This is the beginning of the end. Cricket as we know it in the West Indies is about to end. Having just read Tony Cozier's article on Cricinfo.com, I am afraid that we are all sitting at West Indies' cricket's deathbed, and soon will be singing a dirge as the smoke from the funeral pyre rises. In his article, Mr. Cozier gives some good reasons as to why West Indies cricket should carry on in its present form. I would not rehash what he has so eloquently stated, but I would like to add another dimension to the argument.
It seems obvious to me that the West Indies appears to not be able to do anything unless "Massa" gives it his blessing. Words like unity, togetherness and singularity seem to go through the window unless some perceived superior ideal O.Ks it. Take a look at the recent history of the West Indies and it becomes painfully clear. The West Indies Federation was disbanded after Jamaica and Trinidad withdrew in 1962 with the now infamous Eric Williams decree that "one from ten leaves nought". CARIFTA and CARIFESTA are but shells of the ideals they were supposed to represent. More recently, CSME has pretty much stalled and the CCJ is a joke. Imagine that the country where the CCJ is headquartered is not even a signatory!
It is the "Massa" complex all over again. The leaders of the individual states seem not to trust themselves to run their own affairs. This discord has seeped into the cricket. Where the example of unity that cricket has shown for the past 100 years should be reflected in the politics and economics, the disruptions and contention of the latter has absolutely infected the former. Look at the period of strength for West Indies Cricket. The zenith of West Indies Cricket superiority came in the period of independence of most Caribbean countries (approx. 1962 to 1982). This independence and post-independence period produced a cricketer whose pride was second to none and the ability to upstage the former colonial masters was relished. Since we have started to run the cricket on our own, really run it on our own, however, the real problems started to manifest themselves. When we were at our zenith, we lay down and let the ICC establish the "two bouncers an over" rule, basically negating our world beating bowling attack. Where everybody else banned their players for 2 years for playing in the then Apartheid South Africa, we had to show "Massa" that we could be "badder" than them, so we banned our players for life, effectively destroying an entire generation of cricketer and hurting the continuity that is so vital to any dynasty in sports.
We further let "Massa" come in and disrupt our cricket with the farce that was Stanford Twenty20. Some people compare what was done by Stanford to what was done by Kerry Packer, but there is one very distinct difference. Packer proved that cricketers could be professionals, and should compensated as professionals. Stanford proved that greed is universal, and that for enough money, the souls of men, both in the Caribbean and the Mother Country, could be bought or sold.
All of this brings us to now. This whole talk of the individual West Indies territories going their separate falls squarely in the laps of "Massa"again. Why would the ICC think of cutting off the teams in the top tier at 7? Why an odd number like 7? Why not round it up at 6 or down at 8? But 7? You see (for those who it may not be apparent), New Zealand falls at number 7. This is why the hope for WI cricket to dissolve is so important now. What happens in the near future if West Indies leaps ahead of New Zealand in the rankings? Do you really, REALLY think that the ICC would cut off at 7? Really? REALLY? Think about it a bit.
This is why the article by Scyld Berry is so telling. Two little rumblings in the West Indies camp and already the sharks are circling, because they smell the blood in the water. It is in the interest of all involved to get WI out of the way. West Indies (no matter how bad they are now) represents a golden age in cricket that even the mighty Australians cannot quite measure up to. West Indies cricket is a brand that sells. The strength of the Barmy Army and Aussie and Indian spectators who come to see the matches down here says something for that. Calypso cricket for all its current faults is still something to behold. And this is why the West Indies is such a spanner in the machinery of all in Test Championship heralds. However, if the West Indies should somehow dissolve, problem solved. The top 7 get to go be in the top tier, and the rest like West Indies individual teams could battle it out in a some second or third tier, like dogs eating the crumbs from "Massa's" table. They would have no real chance to displace any one of the 7 teams in that top tier, and cricket as we know it in the Caribbean would be at an end.
Unfortunately, those who are in charge of cricket in the region are oblivious to this. There have been rumblings from out of Jamaica and Trinidad that they should both probably go their separate ways from the WICB. To do this would be a huge mistake, and would serve to further fracture the fragile unity that is West Indies. But with a board whose most redeeming quality is ineptitude, and a players association whose members are looking out for number one (whether that be themselves or the number 1 of WIPA, I am not too sure), I fear that we are soon to be hearing the Requiem Mass for our beloved cricket in the Caribbean. You see, as so brilliantly stated by one of my learned friends (well said Sean G!) corruption has no vision. There is no acknowledgment of the past legacy, and no interest of creating a foundation or platform for a future legacy to be built from. It is about the here and now. And as we can see so clearly happening, the individualistic mentality has taken root. They are beginning to believe "Massa's" spiel, and we are here at 1961-1962 all over again. The egos of those in charge cannot see that a united West Indies is stronger than any individual state. The weakest fist is stronger than its strongest finger.
So, my friends and I will be drinking a Sprite for the West Indies cricket that was. The great old days of campaigns past, and shedding a tear. For unless there is some turnaround now, this is the end. "Massa" win, we all lose as a region.
Alea Jacta Est.
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