Anyone Can Hit Bottom

Don't follow the patch. Go where there is no patch and begin the trail. When you start a new trail, equipped with courage, strength and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you. ( Ruby Bridges, Civil Rights Activist)

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in attempting to reverse the team's humiliating record over the past few years have decided to follow the patch, through the appointments of a cadre of Australian Coaches.

"We have hired people who have a philosophy with respect to coaching how the game should be developed and the future is great for West Indies Cricket." (Roger Braithwaite, Chief Executive of the West Indies Cricket Board 2004-11-30)

The current stand-off between West Indian Players Association (WIPA) and the WICB over player's contractual arrangements, is awaiting the decision of an arbitrator. However, the most offensive aspect of the stand-off was the WICB rejection of WIPA's call for an arbitrator, stating that clause 5, "the bone of contention", was non-negotiable.

What can we say, when that statement is compared to the hiring of the Australians, specifically coach Bennett King, who only last year left the WICB with egg all over their faces but is now holding Carte Blanche status.

It must be re-emphasized that the WICB and WIPA are inseparable companions with a common objective to have the team returned to pre-eminence. It is therefore difficult to comprehend the consistency in these stand-offs. "If you can't remember the past you are destined to repeat it." (Philosopher George Santayana)

Last year when the WIPA went on strike prior to the Carib Beer Cup Semi finals, automatically play became suspended. However, June 1999 when the members of the Board of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) resigned "en mass", play continued as usual until a new Board was elected in October.

During the stand-off (prior to the 1998-99 South African tour) the WICB called on the selectors for replacements. Amazingly, in stepped President of the United Board of South Africa Dr. Au Bacher, who said "Once the best players were not coming the tour would be cancelled." Suffice to say, the tour went ahead as planned.

They have called for replacements on this occasion also and again, the original invitees are in camp. It is therefore quite clear how important the players are and should be treated accordingly.

After a settlement was reached in last year's stand-off, prior to the world cup, the WICB said "we are going to ask Sir Roy Trotman, BWU General Secretary, to help the two of us understand bargaining techniques, so that we can avoid protracted and acrimonious situations in the future."

Unbelievably, within a few months WIPA went out on strike, prior to the Carib Beer Semis, and here we go again with another episode in the trouble and strife in West Indies Cricket.

"Control" or Management?

Those of us who take an interest in the administration of the West Indies Cricket know full well, that even though the extra C "control" has been deleted from the acronym "WICBC", that they still seem to be in a control mentality.

They are giving ultimatums to WIPA instead of empathy whenever there is a stand-off. They are negotiating contracts binding the players without consulting with them. This type of behaviour seems to be the reason for WIPA's confrontational and contemptuous reactions.

While this may be so today, the WIPA was once the envy of the cricketing world when the team sat at the pinnacle. They hold some of the most phenomenal records in the international arena:

Sir Everton Weekes: five consecutive test hundreds.

Sir Garfield Sobers: highest test score 365 not out, six consecutive sixes in one over.

Sir Vivian Richards: most test runs 1710 in a calendar year, fastest test hundred (56 balls).

(Sir) Brian Lara: highest test scores 375 and 400 not out, fastest 10,000 test runs, most test runs (28) in an over. Highest first class runs 501 not out.

(Sir) Courtney Walsh first player to take 500 test wickets.

Jeff Layne
admin@bango.org.bb