Derek Pringle

NOTHING GETS Derek Pringle rocking like good, old-fashioned drum and bass reggae. Yep! The former England cricketer is a roots man at heart.

The 50-year-old Pringle is covering the four-Test series between England and the West Indies for Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper. The series starts tomorrow at Sabina Park.

Pringle told Tidbits Tuesday that he was looking forward to getting some good deals on his latest trip to Jamaica, but has not been successful.

"It's very tough all over the world to get the reggae records I'm looking for," said Pringle, who admits he is not much into contemporary reggae.

Great singer

"I think Frankie Paul is a great singer, but to tell the truth, after 1977, I'm not much interested."

Pringle says he has always loved reggae, especially the work of eccentric producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry. He first listened to the beat in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was born and raised.

"I'm into the stripped-down sound. When the guys (Jamaican artistes) came to England to record, the mix got too commercial," he said.

Cricketer of promise

Pringle played 30 Tests for England, several of which were against the West Indies. He was in the England team which lost 0-5 at home to the Windies in 1984.

While 'beating the books' at Cambridge University in the mid-1970s, Pringle was viewed by some English sports writers as a cricketer of promise, thanks to prolific form for that school with bat and ball.

At the same time, his love for reggae grew. Bob Marley's Natty Dread and Live at The Lyceum were among the albums he bought back then.

England have turned the tables on the West Indies in recent years. The last time they were here, in 2004, they won the four-Test series 3-0.

Pringle says with the West Indies putting up good performances against Australia and New Zealand in the past year, this series will not be one-sided.

Derek Pringle (right) playing in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

Derek Pringle's Top-10 reggae albums

Heart of The Congos - The Congos

Soul Rebel - The Wailers

Soul Revolution - The Wailers

Rocking Time - Burning Spear

King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown - Augustus Pablo

Intensified Dirt - Desmond Dekker and The Aces

Man Ah Warrior - Tappa Zukie

Super Ape - Lee 'Scratch' Perry

Party Time - The Heptones

Skylarking - Horace Andy

Lee 'Scratch' Perry