Now that the dust has finally settled over the 2002 Cup Match MVP debate, the two club presidents yesterday agreed the decision making process should be handed over to an independent body, writes Colin Thompson.

After almost two weeks of heated debate, St.George's' colt Travis Smith was finally presented with the prestigious Camel MVP award yesterday, beating out Somerset's Dennis Pilgrim.

But the decision only came about because sponsors Camel took the matter into their own hands when the two clubs could not agree on a candidate.

"This is the fourth year that the clubs have made a decision on the Man of the Match," said Somerset Cricket Club president Colin Smith. "In previous years it was done by a selection panel and I truly don't know what happened to the panel that was once in place.

"This is something that is unprecedented and I'm much pretty sure that Neil (Paynter, St. George's' president) and myself are under the same intentions that we don't want to do it.

"It shouldn't be left up to the clubs to decide just who is going to be named Man of the Match - it should be an independent body. So hopefully that will happen in Cup Match 2003."

Paynter agreed.

"I think that if we have anything to do with it, then, before Cup Match is even played next year, we will have a panel already in place so that they can know during the game what their responsibilities are," he said.

Camel representative, Joanne McPhee also embraced the concept.

"I think it's an excellent idea," she said. "I think having them placed in a position of having to make a decision this year is difficult and I respect the clubs for their commitment to their own players. I think that it will always be a difficult decision for them.

"And so yes, I definitely support an independent panel that the two clubs decide upon and that they then support whatever decision they make."

McPhee said Camel would not necessarily be on such a panel, adding that "cricket is not our forte".