Six weeks away from the World Cup, the first in the Caribbean, it should be an excellent chance for some late fine-tuning against familiar opponents over whom they have established a psychological advantage.
Instead, the West Indies’ series of four one-day internationals against India, starting here tomorrow, has been suddenly, if not unexpectedly, overshadowed by the kind of troubles that have blighted their cricket for more than a decade.
Once more, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is at such odds with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over contracts and sponsorship that captain Brian Lara acknowledged here yesterday that “a few days ago, we weren’t sure if the series was on”.
It was a statement that rung haunting bells. Six West Indies’ tours in the past eight years have been disrupted by strikes, either actual or threatened.
Each has ended in heavy defeat.
As it is, WIPA’s chief executive Dinanath Ramnarine has advised the WICB, in a letter revealed on the intimately informed website, caribbeancricket.com, that the players had agreed to participate in the tour “with much reluctance” and only “since they believe that these matches will help with their preparations for the World Cup”.
How that is possible, given the state of affairs, is not clear.
The West Indies have gone through like traumas more than once in recent times and the results are proof enough that players cannot properly concentrate on the job at
Six weeks away from the World Cup, the first in the Caribbean, it should be an excellent chance for some late fine-tuning against familiar opponents over whom they have established a psychological advantage.
Instead, the West Indies’ series of four one-day internationals against India, starting here tomorrow, has been suddenly, if not unexpectedly, overshadowed by the kind of troubles that have blighted their cricket for more than a decade.
Once more, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is at such odds with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over contracts and sponsorship that captain Brian Lara acknowledged here yesterday that “a few days ago, we weren’t sure if the series was on”.
It was a statement that rung haunting bells. Six West Indies’ tours in the past eight years have been disrupted by strikes, either actual or threatened.
Each has ended in heavy defeat.
As it is, WIPA’s chief executive Dinanath Ramnarine has advised the WICB, in a letter revealed on the intimately informed website, caribbeancricket.com, that the players had agreed to participate in the tour “with much reluctance” and only “since they believe that these matches will help with their preparations for the World Cup”.
How that is possible, given the state of affairs, is not clear.
The West Indies have gone through like traumas more than once in recent times and the results are proof enough that players cannot properly concentrate on the job at hand with such distractions. What is more, other coincidental issues have arisen to further undermine the confidence gained by the 6-2 win ratio in ODIs over the Indians in the past nine months – in the Caribbean, in the DLF Trophy in Malaysia and in the Champions Trophy in India.
The support staff has gone through several changes for this tour that may be another hint of its future makeup. But, so close to the World Cup, the timing is upsetting.
Clive Lloyd, the great captain in the great era of the 1970s and 1980s, has taken over as what is being officially termed “team coordinator”, rather than manager, replacing the previous holder, Tony Howard.
There has been no fitness trainer since the resignation of the Australian, Bryce Cavanagh, during the tour of Pakistan last November and December. It is a critical position that remains vacant.
Hendy Springer, the Barbados coach, has had to be drafted in as Bennett King’s assistant through the unexplained unavailability of David Moores. To add to such changes, there was further disruption through the last minute withdrawal from the squad of Darren Sammy because of a hamstring injury.
It denies the young St.Lucian the opportunity to confirm the World Cup place that his recent all-round performances for West Indies ‘A’ and the Windwards demand.
All 14 players can expect a show, possibly a minimum of two matches. It is an unexpected chance appreciated by Rayad Emrit, the slim Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder, a surprise selection and the only newcomer.
“It’s a last lap in terms of preparations and we’re going to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to stake their claim for the World Cup,” Lara told yesterday’s media conference.
Beyond the boundary, but no less relevant to the abrupt turn of events, has been the decision of the new, already appointed chief executive, Dr.Roland Toppin, to opt out two weeks before he was to take up the post that has been vacant since the resignation of Roger Brathwaite last March.
All together, they imply that West Indies cricket is again in chaos just at a time when recent results and the advance to the final of both the DLF Cup and the Champions Trophy prompted optimism. It is hardly consolation that India are in similar disarray.
Coach Greg Chappell, the former Australian captain, and captain Rahul Dravid are under pressure after defeat in 13 of their last 17 ODIs.
Even Sachin Tendulkar, as revered in his cricket-dominated homeland as Lara is in his, has come in for criticism for his recent lack of form.
Virender Sewag, the ball-[beating opener who was an automatic choice, has paid for a sequence of low scores with his place, the classy VVS Laxman has been omitted because of his slack fielding and running between the wickets and the young, dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh has not yet got over a lingering back problem.
It led to the recall for the recent tour of South Africa of Saurav Ganguly, who was dumped as captain, reportedly at Chappell’s insistence, almost two years ago.
The left-handed Ganguly leading batsman in South Africa, is expected to open in the early matches against the West Indies and is now a certainty for the World Cup.
There is a lobby from his native Calcutta for his reinstatement as captain but the selectors have been quick to scotch such a likelihood by appointing Tendulkar as Dravid’s deputy. The West Indies are without theirs. Ramnaresh Sarwan is still recovering from his broken foot, caused by Umar Gul’s crunching yorker during the last Test against Pakistan in Karachi in late November.
