CRICKET: Haynes' return blocked

Cricket: As the West Indies arrived in New Zealand yesterday for the second of four Test series in which they are engaged in the space of 10 months, opener Desmond Haynes' belated bid to regain the Test place that was his as of right for 16 years was being thwarted by a regulation, writes Tony Cozier from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Haynes, the West Indies' most experienced player with 116 Tests since 1978, missed the tour of India last year to play for Western Province in South Africa. He broke off that contract and returned home yesterday to play for Barbados in the Red Stripe Cupand hopes to gain selection to face Australia. But he was too late for the first match and the board refused to waive a regulation obliging players, except those who are injured or on international duty, to play all five Cup games to qualify for Test selection.