Date-stamped : 05 Nov95 - 10:29 STARS ON SHOW, IF WEATHER HOLDS: Important rehearsal for international assignments. For so long an insignificant appendage to the first-class pro- gramme in the West Indies, the annual limited-overs tournament received a boost last season when the inaugural Shell/Sandals trophy was separated from The Red Stripe Cup and allocated 10 days on its own. The six teams divided into two zones, one in Guyana and one in Jamaica, each meeting the other twice in qualifying matches leading to the final. Now, the second Shell/Sandals Trophy jointly sponsored by the Shell oil company and Sandals international resorts, takes on enhanced importance. The WICBC has scheduled it between October 28 and November 25 so that it can be used as a guide to selection of teams to Australia for the World Series in December and the World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in February and March. The competition has also been expanded, with each team origi- nally given two preliminary home matches leading, for the first time, to semi-finals. The presence of all the major players, 14 of whom would just be back from the Champions Trophy in Sharjah, along with the selection for the World Series and the World Cup, guarantees the tournament`s quality. No team carries more all-round strength and experience that the Leewards, one-day champions over the past two seasons. They can include seven West Indies caps - skipper Richie Richardson, Stuart Williams, Keith Arthurton, Curtly Ambrose, the two Ben- jamins and Hamesh Anthony, whose man of the Final performances last year (7-15 from 7 overs against Barbados) helped gain him selection in the team for Sharjah. Dave Joseph and wicket- keeper Ridley Jacobs hope for success this year, as Joseph is seen as a possible tour selection in the near future. Carl Hooper will be vital to Guyana, along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Roger Harper, both of whom were selected to tour Sharjah. Sudesh Dhaniram will be looking for a return to form, as well as fast-bowler Barrington Browne. Trinidad & Tobago, the last of group A, has promising signs showing through the past failures, and with Brian Lara back, he and the all-round talents of Phil Simmons and the bowling of Ian Bishop, Rajindra Dhanraj, Eugene Antoine and Tony Gray form the nucleus of a strong combination. Opener Suruj Ragoonath will be hoping for a similarly prolific season as his 1994 campaign. Barbados, the 1994 runners-up, will be looking to go one better this time around. With the batting talents of Sherwin Camp- bell, Roland Holder and Courtney Browne, and the all-round abilities of Andy Cummins, Ottis Gibson and Winston Reid, the Barbadians` hopes are well-founded. Jamaica will be in a better position than last year with the re- turn of Courtney Walsh and Jimmy Adams, and the ever promising batting of Roberts Samuels, Delroy Morgan and Mario Ventura. All-rounders Robert Haynes and Nehemiah Perry could prove to be Jamaica`s trump card. The Windwards have been unable to find the form that took them to their only championship, Geddes Grant 1989, and their chances this year will rely on Dawnley Joseph, Junior Murray and fast- bowler Cameron Cuffy. If it remains dry during the tournament, it promises to be an exciting and hard-fought contest. Contributed by Richard.Aleong (herbert@tstt.net.tt)