Custerfield Crockwell, the founding member of the Cricket Testimonial Committee, has been named among a trio of prominent ex-cricket personalities to be honoured at this year's annual testimonial match at Lord's on Saturday, September 23.

Crockwell, who launched the testimonial in 1995 when Clarence Parfitt was the first former player to be recognised for his achievments, heads a small group that also includes former long-serving St. George's Cricket Club official St.

Clair (Andy) Smith and former Somerset Cup Match wicketkeeper Woodgate Simmons.

"We are delighted to come up with these choices this year, all are creditable and deserving honourees, each having played an important role in local cricket over the years,'' said committee spokesman St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker.

The honourees last year were Arnin (Sam Porgy) Smith, Carl Simmons and Ronnie Osborne.

Last year's game was ruined by rain and it was the first time that the event had been planned without the presence of a foreign guest player with three prominent ex-players from the West Indies forced to pull out.

But Tucker revealed that plans were well underway to get another star or two from the West Indies this year, although he declined to name them.

Last year Desmond Haynes accepted the committee's first invitation, but he had to pull out after being chosen to assist in the wedding of ex-West Indies bowler Malcolm Marshall after it was brought forward because of his illness.

Marshall died months later.

Richie Richardson was then invited as a substitute but he suffered a broken leg at his home in Antigua and was subsequently forced to withdraw, leaving the committee to scramble for a late replacement.

The way was then paved for Gordon Greenidge to come but he too was forced to pull out at the last moment.

Eventually the commmittee had to rely on local players, but with rain intervening the event lacked the lustre of previous years.

Even still, with the support of those who braved the elements to travel to the east end, sufficient funds were raised for the commmittee to purchase a bowling machine for the BCBC's development programme.

"The testimonial was started to act as a fund-raiser for the development of youth cricket and this still is our intention,'' said Tucker.

"At this early stage all we can assure the public is that serious attempts are underway to bring in a top-name cricketer for the event so that it will continue to serve the useful purpose that it has been serving.''