A long awaited return to the glory days

Feb 03, 2019 Editorial 0

After a lengthy drought, the West Indies cricket team has come out a resounding winner a Test match. Again, making it two in succession, and this time in Antigua. It is well-deserved victory that must mean something special and memorable for young pace man Alzarri Joseph, who played with the death of his mother weighing heavily on his heart.
A test series has just been decided in the West Indies cricketers for the first time, after a long lean season of defeats, some very humiliating in the quick easy demolitions and submissions.
Coming out triumphant is now a done deal, and with the prospect of a rare whitewash to emphasize the capabilities and promise of this youthful group. The teams have been losers for too long. This is one to savour and against a quality team, not some of the second tier new arrivals, or minnows as they are disdainfully termed.
For the first time in long dreary decades, this current crop of players gives hope, brings joy, and imbues with that familiar pride. It is a good feeling. Now that this team has won the series, it should be able to do several things with dignity.
The players could justifiably hold their heads high. They tried and laboured and contested with heart and spirit; they have manifested class. And that is what this starving, cricket-loving region has longed for, and for many an eternity it seems. To dig in and fight and not crumble in the norm of the undignified and unsatisfactory that became so routine.
As much as losing is never an acceptable option, this was and is what fans look for as seen in Barbados first, and currently at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: that energy and willingness to go eyeball to eyeball in unrestrained combat, through sheer focus and unflagging determination.
As the battle goes on, here is something to think about when examined critically and honestly, it could be argued that pound for pound, and almost player for player, the visiting English team is the more talented and the more seasoned. After all, they just whipped the top ranked Indian test team by a wide margin.
It is against this backdrop, and a very confident English group, this young West Indies side searched for, discovered (rediscovered, perhaps), and exhibited a glittering reminder of the grandeur of Test cricket, and the sweet glorious game that the world expects from, and did fear of, the immortal Caribbean teams of old.
Admittedly, it is an illustrious and difficult pantheon to follow. But now the dedication and discipline have been demonstrated, respect has been earned; the wariness of foes on the fields of fire are sure to follow. The key element has to be consistency; it comes from study, training, and application.
Without a doubt, this is the blood and guts; the sinews and nerves of Test cricket; it has been missing in action for a long time in West Indies teams, and presumed dead by many of the tired and disenchanted.
What has unfolded on this tour thus far has been heartening to watch, to read and to embrace.
This goes, also, for those who had given up watching for years. Here is a salute to the heroes of that now memorable first test in Bridgetown. Here is to more of the same and a progression towards that much yearned for return to the upper ranks and hopefully ruling the roost, just like the glory teams of yesteryear.
The world needs a vibrant, dominant West Indies cricket presence.