Tony Becca
WEST INDIES cricket is passing through some rough times and the fans are wondering why why it is that the West Indies, once the best in the world, are now in the company of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the bottom of the standings and for so long?
Among the many reasons for the present state of affairs are the poor leadership of the board, the lack of money the kind of money that is needed to assist the clubs, the kind of money that is needed to put in place a professional first-class league, and the kind of money that is needed to put in place a retainer contract for the region's best players.
Also, there's the fact that cricket in the West Indies is not what it used to be.
Once upon a time, cricket was the king of sports in the region, it was the sport that almost every boy played and it was the sport that attracted spectators in their numbers.
NOT IMPORTANT ANYMORE
In those days, cricket was important to the people. Today, however, that is not so. Today, all around the region, but especially so in Jamaica, that is not so even though some people still believe so and keep on saying so.
If cricket was still important, or as important to the people of the region as it was in days gone by, why then are the clubs suffering so much from lack of membership? And why, but for Test matches, and for only a few days at that, and one-day internationals, are cricket grounds empty?
The answer, regardless of all the excuses about people being busy earning a living, about other attractions, and about the many other sports being played these days, is that but for a passing interest, but for following the score in order to know if their team is doing well, people, generally, are no longer interested in the game. Certainly not anywhere near the level of years gone by, and if that is so, then so be it.
The problem, however, is this: why do the people, so many of them, cheer the players when they win and lambaste them when they lose?
Is it that deep down they love the game, or is it that they are so nationalistic that although they no longer love the game as they used to, they want to win and cannot stand losing?
That may well be the case.
WINNING
If that is it, however, if winning, for whatever reason, still means something to them, the people had better change their attitude to the game for the simple reason that unless cricket is strong in a territory it is unlikely that that territory can win. Unless cricket is strong in the region, it is unlikely that the West Indies can win, and cricket can only be strong in the territories, and therefore in the region, if it is supported at all levels.
West Indies cricket, for example, needs money to do the things it needs to do. The stronger it is the more chances it has of getting that money, it can only be strong if the people support it, and it is high time the people stop paying lip service to the game and really support it especially those who cannot stand to lose and who, in their disappointment, condemn the players.
The players are products of the society and if the society does not support the game and the players, the players are unlikely to possess the passion, the commitment and dedication, that will make them better and good enough to compete, really compete, with the best in the world.
