T Becca: WICB and Rousseau must put up or shut up (24 Feb 1998)

24 February 1998

Put up or shut up

Tony Becca

CRICKET: West Indies Cricket Board president Pat Rousseau is under pressure to step down or clean house, and if the West Indies lose the current series against England it is certain to get worse.

According to those calling for heads to roll, the performance of the West Indies team has never been as poor as it is now, the "A" team was soundly beaten in South Africa, the Youth team failed to get out of the first round of the Mini World Cup, and as far as they are concerned, the blame lies with the board which in their opinion, is ignoring the development of the game while concentrating on marketing.

On top of that, they are upset with a board which has made a number of blunders which have embarrassed West Indies cricket, a board which, for the first time since its inaugural season in 1966, has failed to get a sponsor for the regional four day tournament, and one which they also blame for a pitch which caused the first Test of the current series to be abandoned.

While there is no question that the performance of the West Indies team is below par, that the presence of seven over aged players on the Youth team continues to be an embarrassment, and that the failure to secure sponsorship is unfortunate, it is difficult to blame the board or the present president.

It is difficult for these simple reasons: the team had started to slide before the coming of the new president and his board, the embarrassment of the over aged players must be the fault of the secretariat who knew of the age limit for the tournament, and the board, as is the case certainly at Queen's Park Oval and Bourda where the grounds are owned by private members clubs, does not own Sabina Park and therefore does not have full control of the pitch.

It is also difficult to blame the board and its president for the reasons that West Indies cricket was allowed to slip because of past administrations which simply sat back, basked in the glory of a great team, and did nothing to ensure its continued success.

In contrast to that, this present Board is planning, and has already put in a place a cricket sub committee which is responsible for the technical side of the game, a panel of managers, a panel of coaches, set out guidelines for a more accountable selection committee, organised an annual Under 15 regional tournament to complement the Senior and Youth tournaments, organised an itinerary of tours for the West "A", Youth and Under 15 teams, organised training camps for the different West Indies teams before they go on tour, organised specialised training for players in various departments of the game - including spin bowlers and wicketkeepers, and is in the process of getting the Test players to open up the Players Association to all firstclass players in the region.

To some, it may be as unimportant and as meaningless to the development of the game as music and pools at cricket, but the board has also launched "On Board" - a quarterly newsletter.

There are also those who talk about which board member or members should be removed and complain that Rousseau and his board are doing nothing about it.

Regardless of their non performance, board members are representatives of the territories and neither Rousseau nor the board can remove them: they can only deny them important positions on the board - and even then the wrath of the territory or territories the offending member or members represent would descend on them.

It is always easy to talk, and to criticise. What cricket needs however, is the involvement of those with the ability - financially or otherwise - to assist its development.

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