CRICKET AUSTRALIA (CA) has balked at the idea of a second-string West Indies side attending the three-nation limited-overs series there next January. The Aussies would consider an alternative team to replace West Indies in the competition, if the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) fails to resolve the contract dispute with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) over commercial endorsements. "Our view is that international cricket should be about the best playing the best," CA chief executive James Sutherland said. "All we can do for now is (to) monitor the progress of those parties. The issue is a matter for the WICB and its players to resolve. "A week is a long time in cricket and we have seven more before the West Indies join us for the series on January 14." MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING For bilateral tours, the host and visiting sides typically sign a Memorandum of Understanding that requires a 'full strength' team to take part, but it is not known if that clause exists in the agreement between the WICB and CA for this trip. CARICOM, through Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, chairman of the Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket, has offered to mediate a settlement, and WIPA has accepted the offer, but there was no word on whether the WICB was open to new talks. WIPA boss Dinanath Ramnarine is scheduled to leave for St. George's today and it is expected that he will be accompanied by some of his top advisers. WICB REFUSED TO BUDGE The WICB has refused to budge on a controversial clause in the match/tour contracts ahead of the Australian trip, and only nine players, including left-hander Shivnarine Chander-paul, fellow batsman Ricardo Powell, and fast bowler Reon King have signed letters of invitation. The WICB had given players until last Tuesday to sign an invitation to a training camp that begins at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies on Monday, with a view to selection on the team to Australia. The main dispute involves players who have deals with British telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless, a rival to mobile service provider Digicel, who recently signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the WICB. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com