Hope for Windies yet

THE EDITOR: Although deeply disappointed with the early exit of the West Indies cricket team from the World Cup 2003, I take some heart in feeling that our regional team is heading in the right direction. A feeling I did not have after our performances in the last two World Cups.

Our current crop of youngsters exude potential and finally there is seemingly a plan for their proper development. I feel we were extremely unlucky and this led to our early demise in the current tournament. Here are some of the reasons to back this sentiment. 1) There is no denying our bad luck with the weather versus the worst team in the tournament, Bangladesh, a team who lost to Canada, not seemingly worthy of their Test status. This was the only game rained out in Pool ‘B’. 2) Losing the toss against Sri Lanka in a day/night fixture at a venue where the team batting second loses nine out of 10 times. Although winning the toss should give that side some advantage, there is some argument in South Africa daynighters, at this venue, it overwhelmingly favours the side winning the toss. This is unfair, especially where sides are so evenly balanced (Australia apart). 3) Although it is felt that bad umpiring decisions have a way of evening out themselves, in recent times these bad decisions have weighed heavily against the Windies. In games where results can be by less than 10 runs, one bad decision can change the whole outcome of a match. For example, had Jayasuriya being correctly given out, caught behind, earlier in his innings and Jacobs had not been incorrectly adjudged caught behind, the Windies could well have been comfortably into the super sixes. No one will ever know.

That is not a denial that the Windies at times played some careless cricket, however there is no denying that this tendency has reduced dramatically relative to the past six or so years. They are a side on the improve, but there is still a ways to go, but it certainly looks promising. There were some factors that had nothing to do with luck that contributed to our early demise. 1) Questionable tactics, an inability to properly rearrange the batting lineup to suit a particular match situation, a lack of aggressiveness both in bowling changes and field placing, too many dropped catches, an apparent lack of communication between the dressing room and batsmen out in the middle. 2) Hooper’s lack of form, perhaps his recent knee surgery had affected him more than we all thought. To many casual observers, one may be tempted to say ‘here we go again, the Windies only flattered to deceive’. However, as an ardent lifelong follower of West Indian cricket, I feel confident we are finally heading in the right direction and we will once again be a force to reckon with, perhaps in a year or two.

DR NIGEL CAMACHO
Trinidad