WHITHER WEST INDIES CRICKET

March 2007

Whither West Indies Cricket…for the umpteenth time????

Brainless, lost in stupendous slumber, or simply out of depth. These are just some of the superlatives that aptly describe what our Caribbean team is passing off as their participation in this game we love so dearly. The fact that we are the hosts of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup appears to be lost on these players, and we continue to stupefy all who are onlookers that we are playing in an important tournament. These fellows are among the top one percent of income earners in the region. They call themselves professional cricketers and would obviously want to be considered as such, but how can we take a player seriously who as a “professional” fails to recognize that while he considers himself as such, his opponent actually worked to acquire his reputation.
Take the case of Marlon Samuels v Glenn McGrath in the West Indies’ innings against Australia in their contest in Antigua recently. Samuels hit McGrath away for a boundary early in his inning. Remember now, the team is already in trouble at 20 for two. Obviously elated with the feel of the stroke, he attempted it again oblivious of the fact that the ball was just not there to be hit. The result, McGrath’s reputation triumphed and Samuels was back in the pavillion.
As if he were probably in the toilets when Samuels lost his wicket and had no benefit of television replay, Dwayne Bravo produced an equally mindless replication of Samuel’s approach to the same bowler. He had just executed a delectable straight drive off McGrath for 4, and with the blood still rushing he rushed McGrath again and was caught by Ponting. It appeared as if these batsmen were clueless as to the cause at hand, as even earlier, the West Indian Vice-Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan playing a good hand, charged a Brad Hogg full toss and gave a simple catch to Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
As if that was not bad enough, here’s an administrative shocker. Dwayne Smith bowled the side to victory early in the tournament, only three games previously. Against Australia, the closest he came to the ball was picking it up whilst fielding. Yet against New Zealand, he opens the bowling with Powell, as the team’s management drops their fastest and most successful bowler Jerome Taylor . Inexplicable, but true.
Begs the question: Whither West Indies Cricket….. for the umpteenth time.


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