Our Caribbean cricket woes continue to make headlines with a variety of explanations and theories ranging from lack of systems, insularity, inefficient West Indies Cricket Board, aborted tours, etc. Many respected pundits, private citizens and former players have joined the fray and the recriminations have been many. In recent weeks, there was a blast from the revered Master Blaster Sir Vivian Richards known for two things – the ability to handle the fastest bowlers in the world without a helmet or chest padding, and for an inclination to being outspoken to the point of going into the press box to deliver his complaints. In his latest delivery, Sir Vivian is contending that the WI players in his time took pride in playing for country, whereas today’s do not, hence their lack of application to buckling down when the going gets tough. Viv also felt that our regional head of selectors, Clive Lloyd, should be speaking out about some of the transgressions of the WICB.
Viv’s comment that today’s players don’t “play for country” is, of course, not new. This point has been raised long before the current WI doldrums as far as back as the time of the late Malcolm Marshall who was vociferous on the subject in his later years. With a reputation of one of the best fast bowlers of all time, Marshall was also a dogged competitor coming out to bat one time with a broken hand, holding the bat one-handed, and saving the match in the process.
In a time when the decline of our cricket began, Marshall was incensed about the lack of application and resolve he was seeing in the younger breed of cricketers, and frequently predicted it would ruin our cricket. Indeed, as we look around the game today, the problems Viv and Malcolm identified are four-square on Caribbean cricket, but, as we engage this condition, clearly one of the difficulties facing administrators today is the financial devil of T20 cricket offering huge amounts of money to players with ability for the short game thereby fuelling the attitudes highlighted by Marshall earlier on and by Viv and Clive Lloyd in recent years. It seems, though, that coming to this condition one has to balance our desire to fix the problems with an acceptance of some realities because the scenario under our previous cricket stars operated has been transformed, particularly in the area of remuneration where it has understandably had significant effect.
Given that reality, one has to ask: How are we going to get proven WI cricketers in the short game (Narine, Gayle, Russell, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo) to turn their backs on being millionaires in T20 and “play for their country” for peanuts instead? How can we possibly not see the futility of that scenario making sense? The raise in the earnings generated by the short game has moved that choice into the no-brainer category. Furthermore, in days gone by, apart from those contracted to English county teams, the players had generally only one choice in front of them – playing for West Indies. It was the only pro game in town; it was play for country or stay home and do crossword puzzles. Nowadays, there are T20 leagues all over the world courting our star players and causing even Test availability headaches as the short game tournaments are clashing with Tests. Viv should know that and should consider the fact that were he to be a star in the game today, he would likely do what the current gang is doing of taking advantage of what is being widely and generously offered. The new players coming along are manifestly aware of the changed cricket world in which they live. In this even more materialistic age what are you going to threaten them with to get them to ignore the US dollars being waved at them, and to keep plodding away at the Tests? Take away their passports, perhaps?
We have recently heard from newly appointed WI coach Phil Simmons that Bravo and Lendl Simmons (Phil’s nephew) have confirmed in the media that they don’t want to play Tests because of the pay structure in the new MOU that was signed by the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). “I have had good discussions with all the players,” said Simmons. “Yes, Bravo and Lendl said they don’t want to play Tests for the financial reasons mentioned, but I’m happy they were honest about that.” There you have it, as plain as one could ask for; the coach is facing that T20 money reality head on. On another aspect, beyond the player attitude question, what can the administration of our cricket offer the T20 organisers to induce them to schedule their very popular tournaments so as not to clash with the needs of our regional national team?
There are realities here to be faced in this new age. For us to continue to expect that professional cricketers will turn down huge earnings, from a series of very short games, for another far less lucrative and only occasional engagement, is naïve. What sort of inducement are we planning to manufacture so as to create such a miracle? Furthermore, with the small numbers we represent in the region, what possible leverage do we have to get the T20 promoters to reschedule their events to suit us? And one final reality: Viv’s suggestion that Clive Lloyd “stand up” to the WICB. How can we possibly expect Clive to agitate against the very Board that is paying him to work for them? Threaten to shoot his dog, perhaps?
