West Indies impasse in names

There is never a dull moment in West Indies Cricket, never!

The events of the past weeks, which have thrown the regional game into an administrative tail spin, are part and parcel of our Cricket folklore. The arguments of who is wrong from who is right is, with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association(WIPA), nothing new, because as West Indians, “We love we Bacchanal!”.{{more}}

But all is well that ends well, as the strike has temporarily been called off.

Intrigue is an integral part of West Indies Cricket, such that even the surnames of our players who have played test matches or participate in regional matches tell half of the story and convey why there are always controversies.

The protracted row over money and contracts should not come as any surprise, as among our Cricketers we have had Omari Banks, Rommell Currency, Adam Stanford, and before them came Kanute Barclay, the Shillingfords, Irvine and Grayson, Uton Dowe, the Benjamins, Kenneth and Winston, and Clive Lloyd.

But why should we endure such bickering over finance, when at the end of the spectrum, sanity and purity reign, and we get our source of direction for reconciliation through Joe Solomon, John Pilgrim, Frankie Thomas, Stanton and Ahmed Proverbs, Wayne Daniel, Lynden James, Lance John , Ridley and Stephen Jacobs ,Craig Emmanuel, Mervyn Matthew, Dawnley Joseph among many other Josephs, and John Shepherd.

They, though, have been outdone, as two of the highest religious offices have been attained through Ian Bishop and Uzzah Pope. And to settle issues, who is better than umpire Stephen Lorde. Maybe much of the conflict is because we, too, have had Donovan Pagon.

Royalty has also come our way, through Collis King and John Prince. So?

Not withstanding that love has also played a part in West Indies Cricket by way of Alf Valentine, Gosnel Cupid and Franklyn Rose. WIPA and the WICB take note.

No other Cricket playing nation has produced such varied professions. We have produced Seymour Nurse, Frank Mason, Stephen Farmer, Basil Butcher, and most recently Deighton Butler, Nikita Miller, Jerome Taylor and Lionel Baker have joined the list. Clarence Hunter existed prior to the First World War. One cannot forget umpire David Archer.

Yes, years after the colour barrier in regional Cricket had been removed, entered Marlon Black, Vibert Greene, Anthony Gray, among many Brownes. Courtney, Colville, Patrick are just some. Off the field and in the commentary booth, came Joseph “Reds” Perriera, but umpire Gary White carried on the once restrictive feature.

However, the regional game has been well guarded, with Marshalls, Malcolm, Xavier, and Roy, just to name some, Livingstone Sargeant, Ignatius Cadette and Vance Armory. Despite them, things have still gone awry.

And, with our current crop of players blowing hot and cold and ups and downs , it is no wonder among our cricketing landscape there have been Ray Wynter, Chris Gayle, Garnet Niles, Gareth Breese, Shamarrh Brooks , Anthony Lake, Mervin Wells.

Staying on the side of Geography, what about Dwight Washington, Dale Africa, Emmerson Jordan, and, of course, Stanton Paris.

The animal kingdom is present Hinds, Wavell, Ryan, Stanley, Vasbert Drakes or some Jacks in Joseph and Cordel as well as George Heron.

Also the good, the bad and the indifferent have come through. Hence the mixed emotions of WIPA and the WICB are embedded in Tino and Carlisle Best, Sir Everton Weekes, Sulieman Benn, Garfield Sobers, Clyde Butts, Lynden Wright. But the impasse is definitely in need of an Allan Rae or Andrew Lyte.

As we try to ride out the current storm, it is the region’s hope that with the slide of our Cricket that one day we all can say BRAVO! BRAVO! as we begin to turn corners and get back to the winning ways of the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

However, no Bravo is in store for that “Mound” at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

email: kingroache@yahoo.com