Massive congratulations to Daren Ganga, who has been made an ambassador of Sport by the incoming government of T&T. This allows him to represent all 1.4 million of the people of the twin-island republic, anywhere in the world. However, here is a question. Having already represented the entire West Indies in 48 Tests, 2160 runs, average 25.71; and 35 ODI's, 843 runs, average 25.54, is that not something of a demotion? Oh, you do not have to, as is usually the case, curse me. I was just being somewhat facetious. Any award from your country is worth celebrating and that is not a bad award at all. For all of his services to T&T, the guy deserves it. I wonder, though, if anyone realises that while Ganga now represents only about 20 percent of the population of the Caribbean, the entire West Indies cricket team, yes, that same one that is led so listlessly by Chris Gayle, represents all seven and a half million of us?
Must I believe that we like what we see? How they play? Why is it that no-one seems to complain or care? Do not tell me that the focus is on football now. This failure has been going on endlessly. We cannot "like it so!" There must be some changes! Gayle continues to suggest that "we have to do better the next game," or "the batsmen let us down," or "the bowlers let us down" etc. These have been Gayle's diatribes for eight losing efforts in this South African series. Something; I think everything; is seriously wrong with this picture. These people are supposed to represent the nearly eight millions who still live in the Caribbean and several more millions in the diaspora overseas. I really do not know how anyone can take much more of this. As some people suggested, loudly, during the recent ICC W-T 20 in Barbados, when the West Indies lost so badly to Sri Lanka; "They should be put up against a wall and shot. They are useless!"
Maybe, we can do what was done by Al Capone, the gangster, in Chicago, USA, circa 1930's, during the Prohibition Era. Now, those boys were very serious people! The Saint Valentine's Day massacre, Bugsy Moran's North Side gang's destruction by Capone's South Side gang, was the solution to problems then. When they had a problem with anyone giving them strife, for whatever reason, they simply rubbed them out. So, anyway, perhaps we could even review that First Test. Had I been the sole selector, it definitely would have been the last for a few players. How could anyone, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the "Three Blind Mice"–selectors Clyde Butts, Robert Haynes and Raphick Jumadeen–justify that all, repeat, all, of the players who played so poorly in that First Test, can be retained for Test number two?
What did they see, that others who did pay attention, did not see? How could the politicians, technocrats, sports personalities and all normal people just accept this? For those who did not attend the match at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair, for whatever reason, be aware that their not attending matches, does not stop these "nincompoops" from being our cricketing ambassadors. They still represent us, even if we do not see them play. We cannot continue to hide behind stupid shadows. Am I to believe that the entire Caribbean is so blase, that the West Indies cricket team's embarrassment does not matter anymore? Something drastic has to be done to change this humiliation! If Travis Dowlin is an opening batsman, indeed any batsman at Test level, then we could all also believe that the DPRK � Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) will win the Fifa 2010 World Cup.
Dowling is a dead duck, a wicket waiting to happen. Despite two half centuries against Australia last year, and a near hundred against Bangladesh, he has shown no understanding of batsmanship. His feet are always together when he plays any shot, and it really is only a matter of time before he is dismissed, 'edging'. Dowlin does not need a batting coach. He needs an airplane to take him back home! Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel must be salivating, competing even, whenever they see Dowlin coming to the crease, fighting for this so very easy wicket. It is like bowling at a tail-ender. Narsingh Deonarine also is not far off that assessment either. One really wonders what players like Lendl Simmons have done not to be selected. Even if he has to open the innings, Darren Bravo must be a far better bet!
Ravi Rampaul, as fat as a fowl; check out his belly; is not a Test bowler at all. Do not even insult the word "fast". To date, Rampaul has played four Tests, and has taken four wickets, yes, four wickets, each at a phenomenal 91.75 runs per wicket. If you are Christian, Muslim or Hindu, or neither, all that we all can do now is pray, much, please! It would not be a great achievement, for me or for anyone else. I am sure that I could make a come-back. At age 57, fairly fit, I am sure that I can bowl better than Rampaul now, not when I bowled 30-35 years ago. At the very least, I would be able to keep two consecutive deliveries on one side of the pitch. These players are so poor, it is past embarrassing. Has it really occurred to anyone anywhere that they represent us?
As I warned weeks ago, in an open note to Otis Gibson, Denesh Ramdin's batting had disappeared, and his wicket-keeping was deteriorating similarly, quickly. After the display in Test number one, both of his skills are now absent. Anyone selected to keep wicket would look better, I am quite sure. Why are we continuing with him anyway? Both Gayle, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, as batsmen, tried. Unfortunately, both have too much pressure on their batting skills to carry this team. Brian Lara and Viv Richards would struggle to carry this team, if they were now included. It is very hard to take. Also, somehow, Brendon Nash seemed demented. Since when is he Matthew Hayden? Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford, in his First Test, bowled equally well.
The last West Indies pairing of left-arm orthodox spin and right arm off-spin, together, would have been Albert Padmore and Jumadeen against India; 1976. India made that astronomical 402 to win then.
Lance Gibbs and Garfield Sobers; early 70's; are more of note, and of course, there were the legendary Sonny Ramadin and Alf Valentine in 1950's; against England. Ram and Val were so good, calypsoes were made for them! So, what do we do about these present West Indies players? Someone even mentioned that we should "not give up on our boys." Unfortunately, the boys have given up on us, or more particularly, they are past being able to represent us. They are that poor! I would not suggest the "rub out" extreme, but something has to be done. We deserve better representation. We hope that they do not lose every match in this series!
