Dear Editor,
I was going to say that, for whatever reason, WI journalists are not writing or saying very much about the upcoming World Cup games. But I do know the reason. It is that they do not believe their team has a chance of winning the cup, and they are a little angry with the players, all of whom they believe should be doing better if only they were not so lazy, greedy, stupid and not a little lacking in patriotism. They are not much interested in the considerably fewer games their players have under their belts and the comparative quality and quantity of the team`s support staff.
Something must be said, however, and, since I have been following the game very closely since my semi-retirement and retirement over the last almost ten years and have much fondness for one of the very few institutions the whole English Caribbean shares, I shall say my piece.
Here is what Martin Crowe, a journalist and former New Zealand national player had to say about WI prospects for the cup:
“Young Jason Holder has been thrown a shocking hospital pass only weeks out. How Clive Lloyd thought a 23-year old would manage his first hours as new captain in the intense cauldron of a world cup is beyond me. It makes no sense to have left out Dwayne Bravo, let alone as captain.
“All this upheaval makes it hard to think they have any hope, but funnier things have happened.
“If Chris Gayle or Marlon Samuels get in the right mood, they will be a cause for concern for any opponent. A massive if.”
I am no fan of Martin Crowe (especially after what he said about the WI team after it lost a quarter or semi-final to Sri Lanka under the Duckworth-Lewis formula at the last 20-20 World Cup), but some of what he said is widely shared by WI fans and a few journalists, and will serve as a useful point of departure for my discussion of the topic.
It is indeed astonishing that the Chairman of selectors explained the choice of Jason Holder, who most cricket people thought of in the future tense, and the exclusion of Dwayne Bravo, Sammy (since reinstated) and Pollard as evincing a preference for youth, failed to explain the exclusion of Rampaul, and treated the exclusion of the player with the highest average, Chanderpaul, as a given. Cozier has already pointed out that Holder is the only member of the squad who could fairly be described as youthful, and Sir Viv Richards has said that Bravo and Pollard would probably be included in any of the competing squads. In fact there is a consensus in the outside world that the absence of Bravo and Pollard from the squad has made it a less dangerous opponent, and indeed has deprived the fans of potentially breath-taking plays on the field or with the bat that people who watch a lot of cricket have come to expect. Jason Holder may well prove be a good captain, and may provide strong leadership, but Bravo is already an inspiration and a legend. He would be one of a handful of bowlers to win a match with the last ball, with one (!) run needed to win. He has on many occasions run out batsmen from impossible positions on the field in critical situations. No batsman is safe with Pollard boundary riding, and no bowler wants to deal with Pollard and Sammy with 30 runs to be made and two overs left.
All that said, Martin Crowe, when he singled out Gayle and Samuels, neglected a player he should have remembered named Darren Bravo who, not very long ago, joined the short list of visiting players to score a double century in a Test in New Zealand. He has obviously not given a great deal of thought to the fast bowler who must be judged among the 10 best in the world, who helped accelerate the retirement of the great Ricky Ponting while playing in Australia when he was barely 21. I speak, of course of Kemar Roach. When Roach partners with Taylor WI will have one of the more dangerous fast-bowling pairs at those games. Lendl Simmons, who got only one game in South Africa, is a multifaceted player who has matured and will probably alternate with Smith as an opening partner for Gayle. I will give long odds on his getting many quick, substantial scores in many games.
Martin Crowe`s comment in an earlier part of his piece about the possibility of Ireland upending the WI is a bit of wishful thinking that should be ignored. Where he really interests me is when he talks of Gayle and Samuels “getting in the right mood.” These two guys can bat. As distinct from other teams WI cricketers get no help or very little help from Sports psychology from which every other team in the world benefits. If the WICB will retain the services of a such a professional to help prepare for these games Gayle and Samuels, although probably the best players, are likely to be the chief beneficiaries.
Russell, probably the best athlete in the games, could be helped with controlling emotions, applying and resisting pressures much better even in the few weeks left, and could be a game-changer in several encounters.
Martin Crowe would be proved to know a lot less about the WI than he thinks.
Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt
