Three days after popping champagne corks and toasting their beloved West Indies cricket team’s 2 – 0 Test series sweep of Bangladesh, following on the heels of the 1 – 0 Test series triumph over England in March, to remain unbeaten after five Test matches in 2022, fans were broadsided by the most befuddling of recommendations.
Although the West Indies currently occupy the eighth position in the ICC rankings, fans, who have suffered all manner of trials and tribulations this century, were basking in the moment of their rare back-to-back series victories, over the fifth and ninth placed teams, respectively. That is, until last Thursday when they collected their favourite daily newspapers and flipped to the sports pages.
Initially, the headline and strapline promised more euphoria; “Cricket greats to the rescue – Chief selector Desmond Haynes recommends CWI gets help from former greats to prepare squad for T20 World Cup”. That caption would have resonated at varying decibels across the spectrum of the fan base. A multitude of images, memories, names and thoughts instantaneously flickering through the minds of those older fans keenly aware of Desmond Haynes’ outstanding cricketing pedigree as a permanent fixture at opening bat in the world conquering teams of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Prior to reading the article, fans might have started imagining that the Selection Chairman was referring to Gordon Greenidge, his opening partner for 148 Test innings, when they became Test cricket’s most prolific opening pair. Also, perhaps Sir Viv Richards, the Master Blaster. They might even have thought of the original fearsome fast bowling quartet of Sir Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner. Or, that he had mentioned the names of Gus Logie and Jeffrey Dujon, vital cogs in those juggernauts.
Instead, the article read: “The legendary opener who took over as CWI chief selector in January, said West Indies must put the expertise and experience of recently retired stars, including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy to use.” At this point the reaction around the Caribbean would have varied among fans, depending on the age group. Among the 50-plus crowd, the responses most likely included the following: yelling a slew of expletives at the top of their voices, crumpling the entire newspaper into a ball and tossing it out of the nearest window, springing to their feet and stomping out of the house in utter disgust, kicking every of piece of furniture in sight, and flinging light objects such as books across the room. The older and wiser fans, those who have witnessed it all since the 1960s, probably quietly cursed the headline writer for the blatant deception and immediately ceased reading altogether. They then calmly tore the page out of the newspaper, rose, shuffled to the parrot cage and inserted the page at the bottom before proceeding to the liquor cabinet, pouring a stiff shot of their favourite scotch, raising the glass to the ceiling, and tossing it back, all the while muttering to no one in particular.
‘Cricket greats’? What on earth qualifies that quartet to be adorned with such a generous accolade? They were all members of West Indies teams during the most sordid part of our cricketing history, when perennial losing became deeply embedded within the team’s psyche. A laissez-faire approach to the game was the accepted norm and there were probably more eclipses of the moon than West Indies Test victories during that epoch, which we would all like to forget sooner rather than later.
Yes, admittedly, they were members of two ICC T20 World Cup winning teams, but let’s be frank here, those two championships were won on the strength of monumental man-of-the match innings in both finals from the bat of Marlon Samuels. Gayle, Bravo and Pollard were all members of the epic disaster which occurred at last year’s T20 World Cup in Dubai. The West Indies, defending champions, gave the worst ever performance by a team from the Caribbean – four ignominious defeats and one miserable win, including posting the most embarrassing paltry score of 55 all out versus England in their first match.
Worse yet were the belligerent post-tournament press conference statements by Pollard who was at the helm of this catastrophe: “Unless you are part of the decision that is going to get rid of me or fire me or retire me as I stand right now, I have no intention of not playing international cricket. One tournament or a couple bad games don’t make a summer and for me personally there is a lot of mileage in my legs.”
In defence of the selection of the over-the-hill gang – Gayle and Bravo – and their inept showing, Pollard stated, “We can look at all sorts [of reasons]. We can look at age, we can look at mobility, we can look at everything in a negative light or whatever. But my question would have been, you know, what if it didn’t happen.” We will never know because it did happen. Any other international captain would have been so embarrassed by that inept performance he would have resigned on the spot. Thank goodness, Pollard announced his retirement in April otherwise, he, most likely and inexplicably, would have been retained for this year’s T20 World Cup.
We are well aware of Gayle’s proclivity for outlandish statements and no one has forgotten his spat with Sir Curtly Ambrose, who quite rightfully questioned his selection for last year’s T20 World Cup, and the ensuing intervention by CWI to quell the shame of the washing of our dirty laundry in public media. So when Haynes has the inevitable disagreement (it’s only a matter of time) with Gayle, and he chooses to resort to ridiculing him on his favoured social media platform, one wonders how Haynes intends to deal with it.
“These guys have been there and done it and all you have to do is just seek knowledge, pick the brains; nothing wrong in that,” Haynes was quoted as saying. What exactly would be picked from these brains was not stated. However, since this group is well known on the late night party circuit, the type of influence they are likely to have on young players is questionable. Unless of course they want to know what are the best night spots in Geelong and Hobart where the Round One qualifiers are being held. Yes, the West Indies have to battle the likes of Scotland, Namibia, United Arab Emirates and Ireland to try and qualify for the Super 12, the actual tournament.
It is quite understandable if West Indies fans are having doubts about Haynes’s suitability as chairman of the selectors. Having played with some of the best ever to wear the Maroon cap, is this the best recommendation Haynes can come up with? Fans cannot be accused of scepticism for thinking that this ‘recommendation’ to CWI President Ricky Skerritt is already a fait accompli and it is just being dressed up to cover the justifiably anticipated disapproving public outcry. Bearing in mind what they endured with the previous CWI administration, no one can blame the fans if they harbour suspicions that this statement is just a ruse for behind-closed-doors horse trading.
The next moves by Mr Haynes and the CWI will now be closely monitored by the fans. It would be truly disappointing, but not entirely surprising if their suspicions are confirmed.
