On The Cricket Pitch

If it ain’t broke, there’s no need to fix it fellas!

Philip Hackett

Friday, April 8, 2005

At the risk of disrupting the team chemistry so clearly evident in the recently concluded Test, West Indies selectors have included four of the players involved in the contract dispute who missed out on the opening match.

With the contract issue resolved (at least for now), Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo and Brian Lara have been pressed into service for the second Test against South Africa that begins in Trinidad today. (Friday)

Gayle, Sarwan and Bravo were not considered for the first Test because of their contracts with Cable & Wireless. Lara’s contract with Cable & Wirleless had the blessing of the WICB but Lara showed solidarity with the players wrapped up in the controversy.

To make way for the stars the selectors discarded Devon Smith, Darren Ganga, Donovan Pagon and Narsingh Deonarine. Pagon however received a reprieve when he was called up on Wednesday to replace Ryan Hinds who is unavailable because of illness.

The new look West Indies team in the first Test in Guyana played well above expectation to dominate the match and it took the brilliance of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs to deny West Indies victory on a pitch friendly to batsmen.

One of the reasons for the good showing appeared to be the team spirit. This was confirmed by Bennett King who was in his first Test match in his new role as West Indies team coach.

“There is a lot of joviality and camaraderie within the dressing room. I would hope that it showed on the field as well,” King told the media after the match.

“The boys stuck together really quite well. It’s not necessarily anything the coaching team brought in. It’s more to do with people understanding everyone’s idiosyncrasies and their habits. They are certainly doing that, respecting one another.”

King is optimistic this atmosphere will be maintained despite the numerous changes for the second Test.

“As long as everyone is aspiring to achieve their goals, individually and collectively, we can all keep moving forward and the group will remain as a unit,” King said.

“No matter who dons the maroon cap, the culture that we are trying to set up is the same for everybody.”

The inclusion of Gayle, Sarwan, Bravo and Lara not only benefits West Indies in terms of experience but the side now has a more balanced appearance. Bravo’s medium pace will ease the pressure on the three quickies, Pedro Collins, Darren Powell and Reon King. Gayle returns to his role as part time spinner, a job admirably done by Deonarine in Guyana. With Ryan Hinds out of the team through illness Sarwan may be called upon to lend support to Gayle with his seldom used leg breaks. 

Shivnarine Chanderpaul should be a lot more relaxed having been assured of retaining the job of captain for the remainder of the season. Courtney Browne will continue as his deputy.

It will be interesting to see how Lara settles into the team he is no longer leading. He has done this before when Jimmy Adams and later Carl Hooper led the side but that was as a result of his resignation from the captaincy. This is the first occasion in which he has been removed by the WICB.

The excellent performance by the West Indies in the opening Test was more evidence of the unpredictable nature of sport, particularly cricket with its ‘glorious uncertainties’.

The challenge now is for our players to maintain this high standard. The team for the second Test is undoubtedly stronger on paper. In reality though, cricket is played on the field.

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