Stephen Vasciannie
"FIVE balls to go," intoned the BWIA flight attendant.
She spoke with confidence, with the precise, almost schoolmarmish voice that had earlier instructed us to fasten our seatbelts and to read our overcomplicated immigration cards.
But there was also a touch of Caribbean excitement. With less than one over to be completed, the West Indies tail was wagging determinedly in the first Test: nine wickets down, Fidel and Corey at the wicket. India erect.
Once again, I am reminded of the unifying force of cricket. At a time when the debate on regionalism continues largely among elites of one form or another, cricket transcends the real barriers or geography, economics and self-perception that restrict the possibilities of moving closer. "All a wi is one", a popular sentiment among West Indians at cricket matches in England, circa 1963, was present in large measure on Flight 415, in 2006.
COACHING SUPERIORITY
Four balls to go, in that interminable over: a passenger offers a comment about Greg Chappell and the coaching of the Indian team. The obvious comes to mind. Australian coaches are in demand nowadays essentially because Australia has been the dominant force in world cricket for a decade or so. One assumes that the Australian prowess is a function of coaching techniques that have permeated the air down under.
Perhaps. But I wonder whether this kind of assumption was ever allowed to work fully to the advantage of Clive Lloyd's incomparably professional XI or the vanguard of Vivian Richards. Why have we not been able to export more Caribbean coaches to high profile cricketing centres?
Three balls to go: "Look", another passenger suggests, "Tony Cozier will soon say that Barbados has saved the West Indies again." I wonder about this, for the comment and the point behind the comment may be contrary to the spirit of unity that manifests itself in the cabin.
But the comment is perceptive. Cricket represents unity among diversity. And while we must not encourage insularity, here is a truth: Bajans love cricket more than most. If you visit the Cave Hill campus of the UWI, the first things you see are the cricket field and the wonderful tributes to cricket lovingly overlooking that field.
HEART ATTACK
Two balls to go: how this over goin' so slow brother? "You know, cricket is real heart attack business. Is a good thing it have so much heart specialist 'round the place," one wag proclaims. Last ball: the passenger sitting next to me, a Tobagonian, in the midst of the Caribbean camaraderie takes the opportunity to note quietly that Jamaica has disappointed him. Imagine, he points out, Jamaica has played a warm-up football match with England just days before the World Cup. The Soca Warriors and the Reggae Boyz have similarities of style; as England is drawn in the same group as T & T, the former have used the Jamaican warm-up match for obvious strategic purposes.
I cannot fault the line of reasoning. And, indeed, I recall that when Bahrain had an upcoming - and vital - play-off match with Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica was willing to give them a practice run for a pot of silver. Cricket makes my West Indian heart feel big; but football just now makes my Jamaican self feel small.
Over. Match done! We held on. "It draw, but we win!" The passengers breathe a collective sigh of relief. The plane could now move from the tarmac at the Grantley Adams airport, with its happy Argonauts.
Stephen Vasciannie is Head of the Department of Government, UWI, and a Deputy Solicitor General in the Attorney-General's Chambers.
