Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
LARA
FORMER WEST Indies captain Brian Lara is the overwhelming favourite to win the First Citizens Bank/International Cricketer of the Year award at today's second annual West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) presentation function.
There will be another major award at the ceremony to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus starting at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, that for the Supreme Ventures/Test Cricketer of the Year.
The Trinidadian is also favoured to score in that category, which makes him a strong candidate to take home three awards.
This is because Lara is also designated for a Special Award for his unbeaten 400 against England.
The world's number one ranked batsman scored 1,201 runs at an average of 54.59 between January 1-December 31 in 2004.
TRIPLE FIGURE SCORES
During this time, he scored the World Record 400 not out against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground against England, which was one of three triple figure scores for him in 2004. He first scored 115 against South Africa in January and 120 against Bangladesh later in the year.
Former West Indies captain, manager and now ICC match referee, Clive Lloyd, will be the guest speaker.
There will also be the Supreme Ventures/one-day Cricketer of the Year award; the First Class Player of the Year award; the First Class Team of the Year and Emerging Player of the Year.
Jamaica's Xavier Marshall is expected to figure among awardees for the Youth Player of the Year title.
In the regional youth tournament he scored 575 at an average of 71.88 in the three-day matches and in the one-dayers, he scored 271 runs at an average of 54.20.
He also scored 335 runs at the Youth World Cup and in the regional senior one-day tournament, he scored the most runs for Jamaica, 303.
Meanwhile, the Jamie Trenchfield-led Young Jamaica, which reached both finals of the TCL West Indies Under-19 tournaments, should easily take the Youth Team of the Year award.
