Let's rally 'round the West Indies (11 March 1999)

11 March 1999

Let's rally 'round the West Indies

Tony Becca

The West Indies and Australia arrived in Jamaica yesterday for the second Test which opens at Sabina Park on Saturday.

While the Australians are on top of the world following their awesome display in the first Test, the West Indians are still reeling from the battering they received in what can only be described as an awful performance - especially on the final day.

In the worst performance, statistically and otherwise, in 142 Test matches since their first in 1928, the West Indies not only lost by 312 runs, they were not only routed for their lowest total ever - a meagre 51 runs, that second innings not only lasted for a mere 102 minutes and 19.1 overs, but all 10 wickets, between the fall of the first and the last, fell in the space of 67 minutes during only 11.4 overs - the first five in 25 minutes and 3.4 overs, the second five in 42 minutes and eight overs.

Even without Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, that was a pathetic performance - especially, although the bounce was a bit unpredictable, on a pitch which was far from terrible.

It was so pathetic that, but for rain at 16 for five, it may have been worse. The momentum was going Australia's way and, on top of that, the West Indies batted as if their brains were scrambled.

Add that performance to the collapse of the first innings when the West Indies lost their last five wickets for four runs (four byes) in 3.5 overs, and in a batting performance best forgotten, the West Indies, in 23 overs, lost 15 wickets for 55 runs - including nine extras and nine overthrows.

What is past, however, is past, and hopefully the West Indies batsmen can put the debacle of Port of Spain behind them and, even if they do not come up with enough runs to win the match, turn up with a good performance at Sabina Park.

That, for the majority of these batsmen who are lacking in both skill and the capacity to perform, will not be easy - not only against pacers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, but on a pitch which promises to be kind to spinners, also against legspinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill who were not even called upon in the second innings at Queen's Park Oval.

Something needs to be done, however, someone needs to get up and perform - not only for himself and the West Indies, but also for cricket.

Although they would like to win, although they would like to nail the West Indies in an effort to avenge all those beatings when the Windies were undisputed, unchallenged kings of the game, not even Australia would enjoy beating a team which failed to put up a fight.

The man to lead the charge, obviously, is Brian Lara.

After a cautious start, Lara was brilliant in the first innings before he was run out, he has the ability, McGrath or no McGrath, to beat back these Australians and if he is on song he could inspire someone like Dave Joseph who loves to hit the ball.

The West Indies batting, even with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the team, is dependent on Lara, and as the top batsman in the team, as the captain, maybe he should throw down the gauntlet and go in at number three where, if he gets going, he can lead from the front.

Lara, as the captain, looked good in the field at Queen's Park Oval and so did the team. While he was batting in the first innings the West Indies were in a good position and whatever happens from here on depends on his performance.

He will be the difference, not so much between winning and losing, but between a good performance and another embarrassing one.

The West Indies are down, but despite how it looks, they are not out, although, as far as the majority are concerned they are not as good as West Indies players used to be, they are the best available and, although they are embarrassed, they have not surrendered.

Lara and his team, the same West Indies which, over the years, brought so much pride and joy to West Indians, at home and abroad, are going out on Saturday to give it their best shot - and Jamaicans should rally around them by going out and supporting them.

Sport, it should be remembered, mirrors the society, this West Indies team reflects the state of West Indies cricket and what happened in South Africa, what happened in Port of Spain, should be blamed on those, at all levels, who ignored the signs - not on the players, certainly not the young ones or the newcomers who, regardless of why, have won the honour of representing the West Indies.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)