The concept of a unified West Indies team

The West Indies is not a nation, it is a team which brings together many countries. Kevin O' Brien Chang, in the CaribbeanCricket website, talks of the sense of belonging that cricket brings among people of all the islands. He then goes on to talk of the player strike, highlighting that rows between player and board were present even in 1948 and 1953.

It’s a curious thing, ‘Westindianness’. When the Trinidad and Jamaica football teams face off, fans taunt each other and abuse opposing players. Put those same spectators together to watch the West Indies, and they hug each other with joy at each West Indian triumph, no matter if it was Yardies or Trinis or Bajans responsible.