On The Cricket Pitch

Oh Captain, my captain

Philip Hackett

Tuesday,  August 9, 2005

In a passionate debate over the current crisis in West Indies cricket a close friend suggested to me recently that in another year this West Indies team made up of reserves will be a strong force in international cricket. Not wanting to be unkind I simply responded, ‘not under the captaincy of Chanderpaul.’

Hours after our discussion West Indies defeated Sri Lanka in the Indian Oil triangular series and followed this achievement the next day with a convincing display in which they came close to beating India and qualifying for the final.

I remain convinced that this team is much further away than one year from even being competitive on a consistent basis, but I am equally convinced that, regardless which team is playing (reserves or first choice), we will make little progress under the leadership of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The illness that kept Chanderpaul off the field for the second half of the match against Sri Lanka and which forced him to sit out the match against India, was unfortunate, but it provided an opportunity for someone else to remind us of the immense importance of leadership on the field.

West Indies cricket has been suffering from a leadership crisis on and off the field for too long now. Not since Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards have we had cricket captains with the ability to inspire players to give of their best. While it is true that Richards inherited a team of talented and experienced professionals the same cannot be said of Lloyd, who was instrumental in creating a championship side at a time when West Indies cricket seemed not to be progressing at a satisfactory rate.

Such leaders do not come along as often as one would like, but West Indies cricket, even when the stars are playing, is at a critical stage where the type of leadership shown by Lloyd is badly needed. I am not suggesting Sylvester Joseph provides the answer to the problem, but his performance as Chanderpaul’s replacement for a match and a half reinforced the value of sound leadership.

Joseph’s batting may not be up to the required standard to make him a realistic alternative, but whatever the outcome of the contract dispute, the WICB must take a serious look at the captaincy issue. They must also determine the manner in which they will manage the available personnel in charting a way forward.

The treatment meted out to the reserves who filled in when the stars were deemed ineligible for the opening Test against South Africa was not acceptable. Even players selected completely on merit have been put on the back burner without explanation. I wonder if it is purely a coincidence that improving countries like England have been adopting a more open policy in keeping the public informed through the media.

The WICB will need to work on its public relations in the continued lead up to the 2007 World Cup and even beyond. It may prevent much of the negative comments and rumour that can so readily emerge as fans speculate about the fate of players such as Donovan Pagon and Ryan Hinds.

One wonders how many members of the current squad will fade into obscurity, or which members of the original squad will pay the price for the stand taken by the players. Most of the players who impressed during the tour of Sri Lanka had already played at the highest level before, or in the case of Ramdin, had earned the right to play before the selection of the third string team.

I expect no major changes when the impasse is solved as it is bound to be sooner rather than later with the new leadership of the WICB in place. The words of the television commentator ‘Powell is finished” as the hard hitting Ricardo Powell strode back to the pavilion after being dismissed in the final match, may be prophetic. He was referring to the end of Powell’s innings but unless there is something other than cricket to be considered, Powell’s international career as a cricketer is now likely to be at an end. I am however well aware this has been said on numerous occasions.

Chanderpaul’s West Indians, or maybe I should say Sylvester Joseph’s, should be congratulated for the positive note on which they ended the tour. They can be commended for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout it but it will take more than enthusiasm to move West Indies cricket forward. Controversy and conflict must be minimised and talent sharpened to cope with the challenges of international cricket. Following the divisive measures used by the board the rebuilding process will now need to be as intense off the field as on it.

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