West Indies domestic: A greater loss than just a trophy

The Windward Islands Cricket team shocked the West Indian cricket world this past Sunday when they stunned the Leeward Islands by 5 wickets in the Red Stripe Bowl final at Sabina Park. Or was it such a huge shock? Ridley Jacobs won the toss and elected to bat on a typically inviting batting track that looked full of runs. However, the Leewards made batting look like hard work. With a solid looking partnership of 61 between Stuart Williams (28) and Wilden Cornwall (53), the Leewards looked well set to post a big total. However, disaster struck when Williams was stumped, chipping down the wicket to a well-flighted delivery from the stalwart Roy Marshall. Ten Leewards wickets then fell for some 102 runs and Cornwall looked out of his depth as he struggled to the half century mark. The `ever-reliable' middle order of the Leewards once again produced superbly as Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Keith Arthurton and Dave Joseph scored all but 8 runs between them. Only Ridley Jacobs (28) and Anthony Lake (21 not out) helped out down the order as the Leewards crashed to a dismal 163 for 8 from 50 overs, a score that would be overtaken all too easily by the Windwards improved batting side. Cameron Cuffy bowled an Ambrose-like spell with 7 overs for a meagre ten runs and skipper Rawl Lewis helped his tally of wickets to 8 with 3 for 31.

In similar style to their semi-final match against Jamaica, the Windwards opened up with the youngster Romel Currency and Devon Smith, who have a combined age of just 36 years. They managed to put together another solid partnership of 32 before Smith fell to the offspin of Anthony Lake. After loosing Dawnley Joseph (5) for another low score the Windwards then just cruised to victory with some 7 overs to spare. Currency put together one of his lower scores of the tournament with 26 and still managed to look like the 18 year old, exciting prospect that so many fans are talking about. Junior Murray helped with a solid 30 and Roy Marshall (35 not out) and captain Rawl Lewis (23 not out) squeezed the icing on the cake as the Winwards made the Leewards, for the second time in this Red Stripe Bowl, look tired and old and in need of new blood. Anthony Lake was the only successful bowler for the Leewards with 3 for 23 from a respectable 10 overs.

It was a rude awakening for the Leewards as it is clearly obvious that it is not the fact that they lost, but the manner in which the execution was completed. The Leewards will always be a strong side with so many former test cricketers but they are starting to look very tired and it is most definitely, without a doubt, time for a new breed of Leeward Islands cricketers. Certain players will never be considered again for selection by the West Indies yet we continue to play them and they continue not to deliver. Where is the foresight? Where is the logic and level of common sense that should exist within each and every individual's mind? Stuart Williams, Sylvester Joseph, Keith Arthurton, Dave Joseph and Runako Morton scored 454 runs in the tournament at an overall average of 18.92 runs per individual innings. Are these first-class averages for 5 batsmen, four of whom have played at the highest level and one who has played for the West Indies `A' Team? These statistics are not first class by any means. If anything, they are appalling.

Players must start to compete for their places at the first class level in the Caribbean. The fact that a player has played at the highest level does not entitle him to become a fixture in his regional side. Such thinking is a recipe for disaster and the fact that the Leeward Island's selectors operate like that is an embarrassment. Two very capable batsmen in Junie Mitchum and Colin Cannonier were forced to take a back seat while their counterparts lost the Red Stripe Bowl and the respect of many cricket fans throughout the region. Cannonier batted at eight in the three matches he played in; a position that is not filled by any other specialist batsmen in the world unless they can bowl. He batted below all-rounders who have been in poorer form than him. Mitchum, who has been in smashing form in the Leeward Islands tournament didn't even get a look in while the fragile Leewards batting folded and folded time after time.

It has taken the Windward Islands, playing four 18 year olds in this year's Red Stripe Bowl to establish what cricket fans have been arguing about over the past couple of seasons. Yes, the Leewards made it to the finals, but they played the worst cricket I have ever seen them play in my few years of following and playing cricket. What hurts more, is that we have nothing to show for the tournament at all. Even if the Windwards had lost the tournament they would have exposed their youth to first-class competition and given the selectors of the senior side and `A' team something to think about. The Leewards on the other hand have neither won, nor exposed their youth to the selectors. The only thing the West Indies selectors have to think about is what other territories they will find their test cricketers from. The Leewards lost more than any other side in the competition and that is the sad truth that looms over the heads of those of us who love the game.