Tony Becca: From the Boundary - Showdown at Chedwin (7 Oct 1997)

7 October 1997

From the Boundary - Showdown at Chedwin

Tony Becca

CRICKET: The West Indies cricket team leaves for Pakistan next month for what is expected to be a tough outing - a series which is important to the West Indies as they seek to re-establish themselves as one of the best teams in the world.

Based on what happened at Chedwin Park on Sunday however, or rather, based on what many believe happened, all is not well in the Windies camp - certainly not as far as the relationship between captain Courtney Walsh and vice-captain Brian Lara is concerned.

Lara, after saying on a number of occasions that he is ready for the job, was reported recently as saying that he is the man for the job, and, most importantly, that he was recommended by the selectors, that the recommendation was turned down by higher authorities, that he should be the captain, and that not being selected in the face of overwhelming public opinion that he should lead the team will be written in the history books as unfortunate.

Although it is no secret that he was hurt, and although he was asked by the local media for a response, Walsh said nothing publicly.

On Sunday however, in the match between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, Walsh did not accompany Lara for the toss of the coin and, and although the explanation from the dressing room was that he was indisposed, not many believed it - not even when he left the field for a few minutes midway the Trinidad and Tobago innings.

The consensus, especially by those who heard that earlier he was represented by vice-captain Robert Samuels at the pre-match meeting between the match referee and the two captains - also because he was indisposed, was that Walsh, in a subtle way, was making a statement to Lara.

The truth as to whether Walsh was really indisposed may never be confirmed, and if he was, so be it. If however, he was not, his action, regardless of the circumstances, cannot be condoned.

As the captain of Jamaica, Walsh has an obligation to fulfil his duties - one of which is to accompany the opposing captain out to the pitch for the toss of the coin.

On top of all that, regardless of what Lara believes, Walsh is the captain of the West Indies - and he was elevated to that position, not because the selectors liked him, not because the higher authorities liked him, but because, in their opinion, he possessed the necessary qualities.

Like all of us, blood runs through Walsh's veins, and he would not be human if Lara's words did not affect him.

As the West Indies captain however, if he was not really indisposed on both occasions, and remembering that part of his responsibility is to protect the image of West Indies cricket, he should, in spite of the temptation, be bigger than reacting in such a manner.

Courtney Walsh is a man of class, with a record of never losing his cool and doing anything to tarnish the image of his club, his country, the West Indies, and the game he loves; and Lara, regardless of what he believes, regardless of what he is reported to have said, is not the man to intentionally undermine either his captain or his the team.

Intentionally or not however, misguided or not, Lara's words, as reported, has created a problem in the West Indies team; and Walsh's reaction has compounded it.

Right now, the players are probably taking sides and lining up behind their man, and the West Indies Board, whether it wants to or not, whether it has the evidence to confirm what Lara is reported to have said, must do something about it - not only for the success of the Pakistan tour, but also for the future of West Indies cricket.

The Board should have clipped it in the bud by calling in Lara and speaking to him about his comments as soon as possible after they were published. Had it done so, Lara, who went into the home team's dressing room after the match on Sunday and shook hands with most of the Jamaica players while congratulating them on their victory, may have said "sorry Courtney, I did not mean it the way it sounded", the usually gracious Walsh may have said "let bygones be bygones", and he probably would not have reacted the way he did on Sunday.

Because it did not act, the Board now finds itself in a position where it has to speak to both Lara and Walsh about the repercussions of what was said by one and what was done by the other.

The West Indies team cannot go to Pakistan with the captain and the vice-captain not enjoying a good relationship. That would be disastrous.

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