A Personal View from Canada

There is mounting anger in Canada as word of the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) support of the dismissal of Canada's coach, Queenslander Jeff Thomas, spreads among the cricketing community here. It comes amidst a widespread outpouring of support for Thomas from the Canadian team members themselves, former players, the premier Clubs and teams, and supporters from all sections of the cricketing community, the press as well as virtually every post to news groups on the Internet.

Whilst these voices are individually weak, they collectively represent a virtual who's-who of the Canadian cricket scene.

Whilst cricket is a small aspect of Canada's recreational scene, it nonetheless is one that is growing in size, unlike many jurisdictions such as the West Indies. The lone supporter of the sacking of Thomas, and the protagonist in this issue, is of course the Canadian Cricket Association. The CCA has been under siege in Canada this last few weeks and it's officers, and in particular it's President Geoff Edwards, subjected to a considerable amount of "criticism".

What is the recent history of the CCA? Why are these people in charge? Canada is a huge country and whilst votes for the CCA President are cast by all Provinces, a critical 5 of those 14 votes emanate from Ontario.

So, whomever controls Ontario has a considerable say in who runs the National Association. The current Head of the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) is a gentleman by the name of Mr. Austin Ward, originally from Barbados. He would have led the powerful Ontario delegation that participated in the last CCA Presidential elections, from which Edwards emerged triumphant. Following the CCA AGM when Edwards was elected in 2001, Austin Ward was named to the full time position of CCA administrator, a position funded by the ICC. The ubiquitous Ward also holds key positions as treasurer of the Toronto and District Cricket Association, as well as in the OCA.

It's worth noting that two other highly qualified individuals applied for the position of Administrator that was awarded to Ward, but either received even as much as an acknowledgement of their applications. Such is the level of decorum that exists. Nepotism is alive and well in the Canadian scene. It is of interest that a recent appointee to the CCA Board as treasurer (a professionally qualified individual) has refused to accept this position after seeing for himself the lack of audited financial statements, tax returns etc.

Coach Thomas' record is second to none. Even the CCA has not dared "go there". He is arguably the best coach that Canada has ever had, and that argument incidentally is shared by the team. His success is on record, and that includes a generous helping against West Indian teams as part of his run up to the World Cup. To remove him now is reprehensible and incomprehensible.

The bizarre fact is that he has been removed by people completely and utterly unqualified to do so. The average administrator in the CCA has had little or no experience in the game, and none of them has even come close to playing it at an International level.

Thomas' career has been effectively wrecked by these people to make way for Gus Logie. What possible benefit can Logie offer the Canadian team four weeks prior to the World Cup? He will be lucky if he can begin to repair some of the damage caused. The extent of his acceptance by the team remains to be seen, but these guys have a professional attitude and are likely to approach the issue in that light. But the fans will see him differently.

Logie will have to deal with some hostility, that's for sure. People wonder why Logie and his backers couldn't agree him coming to assist Thomas rather than to replace him.

The real reasons for Thomas' sacking are yet to be discovered. But they will be, and the details of this sordid affair revealed. Whilst there is a generally held belief that the WICB are blooding Logie to take over from Roger Harper, opinions vary as to the motivations of the CCA . However, none of them is pretty. Clearly Coach Thomas is an innocent pawn in the middle. Edwards should realize that muttering things like "he's not up to the next level" inferring Thomas is suddenly incapable after three successful years at the helm, to escort his Team to the World Cup, just doesn't cut any ice.

The likely damage caused by this interference by the West Indies board in this affair has yet to be seen, but individuals must take a stand somewhere for what they believe in, and I for one have canceled my plans to travel to the Barbados Test this year, and I expect I'll not be the only one to do so. This has been a very sad day for the game in Canada.