Skerritt's reply exposes more problems

Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor

WEST INDIES cricket is passing through rough times, it is now obvious that it is not one, two or three but many reasons for it, and something must be done about it.

Up to a few days ago, those who did not know and who refused to listen, were, almost to a man, blaming the selectors and the coach for the poor performance of the team.

Events of the past few days, however, have revealed beyond a doubt that there are other problems - certainly one involving the attitude of the players and one involving the relations between those who form the management team.

In a broadside attack on the players and obviously the management of the team, Joe Hoad accused the players of every sin under the sun, and in a quick retort, manager Ricky Skerritt accused Hoad of misrepresenting the facts and attempting to discredit him.

According to Hoad, the man brought on board as performance enhancer during the tour of Australia, the players are complacent, they believe that they are on top of the world, they would rather miss practice than they would a party, they lack pride in performance, and some of them believe that they are better than they really are - including one who said, "all I need is to be in form because I can bat better than Garfield Sobers".

According to Hoad, his disatisfaction with the attitude of some of the players and the environment in which they are playing are the reasons why he is no longer with the team - why he resigned.

Not so said Skerritt.

In his response to the attack, Skerritt said Hoad was simply attempting to save face.

According to Skerritt, Hoad's 11-week contract was not renewed, he told him four weeks ago that it would not have been renewed, and Hoad's outburst was simply because he was angry with him for not recommending that the contract be renewed.

Is Hoad's attack on the players and therefore on Skerritt's ability to properly manage the team, the act of a man attempting to save face? It could well be.

It is important to remember two things, however. One is this: Dr. Rudi Webster, Hoad's predecessor as performance enhancer, also did not last long in the job; and two is this: from what can be seen, from what has been heard, and from reports, all that Hoad has said is true.

Is it that the management team is not working together? That appears to be the case.

Instead of being one happy family working together in the best interest of the team, it appears that each man is protecting his turf - and regardless of the consequences.

It is no secret, for example, that Dr. Webster believed that he was not wanted and that manager Skerritt has been made to feel that he should not get involved in matters pertaining to cricket.

There is also the case of Jeffrey Dujon. Although it is said he was removed as assistant coach because there was no need for two coaches, the truth, according to those who should know is that it all had to do with a clash of personalities.

To lose because of poor quality players and poor selection is one thing; to lose because of indisciplined players and a management team that cannot work together is something else, however, and it is time the Board does something about it.

The Board can no longer say it knows nothing about such things happening.

When it comes to the indiscipline of the players, even if the Board still does not believe those who were talking before, it should believe Hoad. He has been with the players day and night and must know what he is talking about.

And when it comes to the management team, even if the unceremonial exit of Webster and Dujon were not enough to ask questions, Hoad's accusations re the players, his talk about the environment in which the players are playing, and the response of Skerritt and the tone of the response are enough to indicate that all is not well within its ranks.

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