Appointing the untouchable Lara (24 February 1999)
The West Indies Cricket Board and its selectors on Monday set a precedent they may live to regret
24-Feb-1999
24 February 1999
Appointing the untouchable Lara
Tony Becca
The West Indies Cricket Board and its selectors on Monday set a
precedent they may live to regret.
In re-appointing Brian Lara as captain of the West Indies team, be it
for two matches, for the entire series as expected it will be, or for
the rest of his life, the board and its selectors have not only bowed
to indiscipline, they have not only presented themselves as apostles
of winning at all cost or people who are afraid to act, but they have
also anointed Lara as the undisputed ruler of West Indies cricket.
Based on the history of the board, the type of cover-up reports
usually tabled by managers and coaches and the complement of the
selection committee which, in Joey Carew, includes Lara's mentor, the
decision to retain Lara as captain was not surprising. It was,
however, disappointing.
It was disappointing because of Lara's embarrassing part in the
strike which preceded the tour to South Africa, it was disappointing
because of his attitude which, more than anyone else's, contributed
to the low morale of the team in South Africa, it was disappointing
because of the embarrassment suffered by the West Indian people and
it was disappointing that because of the strike, because of the rift
and what happened in South Africa, the board had lost its sponsors
for the World Cup.
It was also disappointing because the reading of every card suggested
that regardless of Lara's great achievements as a batsman and
forgetting his failures on the field in South Africa, despite his
potential as a tactician, in the interest of West Indies cricket, the
time had come for a change.
The time obviously had not come - not for a board or a set of
selectors who, probably after looking at the likes of Carl Hooper,
James Adams and Ian Bishop and deciding that none of them was an
ideal choice, and after pondering whether the indispensable Lara
would condescend to play if he were replaced as captain, sacrificed
their principles on the altar of winning.
According to Pat Rousseau, president of the board, it was a
cricketing decision, it was the recommendation of the selectors as
they prepare for a series against the world's best team and the board
and selectors value Mr. Lara's outstanding cricket ability.
Whether they want to accept it or not, that explains what happened in
Antigua. As someone once said, winning is not all - winning is
everything.
Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)