THE EDITOR, Sir:
ONCE AGAIN in the World Cup of Cricket, West Indies have made an ignominious exit. At the time of writing this letter they are on their way home, having been eliminated from the Super 6 aspect of the tournament.
In the recent tour of Asia we defeated India four games to three (4-3) in the ODI's, and in the seventh match young pacer Ermine Lawson really performed well and was instrumental in our victory. We also defeated Bangladesh in the one-day fixtures.
It was with this in mind that West Indian cricket fans were very hopeful at the start of the World Cup. We surmised, based on current form, that we would have no problem reaching the Super 6 aspect of the tournament and if we performed very well we could get to the semi-finals.
We started brilliantly, with a victory against hosts South Africa and every West Indian cricket fan was sure that we would at least reach the Super 6 stage. Then came losses to New Zealand Sri Lanka and the inexplicable sight of the same West Indian team (with one or two changes) playing against minnows, Canada and Bangladesh.
After elimination on Friday the 28th February 2003 our captain blissfully announced that the selectors considered every match a must-win match and banked on experience hence the peculiarity of the team selection. In analysing the non-performance of the team during the World Cup what rubbed salt in the wound was the performance of Jermaine Lawson in the final game against Kenya. It was obvious to every West Indian cricket fan watching that the Kenyans were afraid of young Lawson and was running away at every opportunity. How come he did not play in any of the previous matches?
I lay the blame for this debacle squarely at the feet of the selectors. We were the only team with the luxury of the chief selector being a part of the touring party. This expensive experiment obviously did not work and now that the team is on the way home some serious analysis has to be made. For those who caused the "defeat" there must be cost/benefit to their action. If we had qualified then the benefit would be further employment. Having not qualified then the cost must be their resignation.
This course of action must be insisted on by every West Indian cricket fan and we must make our respective Boards of Control aware of our sentiments to ensure that when the Australians come to the West Indies there are new selectors. By then we would have accepted the resignation of the captain who failed to deliver and also the Chairman of the selectors who failed to deliver. There can be no other course of action and I entreat all members of the West Indies Cricket Boards of Control to bear in mind at their next important meeting.
I am, etc.,
Dr. PAUL WRIGHT
New Kingston
