SSP Diaries | My take on Windies cricket – Part 1

Much has been said because much needs to be said. I am no expert at the game even though I did dabble in it in my youthful days. I developed a passion for cricket as a result of listening, with my father and brothers, to just about every Test match being played by the West Indies, on radio, before the advent of television. We shared his joy and disappointment when we won or lost. This was my inheritance which I carried proudly upon my shoulders wherever I went in this world. The game’s evolution to the three primary formats, Tests, ODIs and T20s, was difficult to accept at first, having been fully schooled in the original game. Notwithstanding, ODIs and T20s came to have their place, over time, and were embraced. What I have found to be unacceptable, however, is the increasingly downward spiral that has since characterised Windies cricket, in all its formats.

Where have we gone wrong? T20s seems to have had more of a negative than positive impact on the overall game. Negative in the sense that this is the format to which most of our talented players gravitate because of financial rewards. Positive because there is now opportunity for cricketers to earn a decent living and at the same time Cricket West Indies has another means of generating funds to carry out its functions. The ultimate game of any true cricketer is the Test match, that is where he/she needs to prove himself/herself as a master of the art before any other. Money has become a focus in the minds of many, at all levels, to the detriment of the game.

As a concerned spectator, I see talent among today’s players, but it is not being managed properly. For example, our bowling plan against Ireland in our appearance at the recent T20 World Championships in Australia was wayward, lacked consistency, direction, variation, flexibility and effectiveness. There was a better display in the Zimbabwe match, and this has been characteristic of our team for too long, today they apply themselves and give us hope, tomorrow the effort is so dismal, it is not worthy of commentary. Batting displays in the T20 World Championships have shown consistency in application on the part of Brandon King for the most part, but otherwise there is a distinct inability to concentrate, build partnerships, display patience and good shot selections/placements, etc., on the part of the rest of the team. We witnessed ‘slogging’ matches, “wilful” surrendering of wickets, with some batters trying to outdo the other by scoring sixes as opposed to playing singles and twos to keep the score ticking over and the bowlers unsettled, while building meaningful partnerships.

In general, we did not display even the basic requirements of the game and so their performance in this event must go down as one of the worst in the history of Windies cricket. Nicholas Pooran’s performance was, in my mind, poor. He seemed incapable of adjusting the pre-game plan once he got on the field and on many occasions failed to capitalise upon the advantages gained. Serious consideration needs to be given to have Myers bat lower down in the order where he should feel more comfortable and be able to contribute more. Far more work must be done to instil in the minds of our batters the process of shot selection and how to keep the score accumulating. Smith, Cottrell, McCoy, Shephard are some of the bowlers who need further coaching, especially in the art of maintaining good lines and length while making the best use of their repertoire. Joseph presents with excellent prospects. He is a very focused bowler, who, from his actions, is passionate about the game and always gives his best. He must be carefully managed as he has the potential to be one of the Windies greats in the future. Our captains need to understand that any plan made is only good up until the first ball is bowled, thereafter one must be able to think in the environment and make the necessary adjustments as the game progresses. Cricket West Indies must find a way to get more of our great players of the past back on front-line duties to assist, in a serious and properly coordinated way, to teach our male and female teams the essence of this beautiful game so the Caribbean may feel good once again.

Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com