Laurie Foster | Big win but Windies still at crossroads

The West Indies cricket team has registered a resounding Test victory against the touring Englishmen. It has come at a time when there were issues concerning the coaching staff. An interim head coach had just been appointed amid shouts of discontent over the choice. Supporters should be happy that the side was able to override that problem and still come up with the triumph by such a wide margin of 381 runs.

With two more Tests to go, the series is a long way from being decided. The embarrassment and disappointment suffered by the Joe Root-led England team is expected to trigger a drastic change of heart as to the route to be adopted for a recovery. One cannot see them repeating an obvious error in omitting Stuart Broad – a fast bowler who, along with James Anderson, has seen them cross the finish line ahead of their rivals for some time. It was a monumental mistake and they were made to regret it.

MISFIT

The leg-spinner, Adil Rashid, could also be seen as a misfit. The fact that the captain was so sparing in using him clearly illustrates that point. In such a situation with a team on tour, there could be some panic in the camp and they should not be allowed the room to worm themselves out of it. So much for the Three Lions and their demise in Bridgetown. The West Indies have their own problems which must be addressed before the second Test.

Appearing in the first encounter were captain Jason Holder, his close friend and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, pacer Kemar Roach, Shai Hope and the batting all-rounder Roston Chase. The first-up performances of these five created the platform for the victory. Foster’s Fairplay scents a likely problem here. They are all from Barbados. Hints of insularity, not without merit, have been levelled at the region’s team in years past. This accusation, despite the efforts at remedy of former super captains Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, has never been far from the surface. It will take the craft of expert managers to prevent that scourge from once more finding its place within the team’s ranks. It should not be allowed to undermine the chances of what now seems to be under construction – a unified and, by extension, more cohesive group of cricketers.

One is confident that the question will be asked as to how can this unity be achieved. It is suggested that the aim should be to tackle the minds of the players. That, in the opinion of this columnist, is where the thoughts of insularity are incubated. It is crucial that they are put to flight from this stage and not allowed the freedom of being hatched to disastrous effect. No one player, despite his individual brilliance, should be encouraged to feel that he is more of an asset than another. If ever there was a call for the ‘all for one, one for all’ attitude, this should be it.

So many times when there appears to be a resurgence of the West Indies to which we had grown accustomed in former years, there is talk of turning the corner. Foster’s Fairplay will not go back there. Suffice to say, the team is at a crossroads. A promising and potentially productive aggregation has been formed. They were seen in action in the first Test. It was enthralling. It was heart-warming. It made the region believe again.

Let this vision of a brighter day be embedded in the hearts and minds of this bunch of cricketers. They represent the future of West Indies cricket. To assist them over the bumps that lay ahead will require strong support from the administration and its supporters throughout the Caribbean.

Go Windies!

Feedback: Email: lauriefoster2012@gmail.com.

‘So many times when there appears to be a resurgence of the West Indies to which we had grown accustomed in former years, there is talk of turning the corner.’