Former West Indies opening batsman Desmond Haynes has been confirmed as the guest player for the annual cricket testimonial match scheduled for Lord's, St. David's on Saturday, September 25.

The announcement by Testimonial Cricket Committee spokesman St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker yesterday means that Bermuda will again be graced by the presence of a prominent cricket personality -- one with immense experience at the Test level.

"From the outset it was our intention to bring in prominent players with Test experience and fortunately we have been able to continue this trend,'' said Tucker.

"We are pleased that Desmond has agreed to come here this year, we are sure that he will be able to provide the sporting public with some glimpses of his brilliance that has graced cricket grounds throughout the world during a long, outstanding career.'' With fellow Barbadian, Gordon Greenidge, Haynes formed what is widely acknowledged around the world as the most successful opening partnership in Test history.

After finishing playing Tests in the early '90s, Haynes continued to represent Middlesex in the English County Championship and followed this up with a coaching stint with Sussex.

He will be coming here from Barbados where he is employed by the Barbados Government and working with tourism.

The visit of Haynes follows those of many other former overseas Test players such as last year's guest Ian Bishop and the previous visits of Gus Logie, Joel Garner, Phil DeFreitas and Phil Simmons.

The Testimonial Committee had been working hard and long to secure the service of one or two guest players for this year, with another unnamed West Indies player understood to have been on their list.

The 11 a.m. game will be a 40-over contest with full proceeds going towards the continued development of youth cricket in the Island.

"Since it really is a fund-raising event we are once again stressing the importance for the business and public sector to throw their full support behind it. Everybody's support in the past has been exemplary and we are hoping that this trend will remain the same,'' said Tucker.

"The development of youth players in the Island is something that our committee places high on our agenda. It's imperative to make progress in this area if our cricket is to continue from the low depths that it found itself in prior to being taken over by BCBC president El James.

"The fact that James and his executives worked hard to revive a youth league combined with arranging a tour of Canada for a Bermuda under-17s squad last year is clear proof that progress is being made and we want to show that the Testimonial Committee is on board and playing a role in assisting in the development of our young players.'' Tucker hinted that it was hoped that top South African Test player Daryll Cullinan, now coaching here and in Toronto with the Bermuda team as an advisor, could be a second guest player -- but he is scheduled to leave the Island at the end of this month and is therefore unavailable.

The honorees this year are Ronnie Osborne, Arnin Smith and Carl Simmons; Osborne and Smith contributing to Bermuda cricket as players and Simmons as a long-serving umpire and administrator.

Desmond Haynes: Will play in Bermuda in September