Dear Editor,
Amid the continued emergence of influential personalities from the little islands of the Eastern Caribbean that are entrenched within the hierarchy of West Indies cricket, the latest appointment of Richie Richardson as West Indies new Team Manager is indeed refreshing and has provided a ray of hope, just like the rise of the early morning sun. The former West Indies captain brings to the table a wealth of proven experience as a leader and star performer at the highest level (that includes the record of scoring the most Test centuries by a West Indian against Australia), and has also been reported to have included in his increasingly impressive resumé, the stewardship of a successful business. His skill and temperament though, will be immediately put to the test with the imminent and prestigious World Cup in sight and the anxious and impatient West Indian fans’ craving for instant success. Ironically though, the staging of the World Cup once again in the sub-continent does not provide pleasant memories for the West Indies and Richie Richardson, who was the captain during the last sojourn in 1999, despite the team’s semi-final berth. I remember vividly then, the West Indies pitiful defeat against the amateurish Kenyans, the forfeiture of their match against Sri Lanka because of security reasons, Brian Lara’s regrettable comments against the South Africans in light of lingering apartheid sentiments, the physical assault imbroglio between the then physiotherapist Dennis Waight and a prominent player, and the sacking of the manager after the tournament and Richardson’s offer to resign the captaincy.
If, however, there is to be a resurgence of West Indies consistent performances, it would be with the iconic presence of Richie Richardson and the support of his technical staff. He has been there before during the hostile reception that West Indies endured on the international stage, and has also absorbed the thrill of sweet success as captain, including the famous and yet miraculous one-run victory against Australia in Australia that give the West Indies a 2-1 victory in that series. During that contest as well, he was at Brian Lara’s side when the Prince of Trinidad scored that phenomenal and breathtaking 277, with Richardson himself scoring a century. He relishes the challenge of being at his best against the best; no doubt he will now have England next in mind.
Incidentally, I had just finished viewing the highlights of the 1990 one day international series between the West Indies and England played in the Caribbean in which the West Indies won three nil, when I heard the news of Richie’s appointment. By then I had already consumed the pleasure of his savage and vintage display against the Englishmen in which he was the star performer among other stalwarts, such as Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb and Alec Stewart. The latest news is even more heartening as I await the expected assertion of his leadership off the field, just as he asserted it on the battlefield for the West Indies over those memorable years as a professional athlete. He certainly deserves my vote of confidence.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
