Dear Editor,
I have noted with interest the various individual and team records that were set during the previous 50 overs regional cricket tournament, compliments of sports historian Charwayne Walker. The statistics are quite impressive, especially Ramnaresh Sarwan’s three centuries in a single tournament. This should serve as motivation for Sarwan to repeat the feat if he desires to return to the West Indies team. Injuries, loss of form and with it confidence, would have unfortunately stymied the progress of the otherwise stellar career of the Guyanese batting stalwart. I still believe he is one of the finest contemporary batsmen, since his Test and one-day batting average of over 40 should be considered as a distinction, particularly since he has played over 80 matches in both formats of the game.
Timing is absolutely crucial for the resurrection of his career, thus the 2014 50-overs tournament should be the ultimate stage for him to once again stamp his authority. The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) speculative experiment, though tentative at this time, still remains troubling for West Indies cricket, especially if the body decides upon a two-tier Test system. This will mean that the West Indies team will be demoted since their status and points standing remain disappointingly low over the last three years. The recent series against India and New Zealand is ample evidence that transformational changes are required both structurally as well as technically. The WI players are not being under-paid, yet they consistently under-achieve; this display by the WICB and selectors does not exist in a competitive and professional environment anywhere else in the world. It is therefore incumbent on someone of Sarwan’s stature and ability to demand his rightful place and seek to resurrect a faltering WI team that is well below the high standards set by countries such as Australia, India and England (the super three may also impose their influence on the governance of the ICC).
The WICB may still suffer imminent embarrassment should the team be relegated to join featherweights such as Afghanistan, Scotland or Argentina at the Test level, under the potential new system being studied by the technical committee of the ICC. Sarwan therefore can and should make a difference to his career and at the same time bring a brighter future to West Indies cricket beginning with the Super-50 regional tournament to be held in Trinidad.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
