Pay Attention To Hooper's Outbursts

It may appear to be just another complaint but in describing practice facilities in St. Lucia for Zone 'B' of the current Red Stripe Bowl limited overs championship as "very poor", Carl Hooper has again issued a wake-up call to regional cricket authorities.

The criticism from the Guyana and West Indies captain brings back memories of similar sentiments he echoed three years ago on his sudden retirement from international cricket before returning last year.

"We have been here for two days now and we have not been able to have a net because the facilities are very poor," Hooper was quoted as saying ahead of Guyana?s opening match against Canada on Friday.

"It?s really disappointing and frustrating. Even looking down the road to the ICC Trophy (next month in Sri Lanka), we?ve got a lot of young people coming off a break and they can?t just be hitting form without practising in good conditions.

"Some of our guys have had some games at home but I don't think they used the white ball and I think it is pretty basic that we should be having net practice for the preparation of games when we come to a country."

Without knowing all of the circumstances surrounding the lack of proper practice facilities, both the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the St. Lucia Cricket Association must face the music.

While becoming excited about the new, impressive Beausejour Stadium, the authorities in St. Lucia would quickly come to realise that hosting a tournament like the Red Stripe Bowl calls for much more than a couple playing facilities.

There are five teams in each zone and even if two teams share one ground for practice (morning and afternoon), it would be vital for at least three venues to be identified.

In all fairness to St. Lucia, it was a late venue following much indecision by the WICB. If you recall, Barbados and Guyana were initially earmarked as hosts, then Antigua.

It is understood that there were no visits to St. Lucia by WICB officials prior to the Red Stripe Bowl. And when one considers that this is the first time the island is hosting the tournament, the WICB must be held even more accountable.

Hooper?s strong attack must be addressed in no uncertain terms and also in light of West Indies hosting the 2007 World Cup. Just after his retirement in April 1999 towards the end of the series against Australia, Hooper had a lot to say about the facilities in the Caribbean.

"I think we have to try and upgrade facilities because they have been very poor. They have been poor for this series (against Australia). It was difficult coming back and there were hardly decent practice wickets. That was disappointing.

"These are areas that we need to address so that you can have the youngsters coming through and they are properly prepared when they step onto the field to play international cricket for the West Indies," Hooper told the Barbados Advocate.

"We haven?t got enough good facilities for teams to come and practice. It was embarrassing probably even going to St. Vincent, having the Aussies, sometimes they come and just look at the practice wickets and turn away and go back on the field and just have a bit of run around and stuff like that.

"You speak to some of them quietly and they deplore some of the facilities we?ve got.

"I know we?ve been spending a lot of money on marketing and this and that and different TV ads and all sorts of stuff, you know, but don?t forget that without proper wickets, we wouldn't be able to break through....good young cricketers, good batters and bowlers.

"When you go to Trinidad, the Trinidad deck sort of sometimes seams, one flies over your head and one keeps low. We could spend some more time paying attention to practice facilities, dressing rooms.

"Some places you go there is only one toilet. That?s poor man. It?s time we start putting in saunas for players. After a hard day you can go and lie down and soak. These are important issues to deal with and hopefully the Board will address them in the forthcoming years."

Three years later, the WICB clearly has not addressed several of these issues. Hooper has been around West Indies cricket for roughly two decades, starting with his playing days in the Under-19 tournament. As one who has also been on many overseas tours, he is in an excellent position to speak about facilities.

Far too often, officials in the region from the territorial boards through to the WICB itself, have taken sound comments more as severe criticism and for some strange reason have done little, if anything, to address the issues.

Let?s hope they all pay serious attention to Hooper?s latest outburst.

* SOURCE: Barbados Advocate.