THE EDITOR, Sir:
THERE WILL be no progress if we continue to reward indiscipline and hold its purveyors up for better and bigger rewards. We cannot build any foundation let alone a firm foundation, on indiscipline.
One rule cannot be applied for some team members and another rule for others.
There cannot be categories of players where rules governing attendance, participation and behaviour are concerned.
There should be no compromising on the selection of quality players.
Team composition should never descend to mere numbers based on country quotas.
You cannot give a young batsman whom you have carefully watched over a period of time and then selected less than 10 Test or representative matches to prove his worth.
You cannot find any principle to justify the chopping and changing of players from tour to tour, Test match to Test match.
You cannot sanction a player for unstated acts of indiscipline without a hearing or, giving him an opportunity to represent himself.
The future must be built on the shoulders of the young players. The environment in which we nourish them can also crush them.
The rule that requires the West Indies players to play in the regional competition, to ensure selection, framed at a time when we had overseas stars, is now not only serving no purpose but is actually counterproductive. When England closed its county doors, our players went elsewhere for professional contracts. Those who hone their skills in the competitive arena of South Africa are excluded from selection by this outdated rule. (Imagine what Jamaica's football team would be if a similar rule were implemented).
Our one-day team must be built around players with all-round talent. Where are the likes of Carl Tuckett, Laurie Williams, Wilden Cornwall, Roy Marshall, Nehemiah Perry, Ian Bradshaw, Franklyn Rose.
I am, etc.,
RUDOLPH MUIR
PO Box 47
Western District
Kingston 20
