A dose of reality

Tony Cozier

By Tony Cozier

ONLY a couple of days after the administrative leaders of West Indies cricket spoke with heady optimism about the future, the team’s two Twenty20 internationals against Ireland at Sabina Park last Wednesday and Friday brought them back to the present, stark reality.

The reigning World Twenty20 champions were beaten by four wickets in the first and, after the indignity of 96 for nine in their innings, were made to scrap down to the last ball to keep the Irish to 85 for eight.

The victory, by 11 runs, did no more than assuage the humiliation. These were opponents, not even with full ICC status,