Contrary to popular belief a leading world researcher says being short has its advantage, at least from a sporting point of view especially in cricket. Because it is probably not coincidental that some of the world's best batsmen, past and present, are relatively short.

Brian Lara is relatively short at 5ft 6 inches, the answer in his strength may lie with the reason that old ladies carry their handbags in the crook of their elbow.

In the light of Lara's feat (153 not out) in turning a certain loss in the third Test against Australia in Barbados to a heroic victory, Dr Tim Olds, an Adelaide specialist in the evolution of sportsmen and women, turned his mind to the phenomenon of the great batsmen who are vertically challenged when compared to most other members of the team. Alongside Don Bradman (5ft ,5 inches)and Lara there are many: Sachin Tendulkar(5ft 5 inches), Sunil Gavaskar(5ft 4inches), Allan Border(5ft, 6 1/2 inches), Lindsay Hassett (5ft 4 1/2 inches), Aravinda de Silva (5ft 5inches)and Gundappa Viswanath (5ft 5 3/4 inches).

Australian research into the physiology of cricketers has concentrated on the ever-increasing height and reach of successful fast bowlers. The shorter exponents of the willow have not warranted the same attention.

Dr Olds, who studies anthropometry at the University of South Australia, told The Australian newspaper he believed the secret of Don Bradman and his successors rests not in their hand-eye coordination or fine-motor control, but in their acceleration and this phenomenon of reduced effort which he likens to an old lady with her handbag. "Firstly, shorter men tend to be faster, have greater acceleration," Dr Olds said. "If you look at the fastest men in the world over 60 metres and 100 metres they tend to be short."Hence short men can get between the wickets faster."

That may explain their run-getting ability and even the speed of their feet in playing shots but putting bat to ball is what creates the runs.

"With longer limbs it is relatively more difficult to accelerate an object," he explained. "The greater the distance between the object (in this case the bat) and the muscle, the heavier the object appears to be.

"If you look at old ladies, as they get older their handbag seems to get heavier. Instead of holding the bag in their hand they put it in the crook of their elbow. It weighs the same but for the muscles providing the effort, the bag seems lighter.

"So a bat, when carried closer to the muscles that drive it, seems lighter on a shorter man. Therefore it can travel faster."

With the advent of taller fast bowlers (the norm is now nearly 1.94 metres), there has been a greater emphasis on the speed and angle of release of the ball and the ability to make it rise faster from the pitch.

"It won't be easy for many countries to offer their help, for at their prime the West Indies were an arrogant and ruthless group," said Simpson.

"Their tactics of an all pace attack, bowling short of a length didn't earn them too many friends and neither did slow over rates and intimidating tactics,"added Simpson

"But now this is past story and these exciting and talented cricketers need help desperately," he noted.

"West Indies cricket has rather lost its way towards the end of its 20 years domination of world cricket and youngsters felt that they just had to turn up to be a great cricketer,"

Simpson says the drop in West Indies form surprised him,"It came as a shock when the great team broke up and the Islands cupboards were bare. It has taken them some time to realize that natural talent and being West Indian just were not good enough. Now they have accepted this bitter pill and are doing something about it. It won't happen overnight and England and South Africa can also help them out,"

Simpson also asks for help for Zimbabwe" Zimbabwe also needs help. Hindered by a volatile political atmosphere and lack of cricketers, Zimbabwe needs help desperately. They have done amazingly well with such a limited cricketing base, but this must be built on if they are to survive as a Test nation,"

"On long term, they can only prosper if more of the Africans play the game. They have worked hard with some success, but they really haven't got the finance or the expertise to carry it through. Zimbabwe must not be allowed to wither on the vine," he added.

Even as the West Indies continue to perform creditably against Zimbabwe, there are warning words from a former player. Former West Indies Manager and player Lance Gibbs believes that the West Indies Cricket Board need to be tough with all the players on the team and that there should be no favourites.

" We have to be strict with all the players on the team and there should be no favourites, a rule is a rule and if anyone breaks the rules, they should be fined and made to pay from their pockets, that is the only way they will learn," Gibbs told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) from his Miami home.

"We cannot allow for the treatment to be different among the players, and for a star player to be given exception, that is weak management, it does not matter, if it is john or james, it must be the same, we have been hearing talk about players staying out late at night and partying and this has to stop. We have to stop all this talking and take action," he added.

Gibbs with over 300 test wickets in an illustrious career was disturbed by the West Indies batting performances during the test series which was won 2-1 by South Africa," If you look at the team at the moment, there is no one West Indies player that you can say will give you a test hundred when he comes out to bat, there is just nobody with that consistency and that will always affect us."

He admits that some of the dismissals of the younger players like Leon Garrick, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan should have been avoided," I am disappointed in the batting generally, it seemed that the South Africans could set up our players and then easily get them out, which does not say much for the players,"

"Are they listening, it seems as if the words of the coach are going in one ear and coming back out through the next?"

"There is a difference between common sense and cricket sense and we have to ask the young players to use both at all times," he added

"I am very much in agreement with the fines being imposed on the players and we must continue this practice and if they continue then we leave them out, get rid of them and look for other players who want to play test cricket at the highest level."

Gibbs believes though that a change in the West Indies batting order in the test matches could make a serious difference," We have to understand that the best batsman in the team must bat at number three and so Brian Lara must come in at that position, he is a great player and the team needs Lara to bat there to give the batting momentum."

Gibbs also took issue with the West Indies bowling," It was good to have (Didnath) Ramnarine bowl so well and it was a great achievement, but I don't like the way he bowled too negative at times. He is good enough to not have to use the footholes and just bowl defensive,"

"We had a good chance to bowl them out in the Antigua test match and he should have been going for wickets, and be positive as long as possible.... he is a wrist spinner so he should always do well in the first innings and really it is finger spinners who bowl better in the second innings."

"But it is good to see that we have recognize that we do not have four fast bowlers anymore and we need to use spin bowlers more often, we have medium fast bowlers now...maybe people can say that McGarrell was unlucky after capturing five wickets in his test debut he was dropped for the last test match, spinners are now here to say,"

There has also been a call to examine the coaching credentials of Roger Harper who was more of an off spinner than a batsman." There is no reason why a bowler cannot be a very good coach and to say that makes no sense, by being a bowler you could tell a batsman's weakness so there is no reason why this should be so. A lot of the great bowlers are great coaches, so that is only an excuse by some," Gibbs remarked.,

" We should use this Zimbabwe series to blood young players, now is the right time, we should be able to beat Zimbabwe without Walsh and so we must try to survive without him,"

Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke's recent beau , model Jordan has been caught in a twisted sexual contact according to an English tabloid this week.

29 year old Yorke , who has turned his back on Trinidad and Tobago football, following a 2-0 defeat to the United States in a World Cup qualifier in June has found himself under pressure to retain his place in the Manchester United team, has now found out his recent girlfriend is involved in a scandal. The Sunday People disclosed that TROUBLED glamour girl Jordan glowed with happiness as she tenderly romped with another woman,

. The newspaper revealed that The 32FF Jordan giggled and smiled as topless model Vanessa Upton stroked her skin, gently caressed her breasts and kissed her passionately.

The couple did not have full gay sex and bisexual Vanessa insists Jordan, 23, is NOT a lesbian - but the Page 3 star WAS overwhelmed at the sensations her girl pal aroused. Vanessa, 25, speaking exclusively to the Sunday People, told how Jordan... PLAYED the role of naughty schoolgirl in a skimpy pink mesh outfit with her nipples peeping through the see-through top.

FRENCH-KISSED Vanessa as they thrilled each other with a sex toy - then begged her to do it again.

SHUDDERED in excitement as Vanessa stroked her breasts while they caressed each other.

SQUEALED with delight as her bottom was spanked repeatedly with a whip and riding crop.

Vanessa, who has starred in raunchy magazines, sighed: "We spent two sensational hours together, enjoying each other's bodies.

"She was submissive and I dominated her. She loved me taking control and guiding her through something so thrilling and sensual.

"Jordan has often said that men have treated her badly. But the feelings she felt with me that day were completely different because I wasn't demanding anything from her.

"I was trusting, honest and natural with her. I taught her that she could feel sweet and innocent again and she needed that.

"For once in her life someone was giving to her and taking nothing.

"It was a whole new experience for her and her head must have been racing when she left my house.

"But I could see from her glowing face and sparkling eyes that she felt reborn in a way.

"She felt loved and she felt soft again after all the trouble she has had with men."

Jordan, who has had a string of failed relationships with celebrities including Manchester United star Dwight Yorke, was going through a difficult break-up with pop star Dane Bowers when she experienced an afternoon of way-out thrills with Vanessa. The pair already knew each other through the London modelling circuit and had both been hired to pose for a calendar.

When Jordan, then 21, phoned her to discuss clothes for the photo-shoot, Vanessa invited her round to her four-bedroom home in Bermondsey, south-east London, to try on some raunchy outfits. Vanessa, who is also a club dancer and will appear on a new Channel 4 gameshow in autumn, says: "She was a bit vulnerable nothing was planned. I made the first move but Jordan was flirting with me. "I invited her into my bedroom where the conversation moved on to rubber outfits. I showed her all my favourite ones.

"When a little pink mesh outfit fell out, Jordan jumped up off the bed and insisted she tried it on. "She adores pink because it makes her look soft and sweet.

"She squealed with delight as she tore off her jeans and put on the sexy skirt and top.

"She looked amazing with her nipples showing through the see-through top. I wanted to join in and slipped on my new rubber policewoman's outfit and stilettos. I said I wanted to make her look sweet and started to play with her hair. I took her by the hand and led her to a stool in front of my mirror where I put her hair in two pigtails. "She stared up at me wide-eyed and started acting like a naughty schoolgirl.

"It only seemed right to play along and Jordan seemed to want to play the game. "We said how sexy each other looked. I told her to stop being a bad girl and she giggled."

The pair then kissed - and literally gave each other an electric shock by holding a "shock box" toy at the same time.

Vanessa, whose own breasts have been enhanced to 32E with plastic surgery, said: "I switched on the machine and told her to touch my tongue with hers. As our tongues touched we gave each other an electric shock. "Jordan was excited by the machine and begged me to turn it on again. The shock lasts for a second and it made me reach out and touch her breasts. As I stroked them, I told her she looked pretty and sexy."She responded by smiling at me and we kissed again." Vanessa then produced a soft black leather whip. She says: "It is like a cat-o-nine-tails. I told her to lift up her little pink skirt and touched her gently on the bottom to warm her up. "I then spanked her 10 times. I felt her skin and it was so soft. Then I took a riding crop and spanked her again and again until the colour of the skin on her bottom was the same colour as her outfit. She loved both of the whips. "I wanted to take it further, but I could see in her eyes that it was enough for her, the excitement was enough.

"She was happy with the way things were and she felt at ease. Anything more would have perhaps frightened her a bit.

"This was the first time for her with a woman. I really wanted to prove to her that natural love exists, and I think she felt that for the first time ever. "Men have trampled on her in the past and made her scared and insecure.

"Dwight, Dane and the others all cheated on her and she doesn't know where to turn sometimes.

"That afternoon I saw a sweet, innocent child-like person in her - a little lost girl who wanted to be adored and made to feel safe."

Vanessa went on: "Jordan turned around and we sat on the bed together kissing as I stroked her hair.

"She wanted to feel love and affection and she did with me.

"She didn't have to perform for a man and she felt relaxed and comfortable. Life is about experimenting and Jordan was doing just that with me.

"Jordan has a great mind and she saw new things that afternoon and enjoyed it.

"She was treated like a sweet girl for a couple of hours and that broke her barriers down.

"For two hours she didn't have to be this sex queen for everyone.

"Women like to kiss and play and it is more of an emotional thing - you don't have to go the whole way. It was very loving and affectionate. Jordan was smiling and at ease afterwards. It was like it was meant to happen. "I don't think you always need to have full intercourse to enjoy sex. I just made Jordan feel special."

Vanessa made Jordan a drink and then the model left. Vanessa says: "I have seen her twice since and we have not talked about what happened.

"It was a one-off thing. Jordan is not a lesbian. She did not want to go the whole way and I respected that.

"She likes being a wild party animal but at heart, all girls inside want to be loved and adored and she felt that that day. Jordan loves men too much but what we did made her feel relaxed and beautiful. "I know that other men would look at her and think because she is so outrageous, loud and sexy that she is the unfaithful type but she is not.

"The world has got this girl completely wrong. It is unfortunate because she has this habit of getting guys who are losers and treat her like dirt."

Vanessa added: "I was respectful and I adored her, I paid her attention and I gave her 100 per cent. Maybe I was corrupting her but it was an exciting new experience for her. "As a model you are seen as an object, not a person.

"But that afternoon she was being herself and her mask was gone."

When contacted by the newspaper, Dwight Yorke refused comment, except to say that he would speak with Jordan on the matter.

WHY THE WICB IS MAKING THIS STATEMENT

FORMER President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Pat Rousseau has made a number of allegations against Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Richard Jodhan, and Executive Secretary, Andrew Sealy, in relation to investments made on behalf of the WICB with Merrill Lynch & Co., a leading investment company.

As promised in our initial statement, the Board has consulted with its members with regard to bringing more detailed information into the public domain. We have also sought legal advice, particularly on the issue of authority, which we did not address fully in the previous statement. Based on our stated policy of transparency, and in the best interest of all concerned, the WICB therefore now makes the following statement:

OUR FINDINGS ON THE INVESTMENTS AND THE ISSUE OF AUTHORITY

Procedures for making investments are not documented within the WICB. Investments have been made in the past without specific Board resolutions. There are two investments referred to by the past President:

- Investment of US$496,000 in January 2000
- Investment of US$3,000,000 in September 2000.

Investment of US$496,000

In the Financial Report and Budget Document for the Board meeting of May 12 and 13, 2000, the Overview stated: "The CFO using a long term growth investment strategy as approved by the Board has invested US$496,451 in January 2000. For the three months ended March 31, the fund has grown by US$41 621 or 8.3 per cent. Annualised, the rate is 33.2 per."

This was not challenged or corrected by any member of the Board. It therefore was not unreasonable for the Board to accept the explanation given by the Chief Financial Officer that Board approval had in fact, been previously obtained. The first query on this investment was not made until almost one year after the CFO's report to the Board.

Investment of US$3, 000, 000

On page (ii) of the Financial Report and Budget document of May 12 and 13, 2000, Point 2 stated:

"My recommendation is that the CFO after consultation with the Executive Committee invest funds from Sky using an income and growth strategy (see Major Bank Balances noted on page 5 for further details)."

On page 5 of the Budget document under the heading Bank and Cash Balances it is stated: "I am suggesting that the advance of US$5,000,000 be invested in an Income and Growth strategy (see the attached) in a relationship as follows: 55 per cent Stock, 35 per cent Bonds, 10 per cent cash. The investment will then be used as collateral to borrow funds to satisfy cash demands resulting from the net loss before exceptional items of $3 727 250."

The Board approved the Financial Report and Budget document. The explanation by the Chief Financial Officer was that he considered the approval by the entire Board of the Budget was sufficient authority for his making the investment and superseded the requirement of consultation with the Executive Committee. He also indicated that he had acted in like manner in the past.

At the time, he was Acting CEO.

The Board found that there was no independent Board resolution giving Messrs Jodhan and Sealy authority to make that specific investment of US$3 000 000, nor was there an independent resolution authorising the borrowing. We have also determined that Merrill Lynch had not required a Board resolution for the investment but accepted the authorisation of Messrs Jodhan and Sealy(who were two of the four signatories to the Merrill Lynch account) as having the requisite power and authority.

OUR CONCLUSIONS AND ACTIONS

The Board has investigated the matter thoroughly and obtained legal advice. This investigation took place before and after Mr. Rousseau's resignation. The Board is now completely satisfied that there was no impropriety and specifically no evidence of falsification of Board resolutions and that Messrs. Jodhan and Sealy, while ill-advised were acting in good faith.

However, the Board found that correct corporate practice and procedure would have required independent resolutions for making the investment which would have specifically given power and authority to the CFO and Executive Secretary to execute the final investment documents. Additionally, consultation with the Executive Committee was necessary based on the CFO's own recommendation for full consideration of the investment options and details.

The matter had been brought to the attention of the Board under Mr. Rousseau's chairmanship but the Board had not considered any disciplinary action. Moreover, both Messrs Jodhan and Sealy for unrelated reasons were leaving the organisation.

The Board with appropriate advice took the decision to liquidate the investment in question. There was a loss of US$525,000.

The Board mandated that a Financial Procedures Manual be developed as a matter of urgency and a draft manual has been tabled. The Board had previously agreed to a restructuring of the organisation which includes the hiring of a qualified corporate secretary with a view to ensuring that proper corporate procedures are followed in the future.

Since the matter has now been fully addressed by the Board we hope this statement will bring closure to the matter in the best interest of West Indies cricket.

Pedro BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe - West Indies beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 176 runs in the first Test at the Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.

The end of the game and an emphatic West Indies win came in the 2nd over after the tea interval, when Raymond Price, then on 04, was again caught by Leon Garrick, at forward short leg, from Reon King's bowling.

Zimbabwe had managed only 220 in their 2nd innings, losing by an innings and 176 runs. Only three batsmen made double figures, with one Alistair Campbell, outstanding with his 103.

For the West Indies, the bowling was very consistent, with Reon King finishing with 2-47 from 23.4 overs, the effervescent and untiring Colin Stuart with 3-45 from 19 overs, while Neil Mc Garrell chipped in nicely with 4-38 from 24 overs.

This was the first win for the West Indies in an overseas tour since the 1st Test in England last year, a series that the West Indies lost 3-1, and gives the West Indies an opportunity to win an overseas Test series for the first time in at least five years.

Chris Gayle, who made a tremendous 175, was named "Man of the Match", but the entire West Indies team, perhaps with the exception of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who missed out when he batted, should have been very pleased with the overall effort. It was an overwhelming victory by the better team over the four days.

The 2nd and final Test match starts at the Harare Sports Club ground on Friday, July 27.

THE REVEREND Wes Hall of Barbados and Val Banks of Anguilla were today formally elected as the President and Vice-President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) respectively. The two men - the lone nominees for either post - were elected at a meeting of members of the WICB this morning at the Savannah Hotel in Barbados.

Hall, a former West Indies fast bowling great of the 1960s, comes to office with a wealth of experience in West Indies and international cricket, having previously served as Chairman of Selectors, West Indies team manager and West Indies Youth team manager.

A former Minister of Sports in his native Barbados, Hall has worked as a professional cricketer and cricket coach in England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Wales and throughout the Caribbean. The 63-year-old, who also has wide business experience particularly in public relations and human resource management, is currently Director of Corporate Relations, Sandals Resorts International.

Banks, at 51, has risen to the second-highest post in West Indies cricket, having served in various administrative capacities in regional cricket. He has been one of the Leeward Islands' two Directors on the WICB since 1997 and is also currently the President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association.

The career banker (Director of the National Bank of Anguilla Ltd.) has also been Chairman of the Leeward Islands Cricket Selectors and Manager of the Leeward Islands senior cricket team (Red Stripe Cup). During the 1970s and 1980s he captained Anguilla's national cricket team.

The two were elected to replace former President Pat Rousseau of Jamaica and his Vice-President Clarvis Joseph of the Leeward Islands (Antigua) who resigned their posts in early June. Hall and Banks will serve a two-year term.

In his acceptance speech, Hall pledged "unswerving commitment to the task and challenges that lie ahead".

He said West Indies cricket should be upheld to the "microscopic scrutiny and criticism to which West Indian people have always subjected the business of their cricket" and added that this will be his administration's "ultimate judgement".

Outlining several objectives and strategies which he deemed integral to the development of regional cricket, the new president said it was important "to restore a cricket-friendly climate, involving all stakeholders, especially ex-players". However, at the heart of his speech was the view that those involved in the operations of West Indies cricket must always be accountable to West Indian people.

"Cricket starts with our people and it should end with our people," said Hall.

Former West Indies Manager and allrounder Willie Rodriguez believes that Brian Lara is still needed on the West Indies Team , but that he may no longer be interested in the captaincy of the West Indies Team.

Rodriguez who played five tests matches for the West Indies, but managed the West Indies team on tours to Australia and New Zealand between 1978-1979 was speaking on POWER 102FM's popular SPORTS UNLIMITED radio program on Saturday.

"When Brian is fit again, he has a place on the West Indies team...in the past the players probably depended too much on Brian , but now they have to stand on their own feet and make the runs themselves, they do not have Brian to fall back on, and as a result they are producing the right results,"

"What has to happen now, is that when Brian returns to the team, there has to be an effort by the management of the team to ensure that the players do not return to the old ways of this dependency on Brian, because he cannot make runs everyday and also after a while, it is hard on him,"stated Rodriguez.

As to the question of captaincy of the team in the future, Rodriguez remarked," I believe , and is not any confirmed report from talking with Brian, that he is not interested in being the captain of the team, he wants to play cricket and do well for the team...we have to think about grooming a captain for the next five years, that is invest in someone we see as a captain and give him a chance to acquire the skills, Hooper is in the middle 30's and Jacobs is in his 30's as well, so we have to start looking to the future, letting them learn cricket before they become captain."

Responding to calls for Brian Lara to be left out the team, Rodriguez was clear," When you have the best batsman available , you have to play him, it is like that, we have to accept that for the team to be very successful, everybody has to play together as a team, and Brian Lara is needed in the middle order,"

On the appointment of Wes Hall as the next President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Rodriguez told the radio station," I am pleased , he is a great cricketing man and hopefully we will see greater efforts from the WICB as regards the cricketing affairs."

While not saying that being a former test player is imperative to hold the position of President of the WICB, Rodriguez did say," It is certainly an asset and will help someone appreciate their job a lot better, but of course financial matters are also important, it is the balance that we have to find."

AT LEAST one positive move came from the International Cricket Conference's annual get together recently, the decision to appoint two independent umpires for every Test.

There will be, we are assured, a panel of the best eight to 10 umpires officiating all over the world. They will soon be very tired. Support of the next best 25 will be on hand to stand in less high profile Tests (if there are such things any more) and one-day internationals.

To say the move is positive is not necessarily to say it is right. The important thing is the quality and stature of the umpire not his birthplace. When Asoka de Silva stood in the final Test in Colombo last winter, there was no hint of the unpleasant behaviour which marred the games in Galle and Kandy. Equally, if David Shepherd umpires when England play, a word in most shell-likes is enough to keep order.

In fact, you could go a stage further and suggest that one local umpire is a good thing for he understands the culture of the place, the language and emotion of its people and therefore the antics of the home players, the opinions of the ground staff and the weather.

Previously the international panel has been too big and included umpires who are clearly not able to cope with this increasingly demanding role. If an umpire is exposed and humiliated, then the game in which they are umpiring will surely follow suit.

I don't agree that because of the use of technology umpires will become hatstands and clotheshorses. I think the opposite. The more the game is examined by television, the stronger and more exact the umpires will need to be.

Good umpiring is about much more than whether a batsman is out or not out. Good umpiring is also about the spirit and flow of the game, about guiding players through moments of stress, about advice and friendship, about the promotion of the game through relaxed, trusting and therefore confident players.

The best do this brilliantly, a wink here and a nod there, and the recently maligned Shepherd is a master. Consequently, when Shepherd gives a bad decision, and human fallibility ensures that any umpire always will, the players accept it without rancour because they respect the man.

The umpires missed the no-balls in the Test at Old Trafford because it was the fifth evening - that's the 15th session - of a tense and draining affair. Tired, subconsciously probably, they focus on the business end and, with the exception of Nick Knight's dodgy lbw, actually got the rest right.

The infuriating thing about the officiating at Old Trafford was the lack of teamwork. Television showed plenty going on that the umpires in the middle could not see but that the third umpire and match referee would surely have seen. All four officials must be allowed/encouraged to communicate with one another and jointly police the match.

Though the ICC are right appointing an elite panel, it is the on-going process that matters. Each Test should have three umpires, two of whom should be from the panel and one from the host country, who stand in two sessions each and act as the TV umpire for the third. The fourth umpire remains their leg man and reserve.

The two men in the middle should make all the decisions, either of their own accord or through an upgraded system of talk-back - ear pieces, the lot - with their colleagues, who will have reference to television if needed. It is absurd that sometimes the third umpire can see on a monitor that his colleague is about to make a mistake but is not allowed to tell him.

All should apply to line decisions as well. Enjoyable as the "traffic lights" may be, a pause while the umpires rigidly stand their ground and as the tension builds slowly raise their finger on the verbal notification of the third umpire, will be just as dramatic and is an important part of giving greater authority and profile back to the men who are out there in the thick of things.

The ICC also said that the role and authority of the referee is to be redefined. Certainly, referees should be given the power to "sin bin" an offender at the moment of his misdemeanour and use immediate suspension as the ultimate deterrent. And referees should be working closely with the captains, who are responsible at all times for the behaviour of their team. Again, through on-going communication, the referee would make his judgements after consultation with the umpires in the middle who can better evaluate the situation as it happens.

The key is to ensure the buck stops with four people who collectively run the match but, within that structure, the umpires in the middle retain absolute authority.

Clearly, while the game continues to move into uncharted waters the umpires must have fitness and freshness, training and support to deal with the myriad of issues which confront them. That training should include close analysis of technology because whatever is seen by the viewer must be understood and eventually used to their advantage by the officials. The best of them do an extraordinarily good job and might be surprised, given their present insecurity, at how often they get things right.

Is there a lesson in the Wimbledon's champion behaviour that Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke and Russell Lataphy could learn from.

GORAN IVANISEVIC has slapped an amazing ban on his girlfriend watching him play tennis.

The Croatian revealed supermodel and Hare Krishna follower Tatiana Dragovic was forced to watch his Wimbledon win on TV back home in Split.

Ivanisevic only allows Tatiana, 21, to attend a couple of events a year as she is too much of a distraction.

The new Wimbledon hero was back in her arms last night after returning home from London.

He reportedly said: "I prefer it when I don't travel with my girlfriend.

"She can come to one or two tournaments a year but I feel free on my own.

"If they come with you, you have to take care of them. You have to make sure they are not bored.

"I would rather do my own thing and focus on what I have to do."

Ivanisevic has been going out with Tatiana for just over a year after meeting at a nightclub.

Tatiana, who has posed topless, is a huge dance music fan and is looking for a record deal.

Ivanisevic reportedly admitted he partied hard in London after becoming the first ever wild card to win a Grand Slam.

He added: "I didn't sleep at all. I don't know when I will go to sleep.

"I still cannot believe I have won. My picture is everywhere in the papers.

"Things are certainly a bit different. I am Wimbledon champion and I cannot run away from people any more."

Jack Warner claims he has spent a lot of money on Trinidad and Tobago Football and now Oliver Camps is saying that Jack is pulling back his personal financing so that the Under 17 team will have to curtail their tour of the World. But Jack is not alone, people spend money all the time in the interest of sport even in the face of debt as Real Madrid proved last week below. FOOTBALL finally lost touch with reality this week when soccer giants Real Madrid paid £48million for Zinedine Zidane - despite being £175million in debt.

The deal - worth £80million overall - beat the previous record transfer of £37million for Luis Figo ... also by the Spanish club.

But the record signing makes no commercial sense, for even if the club wins the Spanish League and the European Cup, they will never recoup the money spent on Zidane.

It was done purely for footy glory in a bid to construct the world's best team.

So how can Real afford to pay so much money for a 29-year-old French midfielder already in the autumn of his career?

The truth is that investment experts are fretting over the same question.

It is a big gamble. But construction magnate Florentino Perez, who took over as club president last year, is a man who puts football and style before cash. He simply wants the best team in the world.

Since Perez has been at the helm, Real have spent a whopping £153million on new players and totted up a £175million debt - and that's before their record breaking deal for World Footballer Of The Year Zidane, who pockets a signing-on fee and £6million-a-year in wages.

Even Perez has been quoted as saying that the club are in a period of "economic intensive care."

There is no doubt that a player of Zidane's superstar status will bring in a large chunk of the money before he even kicks a ball.

Sponsors are already falling over themselves to make deals worth up to £50million with a side that boasts the likes of Figo, Raul, Brazilian Roberto Carlos and England's Steve McManaman.

The team's fabulous Bernabeu Stadium will also be packed to its 106,500 capacity for the first appearance of Zidane in Real's famous all-white strip. v The sale of replica No 5 shirts alone could rake in up to £5million.

Real have already been crowned European champions eight times, most recently last year when they thrashed Valencia in an all-Spanish final.

If they win next year - and they are red-hot favourites to do so - it will be worth the thick end of £25million in prize money and TV rights.

But even these amounts will hardly put a dent in the club's massive debt.

The one glimmer of hope is that Perez plans to sell off 20 per cent of the club's property and facilities in the heart of Madrid's financial district to help relieve the burden.

And he's invited offers from international property developers to build four 700ft office towers in a deal worth £180million ... if it gets the go-ahead.

Whatever the outcome for Real Madrid, the writing is already on the wall for the football clubs of the world.

And the price of top footballers is once again on the move and the traffic is all one way - UP.