Win, lose or draw we must rally around the WI

THE EDITOR: West Indies cricket a “tiring” and “difficult” story to be told. Sunday, March 21, I decided to take a trip to the Queen’s Park Oval to give whatever little strength and support left within my body/bones. I decided to be “Trini to de bone” that day. Well it was not all a pleasant experience for me, but I decided the only way to help an already “ailing” situation, I must muster up some hope. At the end of the day England was 300 for 6. Back in the “glory days” of West Indies cricket I was an avid fan, any and everywhere the team went whether at home or abroad, I followed the team with a passion, proud to be West Indian. I was a true fan back then.

The 1970s, the 1980s and the early 1990s were years when the West Indies cricket team were number one (numero uno), untouchable, with names such as Sir Learie Constantine, Sir Gary Sobers, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Derek Murray, Gus Logie and oh! how could I forget Courtney Walsh recently retired, those were the days of West Indies cricket. Today, however 2004, we have a younger and more talented team, but yet they continue to fail, and why? Has the West Indian public lost interest in the game? Have the West Indies cricket team failed the Caribbean peoples/public?

What can we expect in future endeavours? Today I am saddened by the West Indies team, I do want to believe there is hope, although daily I am losing faith/confidence in the team. I will continue to support Captain Brian Lara and hope under his leadership the team will bounce back to the position we had back then, number one. As West Indians let us continue to support and “rally around the team” win, lose or draw. Well, the obvious had happened. England has won the second test by seven wickets, how sad!

KEN SMITH
Woodbrook