SPORTS
Newsday reporter
WEST INDIES cricket has sunk beyond recognition. I am still struggling to come to terms with our performance, or should I say non-performance, in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
They now have a two-test series against Australia. And although the Test side have fared well under the captaincy of Kraigg Brathwaite, winning series against Bangladesh and England over the past year, this time their opponents are a side that is hurting badly from going from T20 champions in 2021 to not qualifying for the semi-finals in 2022! And playing at home, to boot.
They will come in full force on their home turf of Perth (November 30-December 4) and Adelaide (December 8-12). Perth, although a new ground, is still the fastest in the country and will be generous to their fast bowlers.
The West Indies pacers may also get some help but I fear our batsmen may not be equipped for that battle. The second Test in Adelaide is a day/night game played with a pink ball, which has helped the quicks in the last two years.
I hope for the best but fear the worst.
As for the T20 World Cup, I see TT Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath is vindicating the West Indies captain.
He said: “As we speak now, Nicholas Pooran is the captain for the WI white ball teams and I think it would have been a huge disrespect not to give him the captaincy (of the TT Red Force) if he agreed to take part in this. Super50 tournament.”
He went on to say that the precedent was set when Dwayne Bravo captained the WI white-ball teams and was handed down to Kieron Pollard when the latter became the WI captain.
What I gather from this is, no matter how badly pooran leads WI, even losing to lesser teams like Scotland and Ireland, he should still captain the Red Force after captaining WI- of. Should the TT selectors always defer to the choice of the WI captain, regardless of whether they accept that he is the best man to lead the territorial team?
Also, “if he would agree to participate in this Super50 tour”.
So players now decide which tournaments to enter? No wonder WI cricket is collapsing.
Bassarath continues: “I think he’s got the players rallying around him and I think he had a bad outing this time in Australia and as a young man he’s going to need some sort of coaching and advice and we shouldn’t nail him. the cross because he made some mistakes. I think we have to rally around him, and he has the full support of the TTCB, and we will rally around him as long as he remains captain of the white-ball teams.”
No one is crucifying Poora.
A captain is either good or he is not. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s not about whether he’s a good guy or not. It is whether he has leadership qualities.
It is not an easy task to manage an international team. The person chosen for this difficult job must have a strong character, a deep knowledge of the game and a real sense of responsibility.
He should be confident without being arrogant. A good captain should be a fighter, determined but not stubborn. A professional at all times, directing his players with determination.
I don’t know Pooran and I won’t pass judgment on him.
What I do know is a bit of cricket from years of playing and watching experience. One thing I am sure of, and that is that there is no stopping learning about this wonderful game.
There are some facts that are essential for a captain. He must always be prepared to win, because that is the main reason for participation.
Many times I hear the phrase, “We’re going to be competitive.” This is nonsense. The team is going out to win. It’s that simple.
The captain must raise the enthusiasm of his team and keep encouraging them by letting them know how good they are and that they are playing to win. This is how passion and self-confidence are built.
Pooran’s fault when he took over was talking about building a family and getting together, which was just baby talk – unprofessional and clueless.
