On The Cricket Pitch
The winds of change
Philip Hackett
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
There was a time when Barbados was the envy of all regional cricketing
countries. As one of the most successful teams in regional cricket Barbados
was highly respected even beyond the boundaries of the Caribbean. A relatively
small island of just 166 square miles it has produced the most outstanding
cricketer of all time, Sir Gary Sobers and several other cricketing greats
such as the three Ws, West Hall, and more recently Gordon Greenidge, the late
Malcolm Marshall, Desmond Haynes and Joel Garner.
Just last year two Barbadian cricketers, Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne,
led West Indies to its first major international title in a quarter of a
century with a match-winning partnership to secure the ICC Champions Trophy.
Now it could be that Barbados may yet again be playing a leading role in
the restoration of West Indies cricket. There have been several calls for
changes in the West Indies Board as it continues to mismanage the affairs of
the Caribbean people. The result of recent elections within the Barbados
Cricket Association has brought about two changes on the Board, a reality that
would hopefully provide food for thought to other Board members who may be
frustrating cricket followers in their respective member countries.
Retired banker Tony Marshall ousted Stephen Alleyne from the top position
on the BCA last Thursday, and will also replace Alleyne as a Director on the
WICB. The other new WICB member is former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes,
who also won a seat on the new BCA executive at the expense of former West
Indies all-rounder David Holford. Haynes, the new first vice president on the
BCA executive, will replace Jeff Broomes as a WICB director.
The BCA has gone through hard times recently over several controversial and
contentious issues and the return to the leadership position of Marshall, who
previously held the post between 1996 and 1999 was not a major surprise. He
won a close victory over Alleyne with 306 votes to Alleyne’s 293.
Haynes defeated Holford 347 votes to 258 while former West Indies speedster
Joel Garner beat Broomes 368 to 234 to become the new third vice president.
Other popular personalities elected to the BCA executive are former West
Indies hard-hitting opener Philo Wallace and former executive secretary of the
WICB Andrew Sealy. Bobby Goodman and Hartley Reid were also elected to the
executive. Reid is the brother of former Barbados left-arm spinner Winston
Reid.
The presence of Haynes on the WICB is good news for those who believe there
should be more widespread involvement of former cricketers in the
administration of regional cricket. As the Board under new President Ken
Gordon attempts to resolve the current impasse between the WICB and the WIPA,
it will be interesting to see the role played by Haynes, who replaced Roland
Holder as secretary of the WIPA earlier this year. Haynes has had his own
problems with the Board in the past, and was involved in a lengthy legal
battle over his non-selection to the West Indies team ten years ago. He should
bring a well-informed perspective to any discussions held at Board level.
It may be misplaced, or even naïve, optimism on my part, but with a new
President and two new Board members there seems hope for some positive
influences on an executive body that has allowed the effectiveness and image
of West Indies cricket to reach its lowest level ever.
Maybe the decisions made at the BCA meeting last week could be a catalyst
for other countries as they too send messages to their representatives when
the opportunity arises. Many of these administrators have lost focus and seem
intent on destroying the very thing that in the past has earned us a high
profile and respect internationally, that is West Indies cricket.
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