Letters To The Editor...

Sat, Sep 21, '02

As we continue to clear out our e-mail inboxes, we found some interesting feedback on a series of columns published by CaribbeanCricket.com this week. The "TalkBack" this week includes responses to Dr Christine Cummings' critique of West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt and Steve Churaman's criticisms of Hooper's last-over tactics in the ICC Trophy.

Here's a sample of the letters we received this week:

I read Dr Christine Cummings' excellent piece on the way the current Manager of the West Indian Cricket Team handled, or rather mishandled, the approach to the Press in respect of Brian Lara?s illness. I was interested in what she said because for the longest while I have believed that the officials of the West Indies Cricket Board are out of control ? she says, on this occasion, out of order. One must ask oneself why is this so?

It can only mean that Ricky Skerritt did not consult his colleagues, especially Brian Lara, before deciding to release information about the latter?s condition. I am certain that if he had asked for a second opinion, he would have been more circumspect in telling the world what diseases Lara is alleged to have contracted. But that is the point. He clearly saw no need to consult anyone. This incident reminds me of another that Skerritt was involved in during the tour of either Pakistan or South Africa to the West Indies. On that occasion, he felt that he had the authority and power to tell the Jamaican Cricket Board whom they should select for the national game. Of course, the Jamaican Cricket Board gave him a pasting. I also know that he was known to insert himself into the selection process overseas and throw his weight around. I hope that this is not so any longer.

But this is only one of several incidents which indicate that the WICB is at war with itself. How do you explain the manner in which Cameron Cuffy was dropped for the ICC Tournament in Sri Lanka? The mess at the Cricket Academy? The lack of preparation for the just concluded Red Stripe Bowl? The mixed signals over the firing of Shillingford? There are other incidents which I don't care to enumerate on this occasion. There is something seriously wrong with the Board and we had better fix it before we even begin to think about dominating the world again.

Ronald Austin
Ambassador, Guyana



Sir,

Everyone is taking Ricky Skerritt apart for his denials and quite rightly so. However, don't we deserve it? The truth is he should never be in the job in the first place

Tony McDonald,
Jamaica



Hello Dr Cummings,

As I can see, you really do not like Mr. Skerritt, just because he is from the Leeward Islands. Why can't you allow small island people to hold positions? That is the only reason you wrote that article. You have just completely destroyed your name in the Leeward & Windward Islands and also Barbados and Trinidad for writing such an embarrassing article for which you are stirring up confusion in West Indies cricket.

Instead of shutting your mouth up, you are just trying to create confusion. Do you know how much Mr. Skerritt has done for West Indies cricket? Nobody has written an article on that. He has turned West Indies Cricket around and has become one of the most popular West Indies cricket managers in history among the players, West Indies Cricket Board and his country men from the Leeward & Windward Islands certainly not you all from Jamaica who hate him so much.

You said you and your five lame friends agreed that Mr. Skerritt was wrong but if he did not report on what happened, you all would of been saying that he is hiding reports on Brian Lara and not informing the public about what's going on.

Did you not realise the commentators were discussing what they thought was the problem with Lara before the report was made? Anyway, I would not even go into detail but I think people like you who think they know a lot about West Indies cricket should really keep quiet as you know nothing about the game, except for writing negative articles. I guess you are probably just popular in Jamaica but certainly not in the Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana.

I probably will not get a response from you as you might not want to respond to my letter because you are embarrassed but, as I said earlier, it's better if your type of people shut up and don't say anything at all. Now we know Dr. Christine Cummings is another Negative writer in the Caribbean who is probably looking attention or some position on the West Indies Cricket Board.

Richard Berridge,
St. Kitts




Dear Sir,

I wish to address the article you published by Everton Gordon on the merits of Carl Hooper as West Indies captain. First of all, let me say that Mr. Gordon is totally out of order. He attacks the West Indies captain without giving any tangible evidence. This is high offensive and unprofessional.

He has boldly stated that Carl Hooper has hardly shown any leadership qualities. The facts show that this is absolutely absurd. Hooper earned the position of captain because of his vast success with the Guyana senior team. He was made captain of the Guyana team laden with mere under-19 cricketers like Mahendra Nagamootoo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Vishal Nagamootoo, Reon King, Andre Percival, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and more recently Travis Dowlin, Azeemul Haniff, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Narsingh Deonarine, and has made Guyana the virtual powers of West Indian cricket.

Most of these players have gone on to represent the West Indies at the highest level or at youth level. This man clearly has the ability to build a team and lead by example, as he has done for Guyana and the West Indies.

In the senior team, we have seen the emergence of Chris Gayle not only as a batsman but also as a useful bowler. His fellow Jamaican counterpart, Wavell Hinds was also discovered by Hooper to be a decent partnership breaker.

It is clear that the West Indies cricket team has become more competitive of recent and I will be the first to say that we will topple India at home, a feat unheard of in years.

Jeumayne Dummett,
University of Guyana student



Mr Editor,

After reading Steve Churaman's article on the catastrophic first game in the ICC trophy, I have to agree with everything Mr Churaman says.

The picture in fast bowling terms is bleak, but I think we can overcome this with the right mentality. This will help us to stop losing the tight finishes (outside the Caribbean at any rate) - e.g. Australia in 1996 World Cup semis and South Africa just now.

What really annoys me are the cavalier defeats - eg World Cup final 1983, World Cup 1997, crucial 2nd Test at Lord's in 2000 when we had 2-0 in the bag with three to play. Funnily enough, there is so much goodwill towards West Indies cricket these days that other countries would probably pay for us to have better mental coaching etc, if only the board would agree.

Hugh Jones,
Jamaica



Mr Editor,

I could not agree with Mr Churaman more. Where precisely was Hooper during that final over? At mid-off, as was Frank Worrell during the final over at Lords in 1963, or biting his nails at first slip?

Ronald Austin,
Guyana



Hello Mr Churaman,

You are right on the money we should not have lost that game (South Africa/West Indies), As a West Indian cricket fanatic, I too was hurt. A captain must take the blame when his team loses and be given the credit when his team wins.

Too often, Hooper has gotten a team on the run and let them off. He must keep the pressure on at all times. Why was Drakes not allowed to bowl out baffles me. The West Indies would have bowled out SA. There is a tendency for us to believe that we can never bowl out the opposition. Wrong! Dillon should not have been given the final over. Gayle should! Inspite of his 3 overs
for 21 runs earlier.

Your point about Sir Viv is dead wrong. When Sir Viv was dismissed by a spectacular catch in that World Cup, there were still seven more batsmen to come. The total required was a mere 180 odd runs. Viv's contribution was useful. What of the others players, were they not picked because they can bat? Lloyd and company should be held accountable as well.

Two recent losses to two good teams in close finishes really keeps the monkey on our backs.

Leon Francis,
Florida Caribbean Sport Line



Sir,

I cannot help but reply to the letter in last week's "TalkBack" column written by Brimstone (100% Bajan).

He has spoken like a true Bajan. Always believing they can take on the world. Too bad he had to wait until they won the Red Stripe Bowl after so many attempts. No one is knocking Pedro Collins but if they did, he deserved it. Collins, talented as he is, was in the West Indies team prior to the recent Indian series merely because of his "lefthandedness". Let's face it, how else could you justify his selection when, after 13 Test matches, he boasts a healthy bowling average of 39.97?

Brimstone also seems to have a serious problem with Carl Hooper, whom he calls an under-achieving captain of an overrated Guyana team. I have a few questions for Brimstone. Before this year's Red Stripe Bowl semi-final, when was the last time Barbados defeated Guyana in a limited-over game? when was the last time Barbados got the better of Guyana in the four-day game with Hooper as captain?

Brimstone is quite sure of himself after one victory, so sure that he wants to bypass Guyana - who he hasn't beaten in over a decade, and take on the Rest of the West Indies. The audacity of the man. Maybe there once was a time when his team might have succeeded if such an encounter took place but not now. No more are they the likes of Marshall, Garner, Clarke, Haynes and Greenidge who could have indeed challenged a Rest of the West Indies line-up.

I have no doubt that there are some talented Bajan players. I'm a big fan of Vasbert Drakes ever since I saw him bowl against Guyana during the early 1990s when he had genuine pace. I'm also impressed with young Wilkinson and still believe Courtney Browne is the most talented wicket-keeper in the region. Browne however, seems to lack the "big game" temperament. Jacobs on the other hand, is unfazed by the bright lights, and is definitely the most reliable.

In closing, I take offence at Brimstone accusing the goodly Christian gentleman of bringing the game into disrepute. It must be noted that after the stumping which caused the penalty, Jacobs did not even appeal to the umpire, since he knew the batsman was not out. Clearly an umpiring error, but he was not penalised.

Donovan Matthews,
Guyana