The popular weekly radio talk show, The Mason & Guests Show, hosted by West Indian cricket commentator, Andrew Mason, which is broadcast every Tuesday evening from 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm, on the Voice of Barbados (VOB) 92.9 Fm and vob929.com, is renowned for its fervent examination of the sad state of West Indian cricket.
The guests appearing on last week’s show, which focused on the impact of COVID-19 on West Indian cricket, included past West Indian players Lance Gibbs, Jeffrey Dujon, and Ian Bradshaw, along with CEO of Cricket West Indies, Johnny Grave.
Gibbs, a former off- spin bowler, who at one time was the record holder for the most wickets in Test cricket, was well known for his very competitive approach to the game during his playing days. Now in his 85th year, Gibbs, still a very keen follower of the game around the world, appears to have not lost any of his combative spirit, and was very plain spoken about the current state of the game in the Caribbean.
“Deep down inside you know I’m very disappointed. Disappointed in the attitude of the players and the way they have approached it,” Gibbs lamented, while adding, “the crowds are staying away which is a poor example.” He further noted the sharp influence of the shortest format of the game, referring to it, quite bluntly, “as a slug,” and its limitation on the proper development of batsmen.
Whilst reminiscing about his development as a player, he related the importance of seeking the advice and experience of the senior players. In his instance, Gibbs was fortunate enough to have access the famous three Ws, Worrell, Weekes and Walcott, who were more than willing to converse and pass on their knowledge. He also alluded to the coaching sessions conducted by Garry Sobers, Wes Hall and himself, throughout grounds in the Caribbean during the 1979 Kerry Packer’s World Series Tour, which were attended by hundreds of youngsters.
When questioned by Mason if he was interested in getting involved in West Indian cricket, Gibbs’ immediate response was a resounding, “Why not? Why not? Anything that will help West Indies cricket and put it back in the place where it should be…”
Here in the West Indies, we keep bemoaning the fact about the lack of money and facilities available for the development of the game, and yet right in front of our noses, are years and years of experience, accumulated by players, several of whom are actually living legends, which is literally being allowed to fade into oblivion.
The list of West Indian players, “who have been through the mill, and know particularly well about the game,” according to Gibbs, is embarrassingly long. The names which spring to mind read like those players who would be automatic inductees in an official West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame; Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding,…and the list goes on and on.
As long as those responsible for managing the game in the Caribbean fail to maximize the priceless resource of the experience accumulated and knowledge base developed by former players, our game will continue to languish on the back burner of the international stage.
