By Tony Cozier
THE far-reaching implications of the West Indies’ desertion of their tour of India have attracted the global attention. Here is a selection of comments in the international cricket press:
Former England all-rounder DEREK PRINGLE in the Daily Telegraph, London: “This can only be about the ego of a few men running West Indies cricket, a once great cricketing force now seemingly humbled once more by internecine strife. There is simply no other logical explanation for why a debtridden body like the West Indies Cricket Board, or the players that represent it on the field, would risk so much financially in the pursuit of so little…a ridiculous state of affairs when dialogue, and potential resolution, can be arranged within minutes on the phone.”
Former Australia captain ALLAN BORDER: “It could kill off cricket in that region. It’s a very strange decision. I know there are two sides to every story but on the surface, it’s a very, very dumb decision. You have to think about the ramifications when you take those things on.”
Former England captain MIKE ATHERTON in The Times, London: “The cost of the cancellation of the tour has been couched in financial terms only. Of course, there is a significant financial cost for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ESPN Star Sports, its rights-holder, and one sympathises with both. But financial considerations should be the consequence of cricket being played, not the primary reason for it.”
Former Australia batsman MARK WAUGH: “You can’t get any lower than where they are now. They’ve decided not to play in a series so there’s something pretty drastic going wrong there. They’re an institution and it would be a disaster if they’re not involved in international cricket. Whatever has to be done to get them back in there, it should be done.”
South Africa captain AB de VILLIERS: “That (possible cancellation of West Indies tour in December-January) would be a disaster. Hopefully, whoever is in control makes the right decisions and the players can get on the park and play some cricket. It would be really, really bad for cricket if games don’t happen like they should. We all want to play and I’m sure the West Indies players want to play as well. Hopefully they can sort it out as soon as possible.”
Former England player, VIC MARKS, in The Observer, London: “What if there is no resolution and the WICB is bankrupted by compensation demands and forced to wind up? It is a wretched prospect, yet currently a real one. There has to be an urgent resolve to keep cricket alive in the Caribbean. If there is no way through the current impasse one pale, last-ditch outcome suggests itself: an international tour to the Caribbean with Test matches against individual nations such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados. The Observer could surely find a volunteer to cover it.”
DAVID LEGGAT, New Zealand Herald: The West Indies are being difficult. Grumpy players pulled out of what would have been a lucrative visit to India. Now South Africa are waiting to find out if the Windies will fulfil an agreement to visit the republic in December-January for a Test and limited overs series. Then, in turn, World Cup organisers will be hoping there’s no further trouble ahead of the big show, which starts in Christchurch on February 14. Right now you wouldn’t want to fork out much money on certainties around the Caribbean game.”
Former Australia batsman DEAN JONES in the Age, Melbourne: “What we should learn from this is that today’s professional players have more power than you think. The balance of power is shifting away from the boards and administrators and towards the players. The players know that the fans come to watch them play. They are calling the shots and want to influence boards on how they should work and operate.”
ED SMITH, The Sunday Times, London: “The latest calamity to befall West Indies cricket may be the low point, but it is not a turning point. They have been bumping along the bottom of world cricket for years. The players and the board have been intermittently at war. No, the shock is in the speed of the decline…World cricket misses the West Indies; or rather, it misses them as they once were. If you love cricket, you should be worried.”
GREG BAUM, Columnist, The Age, Melbourne: “Here is the nub of this nonsense. Whether cricket likes or loathes it, India finances it. Now the West Indians have bitten the hand that feeds. As a former senior ICC executive remarked on Monday: ‘Their judgment of when to fight and when to fold always has been questionable.’”
Wisden editor LAWRENCE BOOTH in the Daily Mail, London: “To fall out with India, whose finances effectively bankroll the smaller Test nations, is tantamount to suicide.”
Former England batsman GEOFFREY BOYCOTT: “The board has to talk to the players. You can’t treat the players like a schoolmaster giving the pupils a cane. Many of these players are iconic names, they earn fortunes now, going to the IPL so they’re not going to take the big stick from the bosses. And if you’re a really good boss in any walk of life, in any business – and cricket in some ways is a business as well as a way of life – you have to talk to the people who work for you….People don’t just work under you, they work for you.”
