Local cricket officials in shock

LOCAL cricket officials were in shock yesterday after the West Indies sunk  to a stunning 10-wicket defeat by England in the first Test of the 2004 Cable & Wireless series at Sabina Park, Jamaica. West Indies were routed by Steve Harmison who took seven wickets for 12 runs as they tumbled to their lowest ever Test score of 47 runs yesterday. Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) 1st vice-president Dudnath Ramkeesoon said the performance of the West Indies team was totalally surprising given the talent in the batting order.

“We have a very good batting line-up so it bemuses me as to how this team can fall for just 47 runs. It was totally unexpected and I hope that the management team can work on the players to have them psychologically ready for the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval. “The players have to go and re-think their strategy and the coach has to teach them to play the moving ball. Lets hope that this never happens to West Indies cricket again.” Former West Indies off-spinner Rangy Nanan could not come to terms with the defeat and remarked: “I am very ashamed at the moment. I just cannot understand how can we make just 47 runs. “This is very upsetting and a major embarrassment for West Indies cricket. It is the lowest that we can go and I can’t believe West Indies got bowled out for 47 runs against England of all people. “We have come back from this position before and I hope that we can bounce back at the Queen’s Park Oval in the second Test match of the series.” Trinidad and Tobago manager Omar Khan said it is high time West Indies management set performance bars for players and those who don’t come up to scratch must be dropped from the team.

“I am blaming this defeat to a total lack of professionalism by the West Indies cricket team. For many years our players have been getting in a lackadaisical mood when they come up against teams that are not so strong. “This West Indies team is really embarrassing the Caribbean and they must do something about it right now.” Patrick Rampersad executive member of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCB) said he was very hurt by the loss and still cannot believe what transpired. “Boy I just cannot believe what has happened. West Indies cricket has seen its darkest hour and I don’t know how and what this team can do right now to comeback from such a trashing.”