The collapse of West Indies cricket

AT first glance one would have been forgiven for thinking just one island was taking on the might of India in a Test match. Then, after some reflection, the West Indian fan would have realised that despite the word “Dominica” emblazoned on the fronts of the shirts of the West Indies players, this were really the WI team and it was definitely a Test match.

Nevertheless, the approach to the game and the standard of cricket on display by the home team, could have fooled anybody, cricket fan or not.

This was the first day of a two-Test series between India and the WI being played in, guess where? Dominica. Probably some advertising executive decided to exploit a Test match to allow the TV audience to be aware of the island and improve its tourism market.

Have we no pride in being a combined and federated WI cricket team? Did Cricket West Indies approve this insult to WI cricket? Should every Test venue in the WI where Test cricket is played now display its country’s name on the front of the players’ shirts? Who are they representing, anyway?

I’m surprised that this was approved by CWI and sincerely hope it won’t catch on.

A precedent has been set. Actually, there are two games in Lauderhill, Florida against India. Will “USA” be printed on their shirts?

Of course, that is absolutely no reason for the pathetic performance of the WI team in the first Test. I was baffled from the start when I noticed the skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite, taking chances with a few aerial strokes passing close to fieldsmen. It was so unlike him, as his forte has always been a strong defence and settling in with patience.

However, he tried one too many and only managed to sky it for extra cover to stroll in and take a comfortable catch. A poor captain’s approach.

The way the innings went after that, I could not help but think it was an innings plan that went awry. Jermaine Blackwood, the vice-captain, smashed one high in the air over the bowler’s head and was caught brilliantly one-handed.

The score was 68 for three at that time, and it was the final delivery before lunch.

How can he or anyone justify that? Play defensively and return after lunch to settle in and continue to build. This is Test cricket, a battle between bowler and batsman for supremacy. And he is the vice-captain. What an example.

He and Raymon Reifer are too inconsistent, especially at their position in the order, to be certainties.

Alick Athanaze was brilliant. A newcomer to the Test match scene, he played with the authority of the accomplished batsman he is. His defence is solid and his shot selection is very good.

If he were playing on a team with more cricket intelligence, plus a self-belief in its ability, he would surely have made more runs on his debut.

The difference in his case, apart from his self-confidence, is a strong defence and the right attitude, which is to play his natural game, regardless of the situation.

Then the WI team took the field, and if their shoulders dropped any lower they would be touching the ground. By this time they were going through the motions of participating in a game of Test cricket, not caring whether they could save the match or not; a team that looked beaten from ball one, and nobody – captain, coach, advisers, mentors – seemed to know what to do next.

To defend a first-innings score of 150, the intelligent approach should have been a defence plan to bowl defensively to defensive fields.

There were the normal attacking fields that are used to defend a challenging total. Weak strategy. Maybe Brathwaite believed the wicket was worse than it really was. However, the opposition’s batting against the home team’s bowling was far superior.

Why is Rahkeem Cornwall on the team? He is too overweight and unfit to play international cricket. Are there no other spin bowlers in the Caribbean? Why wasn’t Kevin Sinclair given a chance to gain Test experience?

Last but not least, the pitch was not up to Test standard, and was showing signs of wear from the first day.

All that did was to expose our standard of cricket at a new low. The WI team can neither bat nor bowl on a worn wicket.

Overall, WI cricket lacks cricket intelligence.