Dear Editor,
I became very emotional upon viewing the final exit from the international scene of former Australian captain Ricky Pointing following the culmination of the final Test match against South Africa. He will stand proudly among the greatest batsmen of contemporary cricket; a priceless legacy that also includes the incomparable Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar. The various sentiments from the cricketing world including the ICC which saluted a true champion for the pure pleasure and character that Pointing brought to cricket, poured in from the time he said that he was retiring. They were fitting and appropriate tributes to an Australian hero. Can the same be said about our West Indian heroes?
I have followed the careers of many of our past outstanding cricketers, yet some of them have disappeared in less ceremonious fashion. Former West Indies captains Vivian Richards, Carl Hooper and Jimmy Adams vanished without a formal farewell. Richards was interested in playing in the 1992 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand but he was not selected and it was an ignominious end for him, while Jimmy Adams was dropped after a miserable tour of Australia under his tenure and was never selected again. Carl Hooper just walked away without saying farewell amid an uneasy relationship with the WICB, and the list goes on. The careers of the trio were long enough to warrant acclaim by the fans and associations. Brian Lara’s sudden retirement was also a surprise, and the world never got the chance to see him saluting one final time to the crowd, or his opposition constructing a guard of honour as he stepped on the field for his final innings. Perhaps it is a culture among West Indians, as their timing becomes entangled with administrative imbroglios and poor form, and then they suffer the fate of being dropped initially from the team, then for life!
While it is indeed quite a difficult decision for any athlete to quit, since some will retire then return as Shane Warne is currently contemplating, or Lance Armstrong who returned to cycling on the international stage before his use of performance enhancing drugs was exposed, I am of the opinion that our West Indian players currently do not prepare for this phase in a formal way and decide when to retire.
The evidence suggests though that many of them do not remain in the team for long periods due to inconsistency, a poor work ethic or even because of prolonged indiscipline. I recall that the legendary fast bowler Curtley Ambrose knew it was time for him after the completion of the WI tour of England a few years ago.
The fans acknowledged him then and it was a very emotional scene as Curtley received the accolades in that final Test match.
Yet in contrast, another outstanding batting great, Desmond Haynes, was fuming with the WICB during his later years as a player and never got to formally announce his retirement at the time when he should have been hailed as one of the greatest opening batsman alongside Gordon Greenidge.
Some quit when on top of their game or the team was successful, others quit in frustration or were cast aside by the selectors.
It is my hope though that the outstanding Shivnarine Chanderpaul will make public whenever he decides to retire and in so doing the world will truly acclaim a world champion on the field in his final innings.
The same should be the case for Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, since their careers should be long and rewarding. West Indians however should prepare to quit on their own terms and befitting the class and charisma that characterise the West Indies in association with their audience, and the fact that they would have brought joy and excitement to cricket fans across the globe.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
