Windies cricket needs team spirit

THE EDITOR: Following publication of my recent article: The Challenge of the 2003 World Cup Tournament — A Recipe For Success, I seek your tolerance again for some comments on the falling standards in international cricket with specific reference to the state of West Indies cricket.

My concern at the moment continues to be the poor quality in the art of captaincy and the poor out cricket witnessed in the tournament so far. In this respect the West Indies team has proven to be the greatest offender. The team fell headlong into the abyss of mediocrity, eventually failing to qualify for the Super. Sixes — much to the disappointment of their fans worldwide! One wonders whether the present coaches and team captains concentrate solely on the art of batting and bowling to the detriment of discipline, physical fitness, strategies, team spirit, team work and most important thinking the game. Naturally, commitment is essential and must not be overlooked.

From my observations the Australian team possesses these elements to a far greater degree than all other teams in the competition. The intensity of the Aussies is such that if the captain has a weakness in any department it would not be easy to detect or exploit. No other team has so far matched the Aussies in their intensity and commitment. It would be no surprise to me if Australia walks away with the championship to make it two in a row. Of the teams left in the Super Sixes only India and New Zealand have the natural talent for a challenge but so far have shown only flashes of brilliance. The West Indies in my opinion is the only outfit that can match the Aussies in natural talent and individual strengths. However, obvious shortcomings in selection policies, leadership on the field, commitment, added to the bugbear of insularity have been the main drawbacks in their armoury.

Team spirit and teamwork also leave much to be desired. Since players are recruited from independent Caribbean states it will not be easy to correct some of these weaknesses. In the meantime the management of the West Indies Board must urgently consider the need for a change in the leadership of the team. The present captain is a charming personality who seems however to lack the drive, fighting and motivational quality required for the captaincy. The present skipper seems to lack foresight, while his approach to the varied tasks involved seems merely casual. In view of his bitter experience in his earlier stint as captain due mainly to the absence of quality batsmen to follow him in the order. (With a single exception), Brian Charles Lara may have expressed his reluctance to be considered for the job.

However with the present crop of talented players available the Board ought to invite the star batsman to accept the challenge of captaincy in time for the 2003 Australian visit. This man is without doubt the only qualified candidate for the position. As a matter of fact Lara has been one of the few great cricketers who believe in giving youth a chance in fact, he is definitely in West Indies cricket. Of the youthful prospects available for the post of vice captain, the Guyanese icon Ramnaresh Sarwan stands head and shoulders above them all. He possesses the necessary qualities for the captaincy in the not too distant future. Sarwan has already experienced some inspirational partnership at the crease with the double record holder in Test cricket. Perhaps it is appropriate herein to quote the truism expressed by President Alloy Lequay (TTCBC) during the launch of Captaincy in Cricket on April 4, 2002 when he stated inter alia “In cricket, from Grace to Worrell, from Sobers to Hooper, leadership most times would have contributed to victory or defeat.” I am satisfied that results in more than a few matches in the current World Cup Tournament have provided ample evidence in support of this statement.

FYZUL HASSANALI
Author “Captaincy in Cricket”