When the young guns of West Indies Under-19 rejoiced and
celebrated their maiden ICC Under-19 World Cup triumph in Dhaka, the mood of
the ardent followers of West Indies cricket was elated and they expressed their
immense emotions for the Caribbean young men’s brilliant achievement.
Despite limited facilities and off-the-field-chaos, the
young guns from the Caribbean overcame all the obstacles to convey a message to
the world that, still, there is hope left in West Indies Cricket. A few months
later, Carlos Brathwaite took Ben Stokes’ bowling to the cleaners and triggered
wild celebrations in Kolkata.
West Indies lifted the ICC World T20 trophy for the second
time and left the print, electronic and social media amazed. The modern day
fans and critics praised the Caribbean’s effort throughout the tournament and
many of them expressed their utmost sympathy towards the team after Darren
Sammy’s emotional speech.
Critics are expecting a turnaround of Caribbean cricket
after a historic treble of World Cups. The same was expected from them after
their T20 triumph in 2012 as well. But sadly, nothing changed. And if we look
at their performance in the longer formats, West Indies remained a butt of joke
till 2015.
There were victories here and there, but the amount of
humiliating defeats were so much that it overshadowed those once-in-a-blue-moon
achievements. West Indies cricket’s progression remained stagnant.
How West Indies can take clue from
Sri Lanka
When Arjuna Ranatunga lifted the World Cup at Lahore for the
first time in 1996, it brought people of the tiny island on one platform and
worked as a huge motivating factor. Gradually, Sri Lanka became a force to be
reckoned in world cricket, but that ultimate fulfillment did not come until
they became a consistent side in Test cricket.
In the late 90s, Sri Lankan batsmen and bowlers started to
stamp their authority in Test matches and their improvement as a team became a
role model for others. Sri Lanka’s success in one-day cricket inspired them to
set high standards in world cricket and above all, it created a legacy to
produce quality cricketers whose loyalty towards their national team and the
game of cricket is unquestionable.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Board is not run by saint brains, but
corruption has earned them a bad name. How much money the current crop of young
Sri Lankan players earn remains a moot question. But despite such sensitive
issues, the Lankan players give their all for the improvement of the Sri Lankan
cricket team.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is a corrupt body as
well and their tussle with the senior players has tarnished the image of
Caribbean cricket over the years. Petty quarrels, personal gains, big egos,
etc. have been the story of West Indies cricket so far and neither the Board
nor the players are ready to cut short their ego and take Caribbean cricket
forward.
Is blaming the WICB right?
As the whole world is blaming the WICB, very few are questioning the loyalty of their senior players. The WICB
While the Caribbean team was getting battered by the
Australians Down Under last summer, the so-called senior players were seen busy
with the Big Bash League and one of them triggered a mass criticism by
attempting to flirt with a female Television host.
They enjoyed, party hard, performed and earned cash without
even bothering to realize how pathetic West Indies were punished by Steve
Smith’s men.
Okay, any cricketer has the freedom to choose whether he wish to play in a Franchise League or the national team, but should a cricketer give club cricket more preference than the country? No harm in playing for a club and earn money, but the prestige of your country matters more than anything.
Okay, any cricketer has the freedom to choose whether he wish to play in a Franchise League or the national team, but should a cricketer give club cricket more preference than the country? No harm in playing for a club and earn money, but the prestige of your country matters more than anything.
Would Sachin Tendulkar, Imran Khan, Allan Border or Kumar
Sangakkara have done the same thing?
The senior players of the West Indies expressed their
interest to represent the country in the 50-over and Test formats. According to
them, they have been treated shabbily by the WICB, but have the WICB ever
closed the door for them? Were not they allowed to play together two years
back? Has Dwayne Bravo forgotten his acts during the India tour in 2014?
How sensible was that? Yes, one might say, they took such stern steps because their patience was tested to the limits, but why can’t we think the same for WICB’s harsh treatment against such senior players?
How sensible was that? Yes, one might say, they took such stern steps because their patience was tested to the limits, but why can’t we think the same for WICB’s harsh treatment against such senior players?
West Indies’ staggering success over the past few months
should act as a tonic for the overall development of their cricket. But the
development should not be one dimensional. If this success in the World T20 is
just a benchmark for the Caribbeans to keep improving their T20 or limited
overs squad then West Indies’ future of Test cricket will be in a big threat.
One must keep in mind, how Sri Lank’s success in World T20
2014 inspired them to create history in England the same year. Sri Lanka’s
success in T20 didn’t shift their focus on the advancement of just one format
only, but it motivated them to do well in all the formats.
Players like Gidron Pope, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Shamar Springer are naturally gifted cricketers who can easily fall a victim of this T20 euphoria and choose the path of those senior cricketers whose eyes remained shut during the humiliation of West Indies in Australia.
Players like Gidron Pope, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Shamar Springer are naturally gifted cricketers who can easily fall a victim of this T20 euphoria and choose the path of those senior cricketers whose eyes remained shut during the humiliation of West Indies in Australia.
It’s here, where the WICB should exhibit sense and not
stupidity. They need to build this young generation of cricketers into world
beaters and make them realize the importance of performing well in all the
formats, the value of Test cricket and the pride of representing West Indies
who have a glorious cricket history.
Being a fan of West Indies cricket, I have been waiting
since 1995 for their turnaround and for which I would like to invest faith in
these young cricketers of Under-19. The WICB must utilize the recently earned
successes smartly and take notice, the development is overall and not limited
to just one format.
It should be their responsibility to notice that neither a
Pope or a Joseph chooses the wrong path and fades away. Also, they should not
let the talents of Lendl Simmons and Carlos Brathwaite get drained in one
format only.
The West Indies have won the small battles. The war is yet
to be won.
Note: this article has been published in Sportskeeda on 06/04/2016 ICC World T20 2016 - West Indies have won the small battles, but not the war
Thank You
Note: this article has been published in Sportskeeda on 06/04/2016 ICC World T20 2016 - West Indies have won the small battles, but not the war
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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