Proper plan needed to resurrect WI cricket

AS WEST Indies (WI) rose to the pinnacle of world cricket they went through some perilous times. From 1928, when first accepted as a Test-playing region, the united small islands of British colonies approached the game very seriously. The inhabitants of these islands in the sun were blessed with a passion for the game and a natural ability that fitted the physical co-ordination required. It quickly translated into skill and became competitive.

The one imperative ingredient they lacked was knowledge; the necessary tactics and strategies needed to get the better of their opponents. The pioneers of West Indian cricket took the bull by the horns and, at great expense of their own, embarked on tours of England and Australia. This helped to increase awareness and attraction to the sport.

Gradually, the cricket improved, so much so that the WI cricketers in 1950 defeated England in England by a margin of three Tests to one in a four-match series. For the first time they also won a Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the traditional “headquarters” of cricket.

When they returned in 1957 WI were brought back down to earth, with England earning revenge by winning the second, fourth and fifth Tests by an innings. It was humiliating. They missed the tactical Jeff Stollmeyer. who was vice-captain in ’50, and who had retired.

The next overseas tour was to Australia in 1960/61, at which time the islands were federated. From this basic political change, a new culture was gradually emerging and WI cricket saw the necessity to choose the best cricket mind and leadership qualities at the time, and not rely on colour to determine the captaincy. Frank Worrell was chosen as the most capable player to be captain, to lead a bunch of very gifted players like Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Wes Hall etc, all in the prime of youth and experience.

That trip to Australia proved the greatest cricket series of a lifetime, not only for WI but also for the cricket world. Books have been written about it, numerous stories have been told and the game of cricket recovered from the boredom that had set in during the Ashes series between England and Australia in 1958/59. It was a breath of fresh air that saved a dying game, and Worrell’s West Indians were completely responsible for its rescue and survival.

The first Test was at Brisbane from December 9-14 1960 (December 11 was a rest day) and ended in the first tied Test in history.

Sixty years after this fantastic game, that was the opening act of a classical cricket series, encouraged by WI cricketers under Worrell and which made us the toast of world cricket, the experience led us to the invincible stage of the undefeated between 1980 and 1995.

The reason for the first revelation was the change of culture recognised by the West Indies Cricket Board by naming Worrell as skipper; the second was the intervention of the Australian Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in 1977, which paid the talented WI cricketers much higher wages than what they were accustomed to, which also ensured they understood what professionalism meant: to perform well if one wants to earn a decent wage.

WI cricketers became very professional then, employing Aussie Dennis Waithe to look after their fitness through rigorous training. Their fitness, combined with the fear of losing such lucrative contracts, was a powerful motivation. Skipper Clive Lloyd demanded and received the support of his players to make them the force that they became.

What I have related here is just an outline of some of the basics and the critical decisions that made WI cricket develop from 1928-1995. Soon afterwards, in 1998/99, the cracks began appearing, with WI losing to South Africa in a Test series clean sweep 5-0, for the first time ever in any series, losing its balance and going into free-fall for the next 21 years.

At present, WI cricket is at the depths of the abyss, having hit rock bottom after its ignominious collapse.

There is no sign of a Worrell, or a Packer, nor any indication that a saving grace is close. A proper plan is needed to build back cricket in the territories which are in a mess.

The administration should concentrate on improving the Test standard and the other formats will progress. Plan on creating interest and enthusiasm. That’s the answer.