Stephen Vasciannie
THE WEST Indies team now seems to be bowling to get a run-out. South Africa has almost matched our less than mammoth first innings total in the Third Test match, and have lost only one wicket. Our bowlers lack penetration, the batting is inconsistent, and the spectators at Kensington Oval are restless. Radio listeners throughout the globalised Caribbean save perhaps for the odd masochist here and there are at the point of depression.
The situation cries out for a coherent response from both our players and managers. Little, however, is forthcoming. In this context, some analysts suggest personality changes. A case can surely be made for the return of Marlon Samuels, for example: one hopes that his exclusion is not part of a vendetta against him by one or two influential people.
But personality changes will really be tinkering at the edges - and, in any event, the pool from which other players may be drawn is now depressingly shallow. Some had argued that we needed a coach from outside the region to bring about team unity and success. That investment is well under way, but the dividends remain slight.
STRUCTURALISTS
Now, too, the Master Blaster is reported to have mentioned Jamaican intervention in team selection as a problem that he experienced. This may well have happened, but it is a stretch to argue that one instance in which a cricket manager raised questions about team selection has any real bearing on current fortunes and misfortunes unless one is master-blasting.
Enter the structuralists. For them, the prevailing crisis is a reflection of structural problems in our cricket. So, for example, Tony Becca correctly points out that the Test team needs to be built on a strong foundation of first class and club cricket; this foundation is now quite shaky, and has been for some time.
Another structuralist position which I associate partly with the former Leader of the Opposition, once removed - is that our cricket base is too small for us consistently to generate a first rate team from entirely within the region. Our cricketers were once able to ply their trade in the English county competition, and some have even stretched beyond the chill of St. Agnes to the land down under. These opportunities have largely dried up, and are not likely to return in any significant number: just now the English football clubs are giving thought to closing the door on foreign players.
The structuralist position has considerable merit the only problem is that it could lead us to despair. Naturally, one would hope that opportunities open up overseas, and that more sponsorship money is pumped into club cricket. But what if these things do not happen? Are we condemned to long trek through the wasteland of cricket failure, seizing a victory over Bangladesh every now and then?
CAPTAINCY
This doesn't really take me to the question of the captaincy of the West Indies team, but I want to get there. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a wonderful cricketer: steady, loyal and consistent. His susceptibility to the well-pitched delivery outside the off stump is well-known, but thankfully, it tends to evince itself after Chanderpaul has reached 50 or thereabouts. He has also served in the past as Vice Captain, and only those with inside information can fully explain why that was taken from him.
But Chanderpaul's position as the current captain has come about as the result of a contractual dispute. Naturally, he should continue as captain for the current series and perhaps for the Pakistani tour; on what basis, though, should he be retained as captain over Brian Lara following this year's season?
One analyst, a skilful writer, has taken some of Chanderpaul's critics to task. These critics are reported as saying that Chanderpaul's diction is less than distinguished, in contrast to that of Lara. The analyst replies: look, the problem of the West Indies is that we love sweet-mouth people too much, and that, therefore, the fact that Lara is articulate should count against him.
This seems to place logic on its head, or at least, makes
a virtue out of necessity. At some stage, Chanderpaul may overcome his apparent weakness behind the microphone; or the selectors may say that this is a minor issue compared with his other skills as a captain. It is, however, quite unconvincing to imply that the ability to speak well is a liability.
Equally unconvincing are the efforts to say that Lara, as Atlas the Second, actually cripples his colleagues. The West Indies players are professionals, not youngsters enjoying green days by the river. They must perform, and indeed, must try to outperform Atlas. Lara should be restored to the captaincy at the end of this season.
Stephen Vasciannie is a professor at the University of the West Indies and a consultant in the Attorney General's chambers.
