Stars' veterans still have something to prove.

The once formidable club endured one of their more modest seasons in 1998, sparking talk that they may eventually go the same route as Central Counties rivals, Devonshire Rec., who dropped several notches in the early 1990s following the retirement of several senior players at virtually the same time.

But after last year's disappointment of finishing without a win in the Open Championship and failing to reclaim the Central Counties title, some of Stars' senior players have put off retirement for at least another year in the hopes of bowing out on a happier and higher note.

Last year the team's best achievements were reaching the Camel Cup final and finishing fourth in the Overs league, which was still good enough to qualify them for this year's Camel Cup.

On their day, Stars can be one of the best limited overs teams in the league, as evidenced by their seven appearances in the Camel Cup final. And the scrapping this season of Open play, where Stars failed to win a game last year, will please them.

"Overs suits us anyway,'' said captain Arnold Manders yesterday, less than two weeks before their season opener against PHC.

"Last year a lot of the players wanted to finish but they couldn't go out on that note. A lot of them have personal goals to achieve this year so that they can go out a little bit happy. Because of what happened last season they have a point to prove.'' Some of the players contemplating retirement last year included Treadwell Gibbons, Gary Brangman, Allan Brangman and Andre Manders. However, they will all be back to form the nucleus of the team this year along with the likes of Albert Steede, in school in Jamaica but expected back in the next few weeks, Ricky Brangman, Anthony Manders, Hasan Durham and Cleon Scotland.

"We haven't lost anybody and have picked up Jermaine Postlethwaite and Diallo Sharrieff,'' said the veteran skipper.

"We're not as young as we used to be, we're a half step slower, but if anybody thinks we're going to be pushovers they need to wake up and smell the coffee.'' Manders led the team's batting last season with 535 runs including four half-centuries to finish 13th in the averages with 33.43. Ricky Brangman was next best with 378 runs for an average of 29.07. Gary Brangman and Hasan Durham were their top bowlers with 35 and 45 wickets respectively.

The departure last year of three of their top youngsters -- Ricky Brangman Jr, JaJa Millett and Don Vickers -- to Devonshire Rec, left Stars with few players ready to break through.

"They got a little bit impatient just when they were ready to break in,'' explained Manders, who is confident the trio will eventually return. And there are other youngsters like Manders' son, Gavin, and his cousins, who are expected to be key members of the team in a few years' time.

"Evey team goes through those little changes, but I know those players will come back,'' said Manders.

"In maybe 10 years we'll be back where we were before because we have some of the better 12 and 13 year-olds.

"I'll play another one or two years. It all depends on my knees, but the limited overs will be alright for me. I'm not really an attacking type of bowler, more a limited overs bowler.'' Arnold Manders: The veteran allrounder is looking forward to a season of limited overs cricket as he continues to lead Western Stars.