Thinking Out Loud About West Indies Cricket

I really get peeved when I hear it being said that the West Indies Cricket team is now getting into the fifth day of a Test match, whereas previously, even with senior players, we quite often didn’t make it into the fourth day. Really, I don’t mind if this comment comes from a member of the public/a cricket fan, but when I hear it from our Captain or from anyone in Management, it sickens me. It is as if the purpose isn’t to win but to show that we can be competitive and so getting into the fifth day is the most we can hope to accomplish.{{more}} Having said that, I cannot but be impressed with what appears to be a new attitude and approach, with more discipline and a greater emphasis on physical fitness, even though our players are still breaking down. We have to give credit to Sammy and Gibson, but a lot more is needed. Sammy’s place as Captain will continue to be debated. He is not the greatest Captain in the world and he is not a player who, all being equal, will immediately command a place on the team.

Sammy is a likeable person. He was brought virtually out of nowhere and given the responsibility of being Captain. I am of the view that once Sammy is Captain, players like Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell will have to say goodbye to the Test team. Sammy might get a wicket or two, but he gives the opposing team the opportunity to rebuild after the pacers are off. Added to that he has lost confidence in himself as a player, no doubt because of the harsh criticisms being levelled against him. In recent matches he had not been bowling as much as he should be, thus resulting in over-bowling the pacers or spinners. At first I thought he was nursing some injury, but am now convinced that he has lost confidence in himself. In batting he feels more comfortable coming in and firing his bat, regardless of the state of the game, as we saw recently.

I have for long maintained that the problems with West Indies Cricket start with the Board. Recent criticisms by Sarwan, Gayle, Nash and before them Chanderpaul, have thrown the spotlight on Management. The recent shouting matches across the waters with players like Gayle point to a lack of peoples’ skill. Sarwan even accused Coach Gibson of being abusive to him. Gibson had earlier hinted that there was no longer a place for players like Chanderpaul and Sarwan. This caused even Chaunderpaul to speak out, stating, I believe, that he was being pressured into retiring. The Coach really has no right to be so public, particularly with statements about any of the players. He, like Hilaire, needs to talk less and should be exposed to skills relating to the management of people. Of course, we cannot forget the recent gaffe involving the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the nonsensical statement that weather patterns were among the factors that prevented Jamaica from hosting any of the games against Australia. Wavell Hinds, I believe it was, has recently reminded us that the Cricket Board has lost every dispute with the West Indian Players Association that went to arbitration. By the way, to whom is the West Indies Cricket Board accountable? They really seem to be untouchable.

Watching our West Indian players in action is really not good for one’s health. There are too many times when they are in commanding positions and then let the opposition off the hook. Once our team appears to be moving along fine, we can expect some stupidity to occur, chief among these is shot selection by our batsmen. The biggest offender with this is Adrian Barath.

It is as if at some point they lose touch with what they are supposed to be doing and lack awareness of what is called for at different stages of the game. It is difficult to look at Gayle and Narine dominating in the IPL, while our team struggles. Narine is mesmerising all who face him, even the great Tendulkar, whom he had looking like a schoolboy, dancing to a different tune from the one that was being played. Gayle’s problem has little to do with his ability on the field, as we are quite aware. We were led to believe that everything was now settled, only to find out that there are residual matters to be addressed.

Of course, if Gayle joins the team at any point he will have to fit in with the team culture and with what is expected of him. Some of us see Gayle simply as a Twenty-Twenty or ‘Limited Overs’ player, forgetting that he has two triple centuries under his belt. But we must not sit back and think that once Gayle gets on to the team all will be well. His re-entry into the team, if that happens, will have to be carefully managed, as it will be with Sarwan. The seeming ‘bad blood’ between himself and the Coach will demand that. Where does Dwayne Bravo fit in? Is there a place for him? He might be accused of underachieving, but at least he has a Test Century under his name. They seem to have a lot of confidence in him at the IPL and on a number of occasions his Captain has selected him to bowl the last over. He is perhaps the best fielder we have. He is always involved in the game and appears always to be inspiring others.

So, where goes our West Indies team? Today, we start the Second Test in England, with most cricket fans hoping that we will begin to get it right. There is a lot of talent around that needs to be properly harnessed. Has Management been addressing the main criticism against Bishoo, his lack of variety? Was the fiasco with visas for a couple of our players the fault of the players? What is the role of the Board on matters such as these? There are many other issues that we will continue to debate for some time. The problem is not with the debate, but with putting things in place. One matter that has to be addressed, because it appears to be affecting West Indies Cricket more than anywhere else, is the relationship with the IPL and the scheduling of Test Matches. West Indies Cricket is one thing about which almost every Cricket fan has a view, so in any event the debate will continue. (Send comments to fraser.adrian@gmail.com)

Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian.