The Power and the Glory (5 July 1999)

5 July 1999

The Power and the Glory

Colin Croft

I must start this week by acknowledging that I sincerely hope that the Governments of the Caribbean follow their rhetoric and promises and really get down to the business of helping West Indies cricket really integrate more, and as such, allowing the Caribbean to integrate more.

I, for one, would like to see things get better in the fields of communication, commercialism and transporation. For the sake of West Indies cricket, I sincerely hope that the insularity which has continued to dog us in the Caribbean's cricket scenario, winning or losing, does not continue to destroy us. As Dame Eugenia Charles, the former Prime Minister of Dominica said lately, there is too much talk. Now is as good a time as any for action.

For once, I hope that every citizen of every Caribbean country, from President to Prime Minister to penniless street people, would be honest with themselves when it comes to the exploits of West Indies cricket. It really is a wonderful thought. Only time will tell if the deed will follow.

I am extremely hopeful this time around, especially with Prime Ministers like Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Owen Arthur of Barbados involved. These guys are the young leaders. Let them have their way, please.

We actually have a fairly good example to follow for short term gain.

On June 6th last, I actually wrote an article, "Crofty's prescription for English and West Indian Cricket" in which I suggeted that both England and the West Indies cricket fraternities could benefit from some sort of house clearing and start over after the disasterous World Cup had by the two teams. At least one has done so now.

England are very lucky in their timing. This Test series against New Zealand is a God send where timing and implementation are concerned for England. It was the perfect situation to effect tremendous changes. They took their chances well.

In that previous aticle, I suggested that England should change their then captain, Alex Stewart, and to give the captaincy to Nasser Hussain. Thankfully, that was done. I also suggested that the nucleus of England batting should be Graeme Thorpe and Nasser Hussain himself. That was also done. I also suggested then that Darren Gough and Alan Mullally should be the nucleus of the bowling. That would have been had Gough not been injured. Then, I suggested that what the Englishmen had done to Alex Tudor in Australia was criminal. Now I am sure that they regret it.

England beat New Zealand last weekend with a team very much changed from the one that last played, and lost, in Australia. Compare the names here:

5th Test v Australia (last English Test game before World Cup):

Mark Butcher, Alex Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, John Crawley, Warren Hegg, Alex Tudor, Dean Headley, Darren Gough and Peter Such. Coach was David Lloyd

1st Test v New Zealand (first English Test game since World Cup):

Mark Butcher, Alex Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Graeme Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, Adam Habib, Chris Read, Andy Caddick, Alex Tudor, Alan Mullally, Phil Tuffnell. Coach is David Graveney

England got rid of some dead wood and have rebounded. Boy, was I right or what!!

Not only is the personnel changed, but the attitude too. Hussain, as captain, brings a new positive enterprise to the English cricket team. Alex Stewart was too steeped in pessimism and old time beliefs. Hussain's bowling changes on the first day of the New Zealand Test were wonderful, full of imagination.

The freedom of play from both the bowlers and batters, knowing fully well that only their new Manager/Coach, David Graveney, would be allowed to interfere, was beautiful to watch. They would have had some input from the two other selectors, Mike Gatting and Graeme Gooch, but on the whole, the team's players were left to their own devices. No cheer-leading nonsense as was the case with the previous coach.

Tudor, Mullally, Tuffnell and especially Caddick, as bowlers, were tremendous, full of confidence, while Tudor, the batter, Hussain, Thorpe and Butcher were not so bad themselves. Chris Read, the new wicket-keeper, was a revelation.

I have always said it and I will say it again. Give the youth a chance. They could only get better. If especially Alex Stewart does not pull his boots up, he too could be walking away permanently.

This Test win was a good one for England, especially the timing.

The West Indies are not so lucky. Unfortunately we do not have another Test game until the tour of New Zealand very late this year. We now have to sit around and contemplate what should be done. Too much time to make decisions, sometimes, normally even, allow for the wrong ones to be made.

Let us hope that the right decisions are made now. With the leaders of the political Caribbean now electing to become fully involved (Were they not before??), we all hope that the sporting Caribbean, especially the cricketing Caribbean, could follow suit in the immediate future.

At least, an example was given to West Indies cricket. As we used to do well in the past, we could, at least for now, follow the English. Let us not be too proud. We could also take the best of our enemies to make us great!!

Source :: Colin Croft