Published: Dec 10, 2015, 07:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 10, 2015, 07:14 PM (IST)
West Indies had dominated cricket since the 1960s, reaching their peak during the two-decade phase from mid-1970s and mid-1990s. Even till the last decade they dominated and won matches, by intimidating the opposition or otherwise. Fast forward to 2015: West Indies cricket has become a joke in certain sections of the cricketing fraternity thanks to their on-field and off-field disappointments and personal heckling taking place. Under a young Jason Holder, they are currently playing the first Test at Hobart against Australia in the 2015-16 Frank Worrell Trophy. Unfortunately, they do not seem to have the gumption to fight their way out of the hole. Vishal Mehra writes on how a good, strong and spirited performance from West Indies in Frank Worrell Trophy 2015-16 can not only lay a good foundation for the current team but also leave a long-lasting impression on the sport of cricket in West Indies. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs West Indies 2015-16, 1st Test at Hobart, Day 1
The West Indian cricket team has always been in synchronisation, despite featuring players from various islands. Even if there were disputes in the dressing-room, it seldom surfaced prominently in the public view. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the past few years. West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and other administrative organizations have been in a tug-of-war for supremacy over its cricketing culture, which is a rather sad state of affairs. The aim, these days, does not seem to be the betterment of the sport anymore: it seems to be about forming small hubs and gaining monetary benefits.
Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board is a prime example of lobbying for their own islands rather than West Indies as a whole.. Sharing the view that West Indies cricket could disintegrate into states in the next coming 10 years was major concern for the Director of West Indies cricket. “A breakaway within 10 years ‘can’t be discounted,’ said Richard Pybus in an interview. We could soon have Guyana playing against Jamaica in the very near future.
Another issue that has haunted West Indies cricket for long has been the animosity between its board and players. With talents such as Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul under their disposal, Winides cricket would have easily been a world beaters like they have shown in ICC Champions Trophy 2004 and ICC World Twenty20 2012. With internal politics ruining the game, West Indies never managed to reach heights that they are capable of. LIVE CRICKET BLOG & UPDATES: Australia vs West Indies 2015-16, 1st Test at Hobart, Day 1
One may recall West Indies’ tour of India 2014-15 where petty politics between Wavell Hinds, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) chief and WICB, led to abrupt end to a tour that was highly anticipated by fans of both nations. It did more damage to West Indies cricket team than it did to the already emptied purses of the WICB, in paying debt to BCCI.
Money has always been an issue with the WICB with ever increasing rich-handed Twenty20 leagues around the world, luring players into putting clubs over national glory. With the likes of Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo drawing hefty money, it is only a matter of time that national splendour will be put to rest and individual brilliance is the only benchmark for players.
But not everything yet is lost for West Indies cricket. With former greats like Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh coming out in support of the team, it is only a matter of time that the Jason Holder-led team featuring Darren Bravo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jomel Warrican, Jermaine Blackwood and co. learn from their mistakes and take West Indies cricket to a new era of success and recognition. ALSO READ: Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh put Australia in command vs West Indies on Day 1, 1st Test at Hobart
Winning Frank Worrell Trophy 2015-16 against Australia, or even drawing, even giving a tougher fight than what they did on Day One will ensure its players sitting back home and fans worldwide that West Indies cricket will be back in all its pomp.
West Indies’ team performance will depend a lot on their young captain Holder, who will need to marshal his troops in a way that ensures no sparks flow on the field, and the team performs as a unit and not as individuals. A well-backed camp will surely will put their best on the field irrespective of which island he belongs to and this is the need of the hour — showing solidarity within the team to prove its detractors that everything in the media is such eyewash, and reality is far different from it.
Holder and his bowlers needs to head back in the dressing room, rewind tapes of the 1992-93 Frank Worrell Trophy and find their inspiration in the form of Walsh, who won them the Test at Adelaide, followed by Ambrose’s famous burst at Perth. Nothing better than feeling happy about one’s nation and infusing flames of desire and strong will to carry on.
Fans all cross the world at waiting to rejoice and celebrate the rise of West Indies in Australia, to re-live the golden days of calypso and free flowing cricket.
(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @vishal_oxyjinn.)
