WI return but not in disgrace

KIMBERLEY: An early exit from the World Cup wasn’t all doom and gloom for the West Indies, skipper Carl Hooper said, because his squad showed visible signs of the rebuilding Caribbean cricket.

After a dream start to the tournament in a thrilling three-run victory over host South Africa, which included a brilliant century by Brian Lara and fine bowling from Mervyn Dillon and Vasbert Drakes, the West Indies foundered on losses to New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and a rain-induced no-result against Bangladesh. Hooper, however, refused to be bleak about the campaign. “Our first match of the World Cup was very positive, and the two losses we suffered, we were not too far off the mark,” he said. Typically straight-talking, Hooper is one of the world’s most respected captains, and his disappointment with the exit from the World Cup is laced with carefully considered criticism for the tournament. “No disrespect to either team, but Kenya’s and Zimbabwe’s presence in the Super Sixes is a reflection on the rules we play under. The reaction to rain needs to be consistent, and, while I understand that the logistics of this tournament meant no reserve days could be had for first-round matches, the problem needs to be revisited,” he said.

He also bore no ill-will to New Zealand for choosing to forfeit their match in Nairobi, Kenya on security grounds, a move which gave Kenya four free points and a huge leg-up into the Super Six phase of the tournament. “I know New Zealand had concerns, especially after they were near that bomb blast last year in Pakistan. So I understand where they were coming from,” he said. In looking at his team’s performance in the tournament, he chose rather to look for positives. “We need to regard this as a minor setback on the long road to recovery we have set out on,” Hooper said. “It’s important not to judge our World Cup performance in isolation, but in the context of the improvements we have been making over the last few years.” He managed to keep his team focused on the future with a convincing win over Kenya in the final match they played, saying it was important to finish on a high. “We are getting over our disappointment at our elimination, and we know we have to look to our future, especially the tour by Australia in April,” he said.

And while he emphasised the importance of the rebuilding, he was a little frustrated that he was unable to give some of the younger and less experienced players in the World Cup squad a chance to perform: “Most of the matches we played in were ‘must-win’, so we found ourselves going with players of experience. It was only in the match against Kenya that Jermaine Lawson put up his hand and perform,” Hooper said. The young fast bowler responded to the challenge with real fire and pace, and finished with match figures of two wickets for 16 against Kenya in eight overs. Hooper was also confident of the full support of the administration of West Indies cricket as the team continued to rebuild. “I have talked with Sir Vivian Richards, and there is no question of blame being apportioned for our performance in the World Cup,” he said. “I am happy with the support I am getting from the board, and we need to go forward with the plans we have made to rebuild West Indies cricket.”