Tony Becca
TEN YEARS after being the best in the world, the West Indies, with a record of five victories, 30 losses and five draws in 40 matches away, 14 victories, 13 losses and 12 draws at home, are virtually at the bottom of the Test rankings - above only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
According to the likes of new coach, Australian Bennett King, the legendary Gary Sobers, captain Brian Lara and a few others, however, it won't be long before the West Indies are back at the top.
POTENTIAL
Although it usually takes some time for the ordinary to bcome great even though the transformation is hardly likely to take place this year such is the potential in at least one area of West Indies cricket that the signs are promising. This is especially so if King, who has promised not only not to change the West Indies way of playing the game but also to get the players fully fit and focussed and to emphasise performance over potential, is able to change the attitude of the players.
With the likes of Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels around, the West Indies boast some of the world's best batsmen if not the best, some who are numbered among the best, some who should be numbered among the best.
Headed by the likes of Ricardo Powell, Devon Smith, Narsingh Deonarine, Ryan Hinds and Daren Ganga, they have some wonderful batsmen on call players who, with a little luck, with the guidance many believe King will provide, could make the change from those who promise to those who perform.
On top of that, there are a few young batsmen, headed by Xavier Marshall and Sherwin Ganga, whose potential is such that they promise great things when they come to the age of maturity.
In order to win matches, however, the West Indies will need some good bowlers, and although there does not seem to be any around, things are not as bad as they seem.
PROMISE
Remembering the power, the skill and the competitive spirit of the experienced Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose when they burst onto the scene, and then the promise and potential of youngsters Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall when they were introduced into the West Indies team, none of the present generation can compare with them. In fact, it will be a long time before we see their kind again.
Pedro Collins is quite good, however, and but for injuries, Corey Collymore, who promised so much as a youngster five years ago, may have developed into a class performer.
The reason why things are not as bad as they seem is because of the presence of Jermaine Lawson, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and to an extent Tino Best.
Although Edwards and Taylor are on the small side and may not be physically up to it if called upon to bowl long spells, they, along with Lawson, certainly possess the skill and the pace to be a force to reckon with at the highest level. With proper guidance and training they could, once they recover from the injuries that have been plaguing them, develop into a good, if not devastating strike force.
Although exciting batting and fearsome fast bowling, plus brilliant fielding were what made the West Indies the best in the world, for them to become the best again, however, for them to win consistently at home and more so away from home, they will need a good spin bowler.
LESS BOUNCE
Right around the world pitches, but for one or two, are slower than they used to be. But for the odd occasion, they offer less bounce and sideway movement, and that is why teams like Australia, at home or away; India, at home; Sri Lanka, at home; England, anywhere these days, and New Zealand are doing so well.
Despite the presence of some quality fast bowlers in some of those teams, the reason why they are doing so well is because of the skill of Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ashley Giles and Daniel Vettori.
Coach King, technical consultant Sobers, and captain Lara are probably right. Such is the potential of the West Indies batting that if their young fast bowlers recover from their injuries it may not be long before the West Indies are back on top or near the top.
Without the blessing of an attack to match that of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft, Marshall, Walsh and Ambrose, however, they will need a spinner of quality one of the class of Sonny Ramadhin, Alfred Valentine or Lance Gibbs.
To find one, however, the West Indies will have to make a determined effort to do so, they will have to develop a number of them, and that should be on King's list of priorities for West Indies cricket.
