Stephen Vasciannie

WITH GOOD reason, there is considerable relief that the circumstances concerning the death of the Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer - whatever those circumstances may actually be - do not appear to implicate Jamaicans. To be sure, the entire matter is extraordinarily curious, with theories of responsibility, including the possibility that match-fixing hit men have entered the scene. Who knows?

For a while, however, the matter placed a damper on cricketing spirits, and turned many of us into even more enthusiastic informal sleuths than we normally are. Personally, though I much regret Mr. Woolmer's death, and his death in Jamaican territory, I am relieved that Pakistan opted to play its final match, and that there is no overwhelming sentiment for the competition to be cancelled or rearranged as a result of the serious problems prompted by the death. The Munich precedent is correct: the competition must not be subject to the vicissitudes of life and death.

ShortLists

On the field, the cricket remains fascinating. Pakistan and India had been on most shortlists for the semi-finals of the competition. Now, the former has been dismissed, much to the chagrin of the Head of State and the street-sweeper; and the latter find that their fate is to be determined by Bermuda, a team of a certain pedigree, as the astute Michael Holding might say. One assumes that no heavy bets are being taken on the prospect that India will stay for the next round of the great show.

Here in Jamaica, much more needs to be said about quality. Some media cynics continue to bad talk the obvious value of the competition to us. The latest discordant note has to do with the idea that we have received fewer visitors for cricket than was anticipated. But this is a point of small significance, for, in the first place, it depends on the value of the initial expectations; and what if the initial expectations were overblown? Who can really be drawn and quartered for that? This is the first time the Caribbean has taken on an effort of this magnitude, and we have no local precedent on the flow of visitors, and some visitors are known to make decisions at the last minute.

So what is the big point if fewer have come than expected? Or, put the matter another way: if those making estimates had aimed for a very low figure, then the critics would not say that we are happy to have more than we anticipated. Instead, the critics would simply have condemned those making the predictions for lacking ambition. Analytically, therefore, the critics have created a 'no-win' situation on this point.

Quality

But, I digress. More needs to be said about quality. Prater's Pond, now known as Sabina Park has never looked better. The day Chris Gayle lifts a six over the top of the North Stand will be recorded in cricket history. The pitch seems to offer enough for both bowlers and batsmen, and the electronic scoreboard, with the possibility of instant replays, has brought us into the 21st century as far as cricket is concerned. When rain intervened last week, the covers worked efficiently and every spot of grass on the field is green.

To be sure, problems remain at the park. The police officers who took away my umbrella at the match, and who put in place no clear arrangements for returning it, are guilty of theft. I was not alone, as the table contained at least 10 umbrellas at the time mine was taken. One has the sense, too, that the organisers, who must receive high marks all round, have erred unduly on the side of conservatism in barring pots, pans and certain types of radios. The West Indian energy, of which we are all proud, has been stifled to some extent by these restrictions.

Based on the first round, there is a rational basis for the view that the West Indies can make it to the semi-finals - and from there, anything can happen. Against Ireland, Chanderpaul looked unperturbed in making his century, suggesting that there are many more runs to flow from that bat, while Lara, Gayle, Samuels and Sarwan have all offered glimpses of good form. For the semi-finals, then, my vote is on the West Indies, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. The cricket feast continues.