Antigua: Jewel in the Crown
Mon, Nov 11, '02
If you look at a map of the world you won't even see it, it's that small. Even if you were to only look at cricketing countries, chances are you wouldn't notice it. As one of the smallest countries in the Test cricket fraternity and with a population of around 65,000, Antigua could easily go unnoticed but for one simple fact -- it has produced more great cricketers per capita than any other nation on the planet.
Not to take anything away from the other countries in the West
Indies - I consider myself as a West Indian first and foremost and
Lord knows every region in the Caribbean can hold up a favoured son
worthy of note - but allow me to pay tribute to the statistical
anomaly that is Antigua's cricket heroes.
First, there was Andy Roberts, the first Antiguan to play
Test cricket for the West Indies, and the first great Antiguan
cricketer. His Test career spanned a decade that saw the emergence
of the West Indies as the dominant force in World cricket, due in
no small part to the lethal fast bowling attack headed by Roberts
and Michael Holding. He had a reputation not only for speed but
also for guile - one of the 'thinking' bowlers that could work out
a batsman and then take his wicket away. At the end of his career,
Andy Roberts had 202 Test wickets at an average of 25.61.
Next came the man they call the 'Master Blaster'. Isaac Vivian
Alexander Richards stands so tall in the world of cricket that
many consider him the greatest batsman of the modern era. When Vivi
was in the mood, there was no bowler in the world who was safe from
his punishing shots. To Vivi they were all just county trundlers -
an English Test bowler once recalled an over
where he had Richards beaten in the air as he came down the pitch
to him; Richards simply changed his shot and parked the ball over
the ropes. He was that good. Whereas some batsmen like Geoff
Boycott are all about technique and style, Vivi was all about flair
and raw talent.
Just as one great Antiguan batsman's career was drawing to a close,
another's was just beginning. After a glorious Shell Shield season,
Richie Richardson was brought into the Test side to replace
a failing Gus Logie. Despite a controversial duck on debut
Richardson notched up a century in his fifth innings followed by
another in his sixth and soon found himself a regular member of the
team. When he was appointed Viv's successor for the inaugural Test
against South Africa in Barbados, it was on the back of a fine
century in a losing cause against England. Sadly, Richardson was
plagued both by overwork and by an undercurrent of dissent by some
of the players in the side. After losing in a World Cup semi final
against Australia, Richardson called it a day.
Curtly Ambrose stands head and shoulders above the vast
majority of Test bowlers, in more ways than one. The tall man from
Swetes terrified opposing batsmen with his "throat ball" but some
of his greatest performances were when he slowed down in his
mid-thirties and gained a reputation for miserly
bowling. Along with his great partner Courtney Walsh, he was the
last of the great West Indian pace bowlers that we have seen to
date.
I discussed Ridley Jacobs in my
last article, and so I will not dwell on him here. However,
there can be no question that Ridley's contribution to the West
Indies side over the course of the past four years has earned him
the right to be considered amongst the other great Antiguans who
have played this greatest of sports.
One of the great things about small-island heroes is that they can
be so accessible. Stop in for lunch at a place like Spinnakers and
you may end up chatting with 'Sir Viv'. Ridley can be seen around
Swetes when he is not on tour, and 'Amby' has been known to
frequent the odd night club. Hard to imagine meeting up with Steve
Waugh or Jonty Rhodes and thinking nothing of it.
Little Antigua has produced five world class cricketers that could
be counted among the best to have played the game. Antiguans
everywhere have a lot to be proud of in these fine men.
Looking to the future, it is possible to get a glimpse of where the
next great Antiguan Test cricketer might come from. He has plied
his trade on the dead tracks of the Caribbean for three domestic
seasons now and accumulated 86 wickets in that time. Dismissed by
some short sighted individuals as not fast enough, last season
Kerry Jeremy snared 39 first class wickets at an average of
17.63 - the best by any fast bowler in the region.
It is no secret that current West Indies captain Carl Hooper has
little use for Jeremy. In his first ODI Hooper refused to even give
the young man the ball! An odd thing considering the fact that
Hooper has watched Jeremy run through Guyana's batting in the
domestic limited overs competition. However, it seems that at 22
years of age, Kerry Jeremy must either wait Hooper out or else hope
for divine intervention.
Until then, Jeremy remains on the outside looking in, while we
recycle Hooper-approved mediocrities like Corey Colleymore and
Pedro Collins.
In any case, it is clear that tiny Antigua's talent cupboard is not
bare. From Roberts to Ridley, and hopefully beyond, this is one
small island with some very big cricketers.
