new rules that will affect cricket -- some of which have recently been implemented and some which will be inevitably introduced to the sport in the near future.

Here in Bermuda with the large contingent of officials from the Caribbean attending the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association's biennial conference this week, Barker yesterday spoke of his dislike for some of the changes.

The restriction of bouncers that calls for a batsman facing no more than one short-pitched ball per over is a rule that has been in effect for a short period, but is one that Barker does not approve of.

New rules like the adoption of television replays and the rotation of umpires are currently being discussed and could be implemented by the International Cricket Council some time in the near future. But these too are rules that the Barbadian official does not support.

Barker, who umpired in one of the recent three Tests between the West Indies and Pakistan as well as three of the one-day internationals between the two countries, predicted that the use of replays and a third umpire were changes that would probably creep into the game.

"I don't support either of them, but they will be adopted because it appears everybody else wants them...the players, officials and administration. It's just a few of the umpires who don't want them,'' said Barker.

In regards to the replays, Barker said that he was unhappy with the idea because the umpire's decision ought to remain final. "There were too many things that could go wrong and it's best left to the umpire on the field of play to sort out,'' he said.

He also gave the thumbs down to the use of a third umpire, a rule that calls for the extra official to rotate by filling in during a session or even during a full day's play.

"I don't support either of these two rules. I think you will have a lack of continuity with different judgments. It's not too good an idea as far as I am concerned, but it will come as well,'' said Barker.

The use of the rule limiting the number of short-pitched balls during a single over has been in force for a while, yet Barker still believes that it should not have been changed.

But he was quick to point out that he was not against every new rule that was being tried. "If anything is good for the game then I am supportive of it,'' he claimed.

Barker strongly believes that the old rule that allowed a bowler to bowl unlimited short-pitched balls should not have been changed proclaiming that the umpires were able to tell whether or not a bowler was intimidating a batsman.

"Now they are saying that in every over a batsman cannot receive more than one short-pitched ball, but that is ridiculous. For example, if you have a Richie Richardson who loves this sort of bowling, what you are doing is restricting him because he loves short-pitched bowling.

"I think it is unfair and it is giving the poor batsmen an opportunity and advantage over the bowler,'' said Barker.

The popular umpire was not surprised to see Pakistan overwhelmed by the West Indies during the recent Test series, claiming that nothing surprises him in the sport of cricket any more.

"The West Indies have always been the best team in the world, certainly during the last 10 years. They have demonstrated this. And when I say this I am talking about playing both at home and away, they have won wherever they have gone,'' he said.

When questioned about the absence of a world-class spinner since the retirement of Lance Gibbs, Barker agreed that this could be attributed to the fact that most players in the Caribbean "want to bowl quickly, nobody seems to want to spin and this is a problem.'' He said there were some spin bowlers, "but none who have risen to Gibbs' status.'' When questioned about the shortage of world-class batsmen after former skipper Viv Richards and present skipper Richie Richardson, Barker said that there was still a wealth of batting talent in the West Indies.

"Perhaps there is not real outstanding players accept for Brian Lara, but there are some good ones around and it's a matter of them coming off big in different games. The potential and ability of the players in the game today is no different than before,'' he said.

Commenting on the status of umpires in the West Indies, Barker said that there were a lot of quality officials there but it was unfortunate that there was not enough first-class cricket being played.

"If you consider, for instance, the Red Stripe competition as it stands now, there are six teams and each plays five matches which is not sufficient. What I would like to see is each country play the other on a home and away basis so you double the amount of game and thereby giving the umpires the opportunity to do more first-class games,'' he said.

"They need this exposure and the situation here in Bermuda with your umpires is no different. I would love to see Bermuda in our Red Stripe competition. I am sure somebody will say it is cost prohibitive, but if you find sponsors these things can be worked out.'' Barker's compatriot Tony Cozier was invited here in the past to commentate on the annual Cup Match, what are the chances of Barker coming to umpire in the mid-summer classic? "I would love to come, but it's a question of being invited and agreed upon,'' said Barker.

LLOYD BARKER -- Umpire not in favour of many of the new rules that will affect the game.