Trinidad & Tobago's joyful progress to the semi-final of the Champions League could not have carried a clearer message to the dolts and ne'er-do-wells who have been responsible for the decline of West Indies cricket.
Trinidad have played with unity and passion in the Champions League only weeks after West Indies, embroiled in a prolonged power struggle between the board and players' representatives, brought international cricket into disrepute by sending a reserve team to the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
T&T's impressive captain, Daren Ganga, has spoken intelligently about the "great legacy" of West Indies cricket and how proper investment is long overdue to respect and continue that legacy. It cannot be guaranteed that the G&T-sipping crowd are listening to T&T. But the warning could not have been starker, with Ganga visualising a break-up of West Indies cricket into individual nations if the various stakeholders do not get their act together. "I tell you that if that doesn't happen then it is inevitable that countries will go separately," he said. "West Indies cricket cannot afford the turmoil that it has now."
Ganga is not the first Trinidadian to voice such sentiments. In July, T&T's chief executive, Forbes Persaud, admitted that if the West Indies Cricket Board continued to blunder along then he favoured Trinidad requesting permission to play as an individual nation, just as Trinidad's football team do.
It is an outcome that cricket's major nations rightly fear. The International Cricket Council has charged the WICB's new chief executive, Ernest Hilaire, with sorting out the mess – and he already seems to be making progress, with optimism abounding that a full-strength West Indies side will tour Australia next month. Hilaire has a Masters degree in economics and an MPhil in international relations from Cambridge University, both of which should come in handy when dealing with the various islands' perpetual squabbles.
It is a natural response for an English cricket watcher, having seen Sussex and Somerset depart from the Champions League with barely a whimper, to shout for a Trinidad victory in the semi-final against Cape Cobras – and indeed the final to come – in the hope that it will help to shake the Caribbean into a recognition that with proper organisation, modest funding and a determination to put in the hard yards, it can arrest its decline.
Twenty20 cricket can be the salvation of West Indies cricket, satisfying its need for a quick sporting fix, just as it dominated one-day cricket in the early years, winning the first two World Cups in the late 1970s.
The crisis is deemed important enough for Caricom – an economic alliance of 15 Caribbean nations, as near to federalism as they get – to join the debate, calling West Indies cricket "a major integrating factor" in the region. The WICB has been ordered to call a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the future of West Indies cricket.
And while this takes place, with perfect timing, Ganga and his flamboyant T&T side – a team greater than the sum of its parts – hammers home the importance of team spirit and the collective effort. "One thing we have going for us is our patriotism and our national pride and that has been the hallmark of this team,'' he said. "Ask any team that is successful – the right sort of chemistry and team spirit is essential and that is what we have demonstrated."
West Indies cricket has traditionally increased Caribbean cohesion, an antidote to the nationalistic prejudice of the individual islands. But that unity is a fragile thing. Caribbean federalism has never succeeded on a wider scale. The unity of West Indies cricket was a natural outcome during and immediately after British rule. It was nurtured by strong captains with a team instinct, men of vision such as Frank Worrell and Clive Lloyd.
But this unity can easily be dissipated because of the incompetence of administrators or the individualistic attitudes of captains. The 2007 World Cup also failed to regenerate West Indies cricket because ticket prices, disgracefully, were put out of reach of the local public, the competition dragged on for months, and overseas spectators were put off by exorbitant prices.
The Twenty20 World Cup is heading for the Caribbean next spring, which gives the West Indies a chance to atone. This time the competition is short and sharp, and ticket prices attractive. All it needs is for West Indies to play like Trinidad to kick-start the recovery.
Ganga is unlikely ever to be a good enough player to be a convincing candidate as West Indies captain — although batting limitations never stopped Mike Brearley where England were concerned. Ganga led the West Indies in two Tests against England in 2007, losing both, and has not played for West Indies since a dismal tour of South Africa later that year.
But Ganga's leadership of Trinidad has already shown West Indies the way. Who knows, as a saviour of West Indies cricket, he might one day deserve a mention alongside the likes of Lloyd and Worrell.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/21/trinidad-and-tobago-west-indies
Friday, November 6, 2009
Defending Champions Trinidad & Tobago win President's Cup
Defending Champions Trinidad & Tobago are again the 2009 President's Cup Champions after defeating hosts Guyana by 81 runs in the final played in Providence. Guyana had no reply to the massive score posted by T&T of 286/6 and could only muster 205.
Batting first, Trinidad and Tobago made 286-6 off their 50 overs, thanks to Darren Bravo who top scored with 76 and Kieron Pollard who made 57. They were also good contributions from captain Daren Ganga with 46 and Denesh Ramdin at the end with 44 not out.
286 was always going to be a very challenging target, as it was also the highest score of the tournament. They Guyanese always found it tough in their chase. Ramnaresh Sarwan stood firm with a fighting 60. R Crandon made 46 and Travis Dowlin made 41, but it was never going to be enough to reach the T&T target. Pollard was the main wicket taker with 3, while Mohammed and Rampaul took 1 wicket each.
Source: Windies Online
Batting first, Trinidad and Tobago made 286-6 off their 50 overs, thanks to Darren Bravo who top scored with 76 and Kieron Pollard who made 57. They were also good contributions from captain Daren Ganga with 46 and Denesh Ramdin at the end with 44 not out.
286 was always going to be a very challenging target, as it was also the highest score of the tournament. They Guyanese always found it tough in their chase. Ramnaresh Sarwan stood firm with a fighting 60. R Crandon made 46 and Travis Dowlin made 41, but it was never going to be enough to reach the T&T target. Pollard was the main wicket taker with 3, while Mohammed and Rampaul took 1 wicket each.
Source: Windies Online
Chanderpaul's 50 Takes Guyana into final
Guyana faces Trinidad and Tobago in the final of the President's Cup after easily beating Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in the second semi-final played on Tuesday. The Guyanese bowlers stiffled the Combined Campuses' batting line up as they could only muster 151 in 48.3 overs. Royston Crandon took 4 wickets and Devendra Bishoo 3 to demolish CCC. Shivnarine Chanderpaul then guided Guyana home with an unbeaten 50 in 40.3 overs.
Guyana with a strong batting line-up, were set back early in their innings chasing the modest 151 thanks to Kevin McClean. McClean picked up two early wickets to have the Guyanese at a nervous 11 for 2. Narsingh Deonarine and Ramnaresh Sarwan however recovered and pulled the hosts out of that hole and back on coarse. Deonarine made 31 and Sarwan 35 not out. Sarwan then went on with Chanderpaul to win the game. Chanderpaul with his 50, was named the Man of the Match.
The final will be played at Providence Stadium on Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago.
SOURCE: Windies Online
Guyana with a strong batting line-up, were set back early in their innings chasing the modest 151 thanks to Kevin McClean. McClean picked up two early wickets to have the Guyanese at a nervous 11 for 2. Narsingh Deonarine and Ramnaresh Sarwan however recovered and pulled the hosts out of that hole and back on coarse. Deonarine made 31 and Sarwan 35 not out. Sarwan then went on with Chanderpaul to win the game. Chanderpaul with his 50, was named the Man of the Match.
The final will be played at Providence Stadium on Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago.
SOURCE: Windies Online
Captain Ganga and Dwayne Bravo take T&T into final
Trinidad & Tobago earned their place in the final of the WICB President's Cup after scraping home in a closely fought game against Barbados. Dwayne Bravo took six wickets and captain Daren Ganga's made an important 79* to guide Trinidad and Tobago to a two-wicket victory in Providence.
Playing in a day-night fixture, Barbados after winning the toss and choosing to bat 1st, made a good start with openers Martin Nurse and Kirk Edwards putting on 85 before the 1st wicket fell. Nurse made 46, while Edwards made 41. Ryan Hinds made 44 and they were other contributions from Holder, Carter and Carlo Morris, who managed to get in the 20's. Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul made kept the Bajans in check by chipping through the top order after such a good start. Rampaul took 3 wickets for 50, however Dwayne Bravo was the star bowler, picking up a career-best 6 for 46. They reduced Barbados from 184 for 4 to 229 all out.
In Trinidad & Tobago's innings, openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons added 42, before stuttering at 43 for 2. They steadily lost wickets at regular intervals, but Daren Ganga played a patient captains' innings to keep his team on track.
Ganga made 79, Simmons 44, Dwayne Bravo chipped in with 32 to go with his 6 wicket haul and Ramdin made 20. The game was always in the balance, where runs needed from balls were always close. When Sherwin Ganga was dismissed by Springer, T&T needed 28 from 36 balls. It then came down to 9 from 12 but Dave Mohammed ensured victory by hitting a six off Sulieman Benn off the last ball of the 49th over. Darren Ganga's undefeated knock earner him the Man of the Match.
Having advance to the Final, T&T will now play the winner of Tuesday's second semi-final between Guyana and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in the final on November 5.
SOURCE: Windies Online
Playing in a day-night fixture, Barbados after winning the toss and choosing to bat 1st, made a good start with openers Martin Nurse and Kirk Edwards putting on 85 before the 1st wicket fell. Nurse made 46, while Edwards made 41. Ryan Hinds made 44 and they were other contributions from Holder, Carter and Carlo Morris, who managed to get in the 20's. Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul made kept the Bajans in check by chipping through the top order after such a good start. Rampaul took 3 wickets for 50, however Dwayne Bravo was the star bowler, picking up a career-best 6 for 46. They reduced Barbados from 184 for 4 to 229 all out.
In Trinidad & Tobago's innings, openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons added 42, before stuttering at 43 for 2. They steadily lost wickets at regular intervals, but Daren Ganga played a patient captains' innings to keep his team on track.
Ganga made 79, Simmons 44, Dwayne Bravo chipped in with 32 to go with his 6 wicket haul and Ramdin made 20. The game was always in the balance, where runs needed from balls were always close. When Sherwin Ganga was dismissed by Springer, T&T needed 28 from 36 balls. It then came down to 9 from 12 but Dave Mohammed ensured victory by hitting a six off Sulieman Benn off the last ball of the 49th over. Darren Ganga's undefeated knock earner him the Man of the Match.
Having advance to the Final, T&T will now play the winner of Tuesday's second semi-final between Guyana and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in the final on November 5.
SOURCE: Windies Online
Saving West Indies cricket
It is generally accepted that the current global financial crisis was brought about by a toxic combination of greed and gullibility. The crisis afflicting West Indies cricket can be similarly attributed to a deadly combination of greed, incompetence, intransigence and unaccountability. Sadly, as the impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) drags on, it is increasingly unclear how exactly these flaws can be apportioned.
The WICB’s dismal failings over the years have been well-documented. Indeed, we thought that things had come to a head last February, when the Second Test between the West Indies and England, at North Sound, Antigua, was abandoned after just 10 balls because the ground was woefully under-prepared. At the time, Michael Holding had attacked the culture of buck-passing and the lack of accountability in West Indies cricket and had cynically noted that, as in Jamaica in 1998, nothing would happen.
We had not wanted to believe that the covers would simply be brought on over such a scandalous and shameful affair, and we had called for the resignation of the WICB President, Julian Hunte, and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Peters. But Mr Holding was right – nothing happened. And Mr Hunte shamelessly piggybacked on the West Indies’ series victory over England, positioning himself for the cameras at every opportunity, even going so far, as Tony Cozier has pointed out, to break with accepted protocol to present the Wisden Trophy to the West Indies skipper, Chris Gayle.
All the while, the players have generally been the beneficiaries of the public’s sympathies, in spite of their own inconsistency and under-performance on the field and indiscipline both on and off the field. They have been given the benefit of the doubt in one awful display after another, being regarded as victims of the WICB’s autocratic and incompetent management. Even when they went to England last May and were obviously unhappy to be there, getting thoroughly thrashed in the two Tests and the one-dayers, many were willing to point the finger of blame at the board for agreeing to a last-minute tour under less than optimum conditions.
But Mr Gayle chose to delay his arrival from the lucrative Indian Premier League in South Africa a mere two days before the First Test, was lacklustre as player and captain, and compounded it all by indicating that he was no longer interested in playing Test cricket. The team’s lack of motivation and professionalism was visible to all and simply unacceptable. That is perhaps when the tide of public opinion began to turn.
Then when WIPA called the players out on strike on the eve of the series against Bangladesh, it was revealed that, notwithstanding genuine grievances with the WICB, West Indies cricketers were actually very well paid indeed, regardless of how they performed – a clear case of wages outstripping production, to paraphrase Dr David Hinds – or regardless of the ability of the WICB to remain financially viable.
As we all know, the West Indies suffered the humiliation of being swept by cellar-dwelling Bangladesh in the Tests and one-dayers. It hardly matters that the West Indies fielded a second or third string team. History will show that the West Indies lost – yet another blot on the proud record of West Indies cricket directly attributable to the non-performance rather than the under-performance of a certain group of players, who have put themselves above the game and their region. As Professor Hilary Beckles has pointed out, the “new ideology” is “cash before country.”
WIPA must share the blame with the WICB for this fiasco. That the two bodies could not have effected a compromise for the greater good of the regional game speaks volumes for the attitudes of those involved, their complete disregard for the heritage they have progressively frittered away and their contempt for West Indies cricket’s main stakeholders, the long-suffering and loyal fans. Now, even as the standoff continues and Sir Shridath Ramphal attempts to broker a solution, both sides are digging in their heels. The WICB – incredibly or true to form, depending on one’s personal outlook – has re-elected the failed leadership team of Mr Hunte and Dave Cameron as President and Vice-President respectively. Mr Hunte himself appears deaf to the howls of public protest from across the region, even those coming from the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), which boycotted the WICB’s annual general meeting because of its unhappiness with the status quo and its concern at the WICB’s failure to restructure itself as recommended by the PJ Patterson report. The message from Mr Hunte and the WICB is clear: it is business as usual.
In addition, there has been a hardening of the WICB’s attitude to the erstwhile strikers, none of whom have been chosen for the ICC Champions Trophy in September. However, all players who participate in the regional limited-overs tournament in October will be considered for the tour to Australia beginning in November.
For Mr Hunte, the strike action represents, “the highest form of disregard and disdain for West Indies cricket.” Even Joel Garner, a bona fide West Indian legend, now the President of the Barbados Cricket Association and a director of the WICB, has said that the WICB “has to draw the line” and it was time players realized that representing the West Indies was a “national duty” and “an honour.”
Significantly, Mr Garner has also said that the WICB must accept some responsibility for the current impasse and, “We can’t keep doing things business as usual. We have to look to see how best we can improve West Indies cricket.” He has admitted that the WICB needs restructuring and reorganization, but feels that WIPA does as well. A former member of WIPA himself, he has stated that he finds WIPA impossible to deal with, is personally fed up with the constant threat of strikes and feels that the WIPA leadership is not providing players with sufficient information and guidance in contractual matters.
It is somewhat encouraging then that at least two of the WICB’s more respected directors, Mr Garner and the TTCB president, another former West Indian great, Deryck Murray, recognize that it cannot be business as usual at the WICB. But is there sufficient critical mass within the WICB to effect real reform? Who or what will propel the WICB to transform the WICB into a modern, efficient cricket administration, more transparent and accountable to all its stakeholders? And who will bring to account those very men charged with safeguarding the welfare of the regional game, administrators and players alike, but who seem determined to pursue their respective, self-serving agendas?
In all this, Tony Cozier’s opinion is instructive: he is firmly of the view that the conflict between the WICB and WIPA is nothing more than “a power struggle for control of West Indies cricket,” rooted in the personalities and personal agendas of their respective principals. But in the battle of wills between Mr Hunte and Mr Ramnarine, as they fight for the body of West Indies cricket, they have virtually killed its soul.
The mediation process, which Sir Shridath says is still alive, is therefore the last resort. Sir Shridath has pledged to do his utmost to achieve a resolution, but he himself has recognized that he “cannot prevail against a Board and players in a suicide pact,” though his task is to prevent that “fundamentalist folly.” We have no choice now but to trust in his famed negotiating skills and hope that good sense ultimately prevails.
SOURCE: Windies Online
The WICB’s dismal failings over the years have been well-documented. Indeed, we thought that things had come to a head last February, when the Second Test between the West Indies and England, at North Sound, Antigua, was abandoned after just 10 balls because the ground was woefully under-prepared. At the time, Michael Holding had attacked the culture of buck-passing and the lack of accountability in West Indies cricket and had cynically noted that, as in Jamaica in 1998, nothing would happen.
We had not wanted to believe that the covers would simply be brought on over such a scandalous and shameful affair, and we had called for the resignation of the WICB President, Julian Hunte, and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Peters. But Mr Holding was right – nothing happened. And Mr Hunte shamelessly piggybacked on the West Indies’ series victory over England, positioning himself for the cameras at every opportunity, even going so far, as Tony Cozier has pointed out, to break with accepted protocol to present the Wisden Trophy to the West Indies skipper, Chris Gayle.
All the while, the players have generally been the beneficiaries of the public’s sympathies, in spite of their own inconsistency and under-performance on the field and indiscipline both on and off the field. They have been given the benefit of the doubt in one awful display after another, being regarded as victims of the WICB’s autocratic and incompetent management. Even when they went to England last May and were obviously unhappy to be there, getting thoroughly thrashed in the two Tests and the one-dayers, many were willing to point the finger of blame at the board for agreeing to a last-minute tour under less than optimum conditions.
But Mr Gayle chose to delay his arrival from the lucrative Indian Premier League in South Africa a mere two days before the First Test, was lacklustre as player and captain, and compounded it all by indicating that he was no longer interested in playing Test cricket. The team’s lack of motivation and professionalism was visible to all and simply unacceptable. That is perhaps when the tide of public opinion began to turn.
Then when WIPA called the players out on strike on the eve of the series against Bangladesh, it was revealed that, notwithstanding genuine grievances with the WICB, West Indies cricketers were actually very well paid indeed, regardless of how they performed – a clear case of wages outstripping production, to paraphrase Dr David Hinds – or regardless of the ability of the WICB to remain financially viable.
As we all know, the West Indies suffered the humiliation of being swept by cellar-dwelling Bangladesh in the Tests and one-dayers. It hardly matters that the West Indies fielded a second or third string team. History will show that the West Indies lost – yet another blot on the proud record of West Indies cricket directly attributable to the non-performance rather than the under-performance of a certain group of players, who have put themselves above the game and their region. As Professor Hilary Beckles has pointed out, the “new ideology” is “cash before country.”
WIPA must share the blame with the WICB for this fiasco. That the two bodies could not have effected a compromise for the greater good of the regional game speaks volumes for the attitudes of those involved, their complete disregard for the heritage they have progressively frittered away and their contempt for West Indies cricket’s main stakeholders, the long-suffering and loyal fans. Now, even as the standoff continues and Sir Shridath Ramphal attempts to broker a solution, both sides are digging in their heels. The WICB – incredibly or true to form, depending on one’s personal outlook – has re-elected the failed leadership team of Mr Hunte and Dave Cameron as President and Vice-President respectively. Mr Hunte himself appears deaf to the howls of public protest from across the region, even those coming from the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), which boycotted the WICB’s annual general meeting because of its unhappiness with the status quo and its concern at the WICB’s failure to restructure itself as recommended by the PJ Patterson report. The message from Mr Hunte and the WICB is clear: it is business as usual.
In addition, there has been a hardening of the WICB’s attitude to the erstwhile strikers, none of whom have been chosen for the ICC Champions Trophy in September. However, all players who participate in the regional limited-overs tournament in October will be considered for the tour to Australia beginning in November.
For Mr Hunte, the strike action represents, “the highest form of disregard and disdain for West Indies cricket.” Even Joel Garner, a bona fide West Indian legend, now the President of the Barbados Cricket Association and a director of the WICB, has said that the WICB “has to draw the line” and it was time players realized that representing the West Indies was a “national duty” and “an honour.”
Significantly, Mr Garner has also said that the WICB must accept some responsibility for the current impasse and, “We can’t keep doing things business as usual. We have to look to see how best we can improve West Indies cricket.” He has admitted that the WICB needs restructuring and reorganization, but feels that WIPA does as well. A former member of WIPA himself, he has stated that he finds WIPA impossible to deal with, is personally fed up with the constant threat of strikes and feels that the WIPA leadership is not providing players with sufficient information and guidance in contractual matters.
It is somewhat encouraging then that at least two of the WICB’s more respected directors, Mr Garner and the TTCB president, another former West Indian great, Deryck Murray, recognize that it cannot be business as usual at the WICB. But is there sufficient critical mass within the WICB to effect real reform? Who or what will propel the WICB to transform the WICB into a modern, efficient cricket administration, more transparent and accountable to all its stakeholders? And who will bring to account those very men charged with safeguarding the welfare of the regional game, administrators and players alike, but who seem determined to pursue their respective, self-serving agendas?
In all this, Tony Cozier’s opinion is instructive: he is firmly of the view that the conflict between the WICB and WIPA is nothing more than “a power struggle for control of West Indies cricket,” rooted in the personalities and personal agendas of their respective principals. But in the battle of wills between Mr Hunte and Mr Ramnarine, as they fight for the body of West Indies cricket, they have virtually killed its soul.
The mediation process, which Sir Shridath says is still alive, is therefore the last resort. Sir Shridath has pledged to do his utmost to achieve a resolution, but he himself has recognized that he “cannot prevail against a Board and players in a suicide pact,” though his task is to prevent that “fundamentalist folly.” We have no choice now but to trust in his famed negotiating skills and hope that good sense ultimately prevails.
SOURCE: Windies Online
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