West Indies to Cricket is the same as Brazil to Soccer. While Brazilians play to the tune of Samba West Indians play Calypso cricket. Can you imagine it is Cricket which keeps several independent countries together? So many great West Indians graced cricket and glorified it over the years.
Since Sir Frank Worrell’s black diamonds got heroic welcome in Kangaroo Land all Caribbean teams enjoyed special attention in Australia. Even the bilateral trophy has been named after the great Caribbean ambassador of cricket. Until recently there was serious doubt about the quality of contest of the ensuing series. Luckily for all industrial disputes leading to boycott of all the first team choice players have ended at the right time. Chris Gayle is back at the top. Others have also returned. WISCB has just announced a reasonably strong 15 man squad a happy blend of young and experienced players who should provide better contest of injury bogged Australian team.
Let us start with a look at the team.
Squad:
Chris Gayle (capt), Adrian Barath, Suleiman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor, Gavin Tonge.
West Indies suffered serious humiliation at the hands of Bangladesh getting white washed in test and ODI series following boycott of all senior players over payment disputes with WISCB. Despite of sincere efforts of many quarters the dispute remained unresolved till ICC Champions trophy where the deplete side showed lots of guts and trade mark Caribbean spirit. With a little bit of luck they could cause major upset. Some young players showed lot of promise. Then in IPL Champions League in India Trinidad & Tobago sparked brilliantly. They lost in the final to strong NSW but only just. Now the all important tour to Australia which at one stage appeared to become a one sided affair looks much more promising.
On Australian surface it is always a challenge for any touring team. Aussie crowd have fond memories of three Ws- Walcott, Worrll, Weeks, Kanhai, Ramadhin, Valentine, Sobers, Hall Grifith, Lara, Richards, Greenidge , Lloyd, Roberts, Garner, Holding , Croft , Marshal Ambrose and Walsh. Some of the new generation players can off course regenerate fresh interest. Players to follow would definitely be Adrain Barath, Travis Dowlin, Bredan Nash, Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonga. Some exiciting players like Keiron Pollard, Lendl Simmons unfortunately could not make the side. Yet the team appears to us a very strong side and if they to their potential they may not very easy to roll over by Australia.
WISCB has however not selected any third opener in the side and relied heavily on Chris Gayle and Young enterprising opener Adrain Barath to counter Australian pace on lively Australian wicket. We all know how destructive Gayle can be. When in mood he can pulverise best of the attack to pulp. Adrian Barath is not only technically sound but has all the strokes in his repertoire whom great Lara considers another great West Indian batman in the making. This tour will test his skills and temperament against Lee, Johnson, Siddle and likes. Batting around Gayle, Sarwan, and Chanderpaul he will learn a lot. Gayle, Sarwarn and Chandra Paul have not played much of competitive cricket recently but given their quality it may not take them long to adjust to situations. These three along with brilliant all rounder Dwayne Bravo have to bear the burnt of West Indies batting. For Australian born Brendan Nash it will be a happy home coming. Travis Dowlin is also very talented player who may mature with the tour. Darren Sammy is also a good striker of the ball.
There are two uncapped players in the side Barath and Tonge .Barath showed his class and quality scoring a century against touring England early this year. He should have been played against Bangladesh when West Indies was desperately short of quality batsmen. He again excelled in IPL T20 Champions league for T&T.
Tonge, a 26 years Old Fast bowler along with Jeremy Taylor and M Keamar Roach will combine to a potent pace battery ably supported by Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul and Darren Sammy. Raoch and Tonge surprised Australian batting with pace and movement in lively South African wicket during ICC Champions trophy. Australian wicket will be much to their liking. Suleiman Benn will share spin attack with his captain Gayle. Brendan Nash played for Queensland before qualifying to play for West Indies. Fast bowler Fidel Edwards missed the trip through injury.
Playing against any Australian team in Australian condition is always a strong Challenge. It will not be an easy task for West Indies to Vini Vici Vidi. Senior players Gayle, Sarwan, Chardrapaul and Bravo must lead the way. But we are sure Carribeans have the fire in them to salvage its cricket pride. A tired and burnt out Australians may find resurging Carribeans a hard nut to crack.
November 6, 2009, 5:06 am
