Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 23, 2009 Letters
Dear Editor,
I have listened keenly to staunch West Indian supporters talk about our loss to England on Friday. I desperately tried to call in to the Digicel programme on NCN, (featuring Neil Barry, Clive Lloyd, Mark Harper, Colin Croft and Lance Gibbs – I stand to be corrected if I missed anyone) on the same evening to no avail. My efforts really were just to present or offer a separate opinion from what I was hearing all round. I heard the constant cries for John Dyson to resign or be fired.
I present two points to consider. Did anyone stop to think that our umpires may have been overwhelmed by the situation and may have added yet another contribution to a tour of bad umpiring decisions?
1. We lost time for rain, and while we attempted to make up by shortening the interval between innings it was very obvious that we were threading heavily on treacherous territory in terms of time/light. Even after the first batting side’s innings was bowled in full I am sure the rules allowed for adjustments before the second side batted, to ensure that the ball of equality completes it turn. No initiative was shown here.
2. In the later stages it was obvious that England, in their true unsportsmanlike like colours, second only to the Australians whom I consider the Americans of cricket, were playing for the light. They were engaging in delay tactics e.g. changing the field around literally after every ball; holding the ball in the outfield when fielded; constant midfield meetings between captain and bowler.
The crowd recognise these tactics and started to “boo” at some point – were the umpires oblivious to reality or were they suffering from some sort of complex given the influence of England over the ICC. Why weren’t the Englishmen warned, cautioned or fined a percentage of their match fees?
3. Given the situation outlined above I was mentioning to the guys in my company at the stadium how unsafe it was for the batsmen facing immense pace in such darkness from bowlers whom all of a sudden were fired up – a far cry from their apparent tire earlier. This was a striking similarity during CWC World Cup final in Barbados last year where the same tactics were employed against the Sri Lankans by you know who?
John Dyson would have played a critical role in West Indies recent rebirth, along with Chris Gayle. He appears to have gained the respect and trust of the players. It would be a disaster to West Indies cricket to lose him now. Remember we have gone through approximately seven coaches in a little more than a decade, and it was not easy for his predecessors to gain similar respect – and I sympathise with them, as it was really no fault of theirs. I am sure Roger Harper would agree.
I present that we need a very strong off field presence in the form of a functioning WICB with a unit able to advise and follow these matters, protesting with the ICC and the umpiring body when necessary.
The WICB appears to be challenged in so many areas and divided on so many other platforms that we are being perceived as easy to take advantage of.
In the developed countries fan support is a moving factor in many executive decision-making instances, as the fans are considered major stakeholders to work with ensuring the success of the club/team.
However in the West Indies the WICB appears oblivious to the statements being made around the Caribbean where WI cricket is unable to fill a ground. When are we, the fans – the main support of WI cricket, going to get our day to be heard?
Fibyan Denny
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