“West Indies Calypso Collapso – Again!”

Mar 18, 2012 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft

 

“Bravo seh de fire still bunnin foh West Indies!  He nealy right!  Um dun bun down West Indies house!”

This was the only printable statement made by a very irate West Indies supporter after the team’s most recent embarrassment and outright debacle – losing, terribly, to Australia, by 64 runs, in ODI # 1.
He was, of course, making direct reference to West Indies vice–captain Dwayne Bravo’s recent comments on that award-winning documentary “Fire in Babylon”, which showcased experiences, expertise and sublime cricketing execution of West Indies cricket teams, circa 1974 to 1986.
Now, in a period which includes Sir Vivian Richards’ 60th birthday – March 07, yours truly getting to 59 – March 15, West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson making 43 – March 16, and especially the Irish celebrating St. Patrick’s Day – March 17, one must believe that good luck should rub off on West Indies!
Some who believe that also live in Mars or Jupiter, but perhaps not under the sign of Pisces.  They obviously do not know West Indies cricket well.  That loss on Friday last was as shambolic as the state of the game in these parts.  Australia did nothing special.  West Indies simply disintegrated, as is normal!
For many others, it really did not matter that West Indies had lost, or were, indeed losing, as the game progressed.  They were more interested in partying.  Nothing galls the façade more than seeing West Indies supporters, supposedly, wining, jumping and gyrating as a West Indies wicket falls, or when the die is almost cast, as West Indies meanders to another loss.  It is just stupid; downright asinine!
Much has changed in West Indies cricket over the last 50 years, the most abject change being the supporters themselves.  Most do not care, or even know, when a West Indies six is hit or a wicket is lost.   They celebrate anyway.  Such inane actions cannot support anyone, much less a professional team!
Anyway, truth be told, that pitch in St. Vincent for ODI # 1 was one of the worst seen for a 50 overs One Day International.  The formula for pitches is normally a true surface that produces fluent stroke-play, while affording bowlers, fast and slow, some opportunity to also get enough purchase to achieve wickets.  Instead, that pitch was a lottery – if you are lucky, you won, but even that was a massive punt!
ODI # 2 is later today (Sunday), and there is hope that West Indies would do better.  They must.  There cannot be the same drivel that we saw on Friday.  If that transpires, one would have to ask the very relevant question:  What exactly is Ottis Gibson teaching this team?  Whatever it is, it is not visible now!
Do not tell me that they fielded well.  That is what they are supposed to do, especially at the international level.  It is useless to applaud for doing the job, properly, for which anyone had been hired.
That is why you were hired in the first place, to do that exact job well.  Therefore, doing it as it should be done should not be doubly rewarded, since you are already being compensated for that effort.  Just do that damned job well enough to win, not just to look good!
West Indies used the bowling conditions reasonably, while the captaincy left very much to be desired.  Why was Dwayne Bravo allowed to bowl 10 overs when he was so expensive?  10-1-58-3 is not good bowling when the opposition makes only 204-8, thus accounting for more than one quarter of that total?  That is absolute rubbish, especially when the captain himself was much more frugal; 8-0-30-0.
Supposedly knowing the conditions – average score at Arnos Vale for ODI is 202 – why did West Indies select four all-rounders, especially when only, maybe, two should be considered thusly?
Would it not have been smarter to pick the additional spinner, Davendra Bishoo, knowing his abilities, returns and conditions underfoot?  Andre Russell could not warrant selection in these conditions!
Yet West Indies did a wonderful job when they bowled.  They did field with alacrity and purpose and except for Bravo and Russell, really bowled well.
Sunil Narine’s 10-0-24-1 was almost a match-winning effort, especially if he had taken more wickets.  He used the conditions so admirably that the selectors and coaches must have been pulling their hair out, wondering why they did not select Bishoo too.
Kemar Roach; 10-1-33-2; was a revelation, taking the mantle of attack-leader with much more presence than his small frame suggests.  He does seem to be maturing well, and with time, injuries permitting, and consistency, he could develop into being an excellent ODI bowler.  He certainly has time on his side!
“West Indies scrapin de barrel, nah!  Duh man vuppin!”  This was the comment from another supporter when he saw Johnson Charles’ approach to batsmanship.  Bravado is one thing; skill, abilities and commonsense others.  Disrespect is something else too.
Australia did not become the No. 1 ODI team in the world, again, because they do not know what the game is about.  They have always been some of the best exponents of that format, so for Charles to slog them everywhere would never have worked!  Mind you, his batting record is quite abysmal, but…..!
The older batting heads in present West Indies need someone to look after, or more particularly look into their craniums, for most seem to have extremely dormant brains, or, indeed, devoid of these!
Darren Bravo’s dismissal was an exact case in point.  Since when does a batsman hit a delivery directly to a fieldsman, in front of him, at mid-on, then attempt a run.  Disrespecting an opponent, especially one as lethal as Australia, could, and as shown last Friday, would always end in your own embarrassment.
Dwayne Bravo was the only genuine dismissal when West Indies batted.  He got the best ball of the game, bowled by the shifting Christian, whose medium-dobblers were the exact solution for the pitch and overhead conditions.  Why was Kieron Pollard’s similar style not used when West Indies fielded?
The shambles began with West Indies 97-3, in over # 24, well ahead of the equation and the game.  Senior coaches like my friends Curtly Ambrose, David Williams, Suruj Rogoonath, Roger and Mark Harper must have blown gaskets observing West Indies capitulate in this period of play; true madness!
Immediately on Bravo’s dismissal, Marlon Samuels, who was batting solidly to that point, also swiped; dismissed for 35.  Carlton Baugh, who seemed to have learnt nothing at all for his vast experiences, again fell sweeping, third ball in; West Indies suddenly tottering at 97-6.  That was as brainless as can be!
Russell was soon dragged out of his crease, stumped, controversially, for 01, before the much-hyped Pollard lunged, with much bat energy, to present a catch.  Narine, with Sammy, certainly a better batsman, at the other end, decided that he, Narine, can slog too; out; West Indies unbelievably 104-9.
If this set of cricketers that we have representing us do not need psychologists, even psychiatrists, then I’m not 59.  But, I am!  This has been seen so many times, this West Indies Calypso Collapso.  Enjoy!

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