Cricket: How sweet it is!

Mar 17, 2009 Editorial

Cricket! Lovely cricket! Suddenly, there is a spring in the steps of West Indian cricket fans and a song in their hearts. What a difference a month can make!
Our English visitors have a saying that “one swallow does not make a summer”, but what ‘bout two? Our cricket team did not just win the one-off 20/20 match on Sunday but, more impressively, the Test series that preceded it. Could it mean that our summer of cricket glory is at least on the horizon?

It is said, with some degree of cynicism, that hope beats eternal in the breast of man, but we do believe that there are at least some grounds for the new optimism that our team may have turned the corner. There are several reasons that indicate that this confidence is not necessarily misplaced.
Right up there is the demonstrated piece of evidence of our tail finally wagging – as is vital in the new order of cricket.

There was a time when our team was in the ascendancy, and our bowlers were so devastating that they probably felt that it was a bit of overkill to deign to hone their batting skills.
Whatever their team’s score, they were confident of skittling out the opposition below that figure. But times and techniques change, and our lower order has finally proven that they have inculcated the necessary discipline not to throw their wickets away with wild swishes when what was needed was patient blocking.
We thought that Cricinfo applauded the new attitude quite appropriately when, as Fidel Edwards fended off all that England could throw at him, they noted succinctly: “Headley, Walcott, Sobers, Lara, Edwards. Take a bow, tail-enders”.

Ramdin also seems to at last be ready to fulfil the promise shown so clearly on his debut years ago – a wicketkeeper who could also provide some stability and grit in the middle order – not to mention some input into tactics from his key vantage point behind the stumps.
Chanderpaul, of course, has remained the rock of the batting side; we have long lauded his professional attitude and do-or-die resoluteness. We hope that it is a mark of acceptance of these qualities that Brendan Nash was selected ahead of a host of allegedly “more naturally gifted” cricketers who are not willing to become role-players.

While Gayle may not be the most astute of on-field captains, he has been able to motivate his team to play as a unit, which is the most important consideration in these days of inflated egos and spoiled petulance.
Then, of course, there has been his willingness to moderate his hitting to the pace of the game.
In this regard, the flowering of Sarwan’s always-acknowledged sublime batting skills is welcome, and we hope that he too has turned a corner. There appears to be an abundance of young batsmen who we hope will accept the need for discipline over flamboyance. Taylor, Edwards and Benn are the core of a solid bowling attack, but they will have to be buttressed by two other specialists – who must be located pronto. Bravo is a ‘filler’ in this regard.

It would appear that coach Dyson has had a great deal to do with the improvement of fitness and attitude in the team. We appreciate his willingness to operate in the background and let the cricketers be the stars.
There are two concerns that must be addressed if WI cricket is to continue on the upward slope that has been recently created.
Firstly, the WI cricketing administrations – both at the national and WI levels – still remain a disgrace and must be reformed. What has become of the report prepared by former Prime Miniser P.J. Patterson and other WI “wise men”?

Isn’t it time that it is implemented?
Secondly, the WI team should not get too carried away with the two recent successes. The English team that they defeated is an average side, and their
behaviour after they defeated the Aussies in 2005 is an object lesson on how dangerous inflated egos can be. Keep plugging away, play within your strengths, and success will continue. And we can continue celebrating.

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