Devon Dick
ANALYZING WEST Indies Cricket reminds me of my cricketing career at Glen Stuart Primary School, Maggotty, St. Elizabeth. There is failure to deal with reality.
I played in all the cricket matches for my school, but Samuel Jackson, of blessed memory, who was a member of the parish cricket association called me one day and asked me to explain how I was on the team based on my performance.
All my scores were nought out, except one. I never bowled for my school. My captain did not think I was an adequate out-fielder so I was placed in the slips where I remember taking one catch.
At Glen Stuart, I was living with my cousin who was the principal of the school. I was also a top performer in school work and exams. However, the question and insinuation of the cricket analyst on how I was able to play in all matches in spite of my performance did not go down well with me.
Similarly, when cricket commentators such as Colin Croft and Michael Holding predict a dismal performance, we get upset. However, there are some serious questions.
CHANDERPAUL AS CAPTAIN
The continued retention of Chanderpaul as West Indies captain is baffling.
Former Australian captain, Ian Chappell, who was a commentator during West Indies last cricket tour of Sri Lanka said that when Chanderpaul left the field for a while and Sylvester Joseph took the reins as captain the team was transformed into a fighting unit! But Shiv retains his job.
And then we continue to say that West Indies is a young side and about to turn the corner. Well, the performance of the England cricket team against India on the continent has dispelled the excuse that a young side cannot perform.
England fielding its youngest sides in decades was able to win a Test match for the first time in decades in India, and also draw a series against the number two ranked Test-playing nation.
And that is in the absence of their captain and vice-captain. Something else is wrong with WI cricket and I believe it lies mainly in the West Indies Cricket Board.
WI CRICKET BOARD
The West Indies Cricket Board has never had a president who was a former captain of the team during the most successful period in the West Indies cricket history.
None of the greats of this era has been able to even be a member of the board.
In defence of the status quo, someone will claim that a good cricketer and captain does not necessarily make a good president or board member. But let us look at the performance of the immediate past president and the sponsorship deal. Alright, forget that, and let's deal with the present president.
Tony Becca has already dealt with the poor handling of the cricket competition.
But the president established a committee to review the performance of the coach Bennett King and before the Jackie Hendricks committee started the work, he announced that the coach needs more time.
He has already made one decision for the committee. That is not good administration.
His selection of Lara and not the captain of the WI team or president of the players' association to be on the cricketing committee for World Cup 2007 was not bright.
The former chairman of the World Cup Committee made a specific allegation that the CEO gave out a multimillion-dollar contract without following procedures and I have not heard him confirm or deny the accusation.
The WI Cricket Board needs urgent major overhauling.
Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building'.
