disclose full details of an approach in the Lanka Premier League 2021, Abu Dhabi T10 2021 and CPL 2021.

The charges involved are:

Article 2.1.1 of the SLC Code - contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021.  

Article 2.4.4 of the SLC Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in the Lanka Premier League 2021.

Article 2.4.6 of the SLC Code - failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official. 

Article 2.4.7 of the SLC Code – obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation into Corrupt Conduct, including (without limitation) concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of Corrupt Conduct.

Article 2.4.4 of the ECB Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct at the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.

Article 2.4.4 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in relation to the CPL 2021.

Article 2.4.2 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or benefit (a) that he knew or should have known was made in order to procure a breach of the CPL Code, or (b) could have brought the player or the game of cricket into disrepute.

The 33-year-old last played in December 2022 when he made his Test debut in Adelaide against Australia. Overall, he has played 21 ODIs, 12 T20Is and the one Test match.

Thomas has 14 days from 23 May 2023 to respond to the charges made against him.

West Indies have been drawn alongside the Netherlands, Nepal, United States, and hosts Zimbabwe in Group A of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.

The ICC has unveiled the two groups, match schedules and venues for the 10-team tournament from 18 June to 9 July. All matches will start at 9am local time (3am Eastern Caribbean Time/2am Jamaica Time). Group B features Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ten teams will be competing for the two remaining places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup which will be played in India in October and November later this year.

West Indies face the USA in the opening Group A fixture on Sunday 18 June at Takashinga Cricket Club, followed by Nepal on Thursday 22 June at Harare Sports Club. West Indies meet hosts Zimbabwe on Saturday 24 June at Harare Sports Club. The fourth preliminary match will be against the Netherlands on Monday 26 June.

Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from the groups progressing to the Super Six stage from Thursday 29 June to Friday 7 July. The teams each play three Super Six matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage.

All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group. The final will be played at Harare Sports Club on Sunday 9 July. The two finalists will both progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy said: “We know what’s at stake and the singular focus is to secure one of the two spots for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. We trust in our preparation and, now that we know the matchups, we will plan accordingly. These are exciting times ahead for this confident bunch of young men. Our duty is to also make our fans proud and we intend to do exactly that.”

FULL SQUAD: Shai Hope (captain), Rovman Powell (vice captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd

MATCH SCHEDULE

All matches start at 9am local time (3am Eastern Caribbean/2am Jamaica)

Sunday 18 June
​Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
​West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday 19 June
​Sri Lanka v UAE, Queen’s Sports Club
​Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Tuesday 20 June
​Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club
​Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday 21 June
​Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
​Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday 22 June
​West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
​Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday 23 June
​Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen’s Sports Club
​Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Saturday 24 June
​Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club
​Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club

Sunday 25 June
​Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club
​Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Monday 26 June
​Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club
​West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club

Tuesday 27 June
​Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
​Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday 29 June
​Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club

Friday 30 June
​Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
​Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club

Saturday 1 July
​Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club

Sunday 2 July
​Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
​Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday 3 July
​Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Tuesday 4 July
​Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
​Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday 5 July
​Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Thursday 6 July
​Super 6: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
​Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday 7 July
​Super 6: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club

Sunday 9 July
​Final, Harare Sports Club

The Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Royals have both confirmed their Caribbean player retentions ahead of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The tournament gets underway on 16 August with the final taking place on 24 September. There will be matches in Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.  

The Tallawahs, the defending champions, have retained the following players: Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Shamarh Brooks, Raymon Reifer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Springer, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie and Joshua James.

The three-time champions have also brought in Hayden Walsh Jr who was transferred from the Barbados Royals.  

Krishna Persaud, owner of the Jamaica Tallawahs, said: “We are delighted to be the defending champions, but that was last year. Now we will focus on this year's team as we look forward to another great tournament. We are excited and our team will seek to defend the CPL championship.” 

The Royals, who have won a pair of CPL titles themselves, have retained the following players: Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Rakheem Cornwall, Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop, Nyeem Young and Ramon Simmonds. 

The Royals have also brought in Rovman Powell who was transferred from the Jamaica Tallawahs. 

The overseas players and draft picks will be announced during the Republic Bank CPL draft show which will be broadcast at the end of June.

Richard Gould has forecast a “very long and successful future for The Hundred” despite the impending departure of one of its chief masterminds at the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Even before its inception into the domestic calendar two years ago, the 100-ball competition has polarised opinion while its position at the peak of summer – the third season will take place from August 1-27 – has attracted intense debate.

Reports last month claimed the ECB was open to reviewing The Hundred, which is still only played in the UK, with one alternative being a T20 format of two divisions featuring promotion and relegation.

More scrutiny on its long-term future came on Tuesday as Sanjay Patel, who led The Hundred’s creation and is its managing director, announced he will leave the ECB at the end of the 2023 competition.

After paying tribute to Patel, ECB chief executive Gould said in a statement: “There’s no doubt that The Hundred has been a success, helping cricket reach new audiences, bringing in important revenue and propelling the game forwards.

“It plays an important role in our game and I’m looking forward to a very long and successful future for The Hundred.”

Gould and ECB chair Richard Thompson were prominent critics when The Hundred was first broached during their time at Surrey, but the pair have reversed that stance in their new positions.

Any major changes to The Hundred are unlikely to be introduced in the short-term given the ECB’s broadcast partnership that runs until 2028 with Sky, one of the tournament’s major champions, while the BBC’s free-to-air arrangement covers at least the next two editions.

The increased exposure the women’s game has had in the first couple of seasons is regularly highlighted as an unqualified success while there is evidence that the scheduling, marketing and ticket pricing have helped attract new fans and a broader demographic to cricket grounds.

A report from Worcestershire chair Fanos Hira, a chartered accountant, attaches a £9million loss to the first two seasons but the ECB argues that it turned a profit of £11.8m.

Patel, who first joined the ECB in 2015, said: “I will miss this job and the people immensely but once we’ve completed the third season of The Hundred I believe the time will be right for me to look for a new adventure.”

Defending champions Jamaica got their second win in a row in the CWI Women’s T20 Blaze with a six-run win over Trinidad & Tobago while Barbados and the Windward Islands each got their first wins of the tournament over Guyana and the Leeward Islands, respectively, in a triple-header at Warner Park on Sunday.

Stand-in captain Rashada Williams (32) and Chedean Nation (32) both led Jamaica to 115-9 off their 20 overs against the Trinidadians, for whom veteran off-spinner Anisa Mohammed took 3-19 off her four overs.

The chasing effort saw only Britney Cooper provide any real resistance with 29 as Neisha-Ann Wasome’s 3-16 from four overs helped restrict T&T to 109-9 off their 20 overs.

Barbados secured a narrow three-wicket win over Guyana in the day’s second encounter.

Guyana, while losing only three wickets in their 20 overs batting first against Barbados, managed only 91 thanks to a 46-ball 32* from Katana Mentore and a 51-ball 35* from Cherry-Ann Fraser.

Barbados, who were at one point reeling at 63-6 in the 17^th over, managed to creep across the line thanks to a match-winning 17* from captain Shakera Selman. Openers Trishan Holder (19) and Kycia Knight (16) made crucial early contributions.

The valiant Guyanese bowling effort was led by Kaysia Schultz’s 3-13 from four overs.

The day’s opener saw the Windward Islands get a comfortable 45-run win over the Leeward Islands.

The Windwards made 127-4 off their 20 overs thanks to 37 from Jannillea Glasgow, 24 from Pearl Etienne and 21* from both Kimone Homer and Qiana Joseph.

The Leewards were then restricted to 82-6 in their 20 overs thanks to 2-21 off four overs from Zaida James and a miserly four over spell from Afy Fletcher which saw her pick up a wicket while conceding only 13 runs.

Glamorgan are unlocking opportunities for the next generation of South Asian heritage cricketers and supporters.

The Welsh county has put a coaching network in place to give young talent from ethnic minority backgrounds the best chance of following former England Under-19 spinner Prem Sisodiya into the first team.

Off the field, prayer rooms are being actively discussed, while Glamorgan hope to attract supporters of South Asian descent by establishing no alcohol areas as well as providing halal and vegetarian food options.

“We’ve got a joint strategy which has set out its intention of being the most inclusive sport in Wales and to reflect the diversities of the communities we have here,” said Mark Frost, community and development manager for Glamorgan Cricket and Cricket Wales.

“We’ve set out that whether you are a club or at Sophia Gardens (Glamorgan’s home), being a more diverse set up is actually better for you.

“We’re not doing it for box-ticking or to be politically correct, we’re doing it because it’s good for you and we want it to happen.”

In Wales, 60 per cent of clubs now have girls or women’s team offers – “a massive step forward”, says Frost – and ‘Street Cricket’ initiatives have been set up in locations throughout the country where clubs do not exist.

Glamorgan’s drive to produce players of South Asian heritage has seen coaches such as former Derbyshire and Middlesex paceman Ali Bukhari, Mohsin Arif, Imran Hassan and Mojeid Ilyas joining their ‘Talent Pathway’ scheme.

“That old adage ‘if you can’t see it you can’t believe it’ is a really important one,” said Frost, speaking at a Glamorgan junior programme event held in Grangetown, one of Cardiff’s most diverse communities close to the city centre.

“The coaching pathway for Welsh age-group squads is helping to contribute from both the coaching and mentoring of players from an ethnic minority background.

“We’ve also spoken to community leaders and said we’re really taking the subject of prayer rooms seriously, as well as having a good variety of food options and areas of no alcohol or low alcohol so people can find an area that suits them.

“We know that T20 and The Hundred has attracted a younger audience, a family audience, and we’ve not yet got the right number of people coming forward from an ethnic minority background.

“But we’ve seen growth in the club game over the last eight years from five to 12 per cent of juniors and seniors from an ethnic minority background, which is more than representative of the population of Wales.”

Sisodiya attended the schools’ event at the Grange Pavilion, little more than a six hit from where he was born and grew up.

He said: “Being of Indian heritage and to say I’m from Grangetown is massive to me.

“When I was growing up we were always playing on the streets and in the park with a bat and ball.

“To see how a facility like this has developed is amazing. I think if I’d had this as a youngster it would have pushed me even more.

“When my dad came over from India he played for the Welsh Asians, but there’s a lot more integration now and it’s important Glamorgan spot that talent at an early age.”

Nottinghamshire moved into fourth in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division One table after drawing against Essex.

Having been 144 runs behind on the first innings, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook scored 99 alongside Tom Westley’s 95 to help Essex put on 362 for eight before declaring.

With the hosts set 219 to chase in 39 overs, Nottinghamshire were 97 for four, still 122 runs short of their target, when the sides agreed to call it a day with five of the scheduled overs unbowled.

In Division Two, Ajaz Patel finished with match figures of 10 for 209 as Durham cemented their position at the top with a 125-run triumph over Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The hosts were bowled out for 300 before lunch despite Marcus Harris carrying his bat with an unbeaten 122 and putting on an eighth-wicket stand of 88 with Josh Shaw (44).

However, New Zealand Test left-arm spinner Patel was able to follow up his five for 113 in the first innings with five for 96 as Durham earned their fourth victory in six games.

Elsewhere, an extraordinary effort saw Glamorgan pile up a vast total of 737 to save their match against Sussex, which ended in a draw.

Michael Neser became the third century-maker of the innings, following Marnus Labuschagne and Kiran Carlson, as Glamorgan turned a first-innings deficit of 358 into a lead of 379 against the weakened hosts.

Any doubt about the outcome of the match had long gone by the time the players shook hands.

Defending champions, Jamaica, kicked off the defence of their CWI Women’s T20 Blaze title with an eight wicket win over the Leeward Islands at Warner Park in the second game of a triple-header on Saturday.

Vanessa Watts, Celina Whyte and Neisha-Ann Wasome all took two wickets, each, as the Leewards were restricted to 68-7 off their 20 overs.

Jamaica’s successful chase was then led by a 29-ball 36* from Rashada Williams that included five fours.

Trinidad & Tobago got a comfortable five-wicket win over Super 50 champions Barbados in the day’s final game.

Shakera Selman top-scored with 29* off 41 balls as Barbados were reduced to just 80-6 from their 20 overs as Lee-Ann Kirby did most of the damage with 3-10 from her four overs for the Trinidadians.

Kirby also led the way with the bat with 25* while Britney Cooper got 23 as T&T successfully reached 82-5 off 12.3 overs.

The day’s second game saw Guyana secure a narrow four-run win over the Windward Islands. Batting first, the Guyanese scored just 88-7 off their 20 overs thanks to 32 from Katana Mentore and 19 from Sheneta Grimmond.

Afy Fletcher led the way with the ball for the Windwards with an excellent 4-10 from her four overs.

Guyana then used tight bowling and timely wickets throughout the Windwards reply to restrict them to 84-8 off their 20 overs.

Ashmini Munisar took one wicket and was most economical, with her four overs costing just seven runs. Nyia Latchman also took one wicket, with her four overs going for just 10.

Tom Lawes’ career-best five for 22 included the wickets of England pair Zak Crawley and Sam Billings to propel LV= County Championship leaders Surrey to a 10-wicket thrashing of Kent.

Crawley fell for 34 having added just three to his overnight score before edging into the cordon, departing after Billings nicked off as the Kent captain bagged a pair at the Kia Oval.

Kent had slipped from 78 for one to 80 for four the previous evening and the writing was on the wall early on the third day as they were all out for a paltry 141 to leave Surrey needing just 58 to win.

Captain Rory Burns’ run-a-ball 36 helped them to their target in just 11.3 overs for their fourth win in six Division One matches this season – achieved with five sessions to spare.

Hampshire claimed their third win of the campaign as Liam Dawson’s six for 61 wrapped up an innings-and-135-run triumph over Northamptonshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Resuming on 50 for two in their follow-on and still needing 261 just to make their opponents bat again, Northamptonshire crumbled to a third successive innings defeat against bogey side Hampshire.

Saif Zaib, the only batter to reach double figures in Northamptonshire’s first innings of 56, registered an unbeaten 57 on Saturday as his side slid to 176 all out second time around.

Craig Overton recorded his best figures this summer to propel Somerset to their first championship win of 2023 as they crushed Middlesex by an innings and 12 runs at Lord’s.

Overton finished with five for 46, supported by fellow seamer Peter Siddle’s effort of three for 57, to dismiss the home side for 216 in their follow-on, with more than four sessions to spare.

Mark Stoneman, who occupied the crease for almost three hours in compiling 60, was the only man to register a fifty for a Middlesex side who have managed to post in excess of 250 only once this season.

Sir Alastair Cook is 13 runs away from a maiden century at Trent Bridge, where Essex nudged ahead of Nottinghamshire thanks to unbeaten half-centuries from the former England captain and Tom Westley.

Cook is 87 not out with Essex captain Tom Westley unbeaten on 70 as Essex closed on 199 for one for a 55-run lead over Nottinghamshire, who were earlier all out for 442, with Matthew Montgomery the penultimate batter to fall for a terrific 177.

In Division Two, England and Sussex will be nervously awaiting the results of a scan on Ollie Robinson’s left ankle, which restricted the seamer to just an eight-over burst against Glamorgan at Hove.

In his absence, Marnus Labuschagne, in his final innings for Glamorgan this summer, hit 138 ahead of linking up with Australia for the World Test Championship final and the Ashes.

Kiran Carlson’s 187 not out ushered Glamorgan to 499 for five and a lead of 141 at stumps.

Adam Hose and Gareth Roderick played major roles in Worcestershire achieving a three-wicket win over Leicestershire at New Road.

The odds were in the Foxes’ favour after Worcestershire lost two wickets for two runs on Friday evening on a pitch of variable bounce after being asked to chase 271 – the highest score of the game.

But Hose struck a fluent 84 and Roderick dug in for more than five hours to make an equally crucial 59 before Brett D’Oliveira, who battled away for 137 deliveries to score an unbeaten 41, and Adam Finch saw Worcestershire home.

England seamer Matthew Potts took two for 28 as Gloucestershire closed on 181 for six after being set 426 by Durham at Bristol.

Nicholas Pooran once again played a starring role to help the Lucknow Super Giants beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by one run at Eden Gardens on Saturday and seal a playoff spot.

After KKR won the toss and elected to field first, LSG, propelled by an aggressive 58 from Pooran, posted 176-8 off their 20 overs.

Pooran’s knock came off just 30 balls and included four fours and five sixes. He was well supported by Quinton De Kock (28) and Prerak Mankad (27).

Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur and Vaibhav Arora all took two wickets, each, for the Knight Riders.

Then, despite a fighting 67* from Rinku Singh and 45 from Jason Roy, KKR finished their reply 175-7 off 20 overs, falling agonizingly short of the win.

Ravi Bishnoi led the way with the ball for Lucknow with 2-13 from his four overs while Yash Thakur also took a pair of wickets.

The 2023 SDC National T20 Cricket Competition’s parish-level games kickstart this Sunday, May 21 in the parish of St. Catherine with two games scheduled for Chedwin Park, St Catherine.

Bushy Park-Church Pen will take on Ewarton Slazenger at 10:00 am to be followed by Greater Portmore vs Old Harbour Cricket Club at 2:00 pm.

The following Sunday, on May 28th, the community of Buff Bay in the parish of Portland will come alive with games being played at the Charles Town Field.

On Sunday, June 4, the district of Treadlight in Clarendon will host their set of round-robin matches at the Sir P Oval before things head west to Sav La Mar in Westmoreland where the parish semifinals will be played at the aptly name ground of Paradise.

The tournament will culminate at Boscobel in St. Mary where the parish finals will be played on Sunday, June 18.

 Parish champions will receive JMD$120, 000 while first runners-up and second runners-up will receive JMD$60,000 and JMD$30, 000 respectively.

 Last year the Boscobel team emerged triumphant at the SDC/Wray & Nephew National T20 Cricket Competition when they won the title at the Port Rhoades Sports Club in Discovery Bay, St. Ann.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels the International Cricket Council (ICC) has a role to play in ensuring that players from smaller Test-playing nations are paid well in Test cricket.

He used the example of West Indies players who tend to choose franchise cricket over international duty for financial reasons.

"That question has a different answer in different countries," Ponting said in an event organised by the ICC ahead of the World Test Championship final between India and Australia at the Oval from June 7.

"It has becoming increasingly difficult to groom the youngsters in the Caribbean, for instance, who want to chase the dream of playing Test cricket,” Ponting added when asked about youngsters wanting to play the five-day game in an era of T20 leagues.

“Their payment system in the Caribbean compared to some of the franchise leagues, it doesn't match up and Sri Lanka will be the same and Bangladesh will be the same."

The legendary batsman said talks are on within the ICC to address the issue.

"It is not the case in India, England and Australia. You are paid well to play Test cricket for your country and most aspire to play the Test match game. There is a role to play for the ICC here. Make the payments bit more even across international Test cricket to attract players from these different countries who want to play for their country," he said.

"It is something that has been spoken about at a very high level at the ICC to help that but in India the feeling I get is that most of these youngsters aspire to wear the baggy blue cap and the same in in Australia," he added.