Becca picks Jacobs for captain

The West Indies open their home Test series against Australia on April 10 and the question on everyone’s lips these past few days is this: Who will be the captain?

While the West Indies were at the World Cup in South Africa, it appeared that Carl Hooper would have been retained  particularly after Viv Richards, chairman of the selection committee, said that in the interest of West Indies cricket he should stay on. Since then, however, Hooper has come under heavy criticism, the call has been for a change of leadership, the names of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Wavell Hinds have popped up in discussions around the region, and based on their delay in submitting their recommendation to the Board, the selectors seem to be divided as to who it should be. In fact, based on what is happening, it is almost a sure thing that they are divided.

Richards, it is obvious, wants Hooper, but at least one of the other two selectors has serious concerns about his leadership skills, his tactical skills, his failure to produce as a batsman and his physical fitness. Although the reason for the division could be that the other two selectors want a change and are not prepared to back off, the real reason could be something else. One of the selectors is pushing, not for Sarwan or Hinds, but for the return of Brian Lara and that could be the problem. Looking down the list of candidates it should not be Hooper, it should not be Sarwan, it should not be Hinds, and it should not be Lara. It should not be Hooper because, on top of everything else, the West Indies needs a strong leader, a positive captain, and even if the selectors do not insist that he is 100 per cent fit, a batsman who is not hampered by injured knees.

It should not be Sarwan, not because of his age, not only because he is not accustomed to being a captain, but certainly when the experience of Sachin Tendulkar is remembered, also because it would be too much of a burden on his young shoulders. It should not be Hinds not only because he could be a captain without a place in the team but also because he is not that good a captain to be given the job if he cannot be guaranteed a place in the team; and although he is bold and brave, it should not be Lara for the simple reason that he still has not shown that he has the capacity to lead people. Who then should it be? It should be Ridley Jacobs.

Jacobs, obviously, is not a champion leader and at his age he cannot be long term. All things considered, however, he is the best man for the job at this time and, who is to tell, he may come out with flying colours. He is a quiet man, a simple, unsophisticated man with no pretensions of greatness, he does not wish to be a father figure or the master of all around him and that is the kind of personality that could get the best out of the players.