Our batsmen need discipline, concentration

THE EDITOR: On May 13, the curtain was lowered to mark the end of phase one in the one-sided Australian tour of the West Indies. The all-powerful team took little time to establish their cricket supremacy as Numero Uno in the world rating, making our boys a walkover. It was a bad time for us. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that in due course we will reap rich rewards in later clashes, as the team grows and matures. With application, our promising team will enjoy luxuriant growth and reap rich harvests.

Our friends have aroused the potential that will soon blossom to great heights. Ours is a young and inexperienced team with possibilities waiting for germination. Our recent overwhelming victory will awaken the dormant talents and generate zeal to maximum heights until our return to the golden era — a status which I predict will be soon regained by our promising and distinguished nucleus. We have abounding talent and an inspiring leader who is more eager to show the way it must be done rather than just talking about how to do it. It is said that failures are blessings in disguise.

The whipping from our guests must not leave us scared and irritable, but must kindle in each of us the resolve to learn and do better, especially in knowing that victory is our inevitable goal. Our win was no fluke but a well-deserved victory which we will begin to repeat more regularly. In early encounters, players seem to have been affected by stage fright. Towards the end, our players became more ardent, causing the flow of vigour and animation steeped in growing confidence. As an old cricketer myself, I am keen to tender some advice.

A batsman reaching half-century shows capability and with more concentration and judgement, can more easily reach the century mark. What successful batsmen need however is discipline and concentration mixed with good temperament. Our boys have the knowledge and the technique to make high scores. All they need to do is to copy Brian Lara, the world-rater, who I am sure will be ready to assist.

SALER AMEERALI
Eleanore St
Chaguanas