Ian Bishop Talks Bowling

After a chronic back injury interrupted a short but successful Test career, Ian Bishop made the jump to the television commentary booth and has carved his niche as a sharp analyst with an eye for detail and the courage to say exactly what's on his mind.

In just 43 Tests between 1989 and 1998, Bishop was on course for greatness, grabbing 161 wickets at 24.27 so it goes without saying that he knows a thing or two about the art of fast bowling. CaribbeanCricket.com editor Ryan Naraine chatted with the 36-year-old Trinidadian during the second day's play at Kensington Oval about the state of bowling in the West Indies side...

He's enthusiastic and athletic. He's definitely got some pace. I don't think he's as quick as Jermaine Lawson but he can get up to maybe 90 mph which is quick enough. It's unfortunate that, on this surface, you're not going to see what he can do based on this flat pitch. He seems to be one who can be developed. He has some work to do with his bowling action. But, we have to remember that everyone's unique. He doesn't have a classical action but he has a good run-up and he's a really good athlete. His delivery is where he has to put in a lot of work.

He's got a 'mixed' action. He's got to streamline his technique to fix the delivery stride where the arms are all over the shop and just flailing away. Once he gets that straightened out, he's definitely someone who can be developed into a useful bowler at this level. There are enough knowledgeable people here in Barbados and in the West Indies to be able to help him along the way.

Q: Are these lifeless pitches throughout the Caribbean hurting the development of West Indian fast bowlers?

I don't think the pitches are really discouraging young, aspiring fast bowlers. What you need, is when a youngster is identified and shows the ability to bowl fast, there should be some pitches throughout the region that should be conducive to the art form. Otherwise, you'll find that they'll lose interest. I really don't think the pitches can be blamed for not having fast bowlers. The development of a fast bowler comes from desire and a willingness to work hard.

You look at Colin Croft and Reon King, growing up in Guyana. There weren't quick pitches in Guyana but those guys had the desire. Tony Gray came out of Trinidad and Tobago. There weren't quick pitches in those countries so there are some fast bowlers who have succeeded against the odds. As I said before, and I want to stress, fast bowling is an art form that comes from desire. You can't wait on quick pitches to find fast bowlers. But, once you find them, you need to get better wickets to develop them.

Q: What does it say about the level of our regional tournament when a David Bernard Jr can enjoy an above-average all-round season and just didn't seem to be ready for Test cricket?

I don't think our first class season should be a yardstick. On the other side, we've had guys who have not succeeded that much at regional level who did very well in Tests. But, I do agree that our first class cricket needs a lot more work. That has been proven by a number of performances over the years. We see Stuart Williams scoring over 800 runs in back-to-back seasons and struggled in Tests. So, the competition has to be a lot tougher. You can't afford to dilute your cricket too much by having too many teams. I think the cream has to rise to the top from intense competition among the best players.

Q: But, doesn't that rob us of a Carlton Baugh, who couldn't make the Jamaica side but was able to come through the Under-23 team, thanks to expansion?

In Baugh's case, you have to look at the system of selecting teams in that country (Jamaica). It seems that (Keith) Hibbert was the number one wicketkeeper. It's up to the selectors there to spot the right talent. But, the West Indies 'B' team does give players an opportunity to show what they can do. However, I don't think you should expand the tournament just for the sake of expansion. The best players must be the ones competing. I believe that guys have to work very, very hard to force their way into the frontline. That's the only way the best players will come through.

Q: What's the story with Merv Dillon? As a senior bowler, it appears he's just not bending his back...

Every bowler goes through a period where they don't perform as well as expected. It seems this is what's happening with Dillon. Whatever the problem is, he's the one who has to sort it out. I haven't spoken to him to find out what the problem is but certainly it's not the Mervyn Dillon I'm accustomed to seeing. So, clearly there is a drop in form or something that has to be worked on.

Q: Your thoughts on the development of a spinner as a long-term option? It seems we're picking spinners from Test to Test and not actually sticking with one...

For a long time, that has been the cry here in the West Indies. I endorse the call for a spinner to be developed over a period of time. Fast bowling is an emotive art. It's more instantaneous and it does help to put the fear into the opposition. But we no longer have the quality of fast bowling to do that. In the days of Holding, Garner, Marshall and Roberts, we had that quality.

But, the wheels have turned. Now we have to look to finding a spinner for the long haul. It's important to stick with a spinner and allow them to develop over a period of time and not expect them to win a match in the first game that they pay. So, yes, I think that we absolutely have to develop some spinners.

Q: Is there a place for a specialist bowling coach in the West Indies team? How is it fair to expect Gus Logie to do it all with such a young crop of bowlers?

I think it would be prudent of Gus to look to the old timers who are available. I want to believe he has already done it, from what I've seen. With the West Indies board, obviously it's going to be a matter of finances. That's always a major deterrent. I want to believe that he will ask one of the many great fast bowlers that we've had here in the Caribbean from time to time to come in and have a short stint with the bowlers.

I saw Courtney Walsh at the practice session leading into this Test match and I know that Andy Roberts has worked periodically at the fast bowling camps. But, as you know, money is always a problem with the board so there must be a way to make it work. I don't think it necessarily has to be voluntary but maybe Gus can contract the services of one of the great fast bowlers for a short term to work with the youths. It doesn't have to be with the bowlers only. These short-term coaching stints can be set up for the batsmen and wicket-keepers too.

Q: It seems we've identified the core of the future batting line-up but we can't seem to find the bowlers. Thee selectors are still doing a lot of tinkering with the bowling attack. Shouldn't that (the bowling) be the primary focus of the selectors and the coaches?

The bowling is certainly the weaker of the two areas. But it's interesting that just a few years ago, the bowling was never a problem. There was a period maybe three or fours ago when our batting never clicked. Our bowling kept us in matches but the batting always failed. But, we persevered with a number of guys like Gayle, Hinds and Sarwan and because we stuck with them for two or three years, they started to come good.

The same thing must be applied to the bowling. We have to identify a core of fast bowlers and spinners and stick with them. There's Darren Powell who has already played Test cricket. There's young Jerome Taylor out of Jamaica that has shown a lot of promise. Of course, there's Lawson and Best in this match. There's Dillon, who is still a young man and can't be cast away. We have to pick them and bear with them for another year or two. You have to show patience. Allow them to find their feet because they need time. The batsmen got time to develop and we should let the bowlers develop properly. If we do it right, we should have the right combination of batting and bowling in two years' time.

Q: The constant reports of indiscipline, on and off the field, can't be helpful as we rebuild. How much does it hurt you, as a veteran player, to hear these reports?

Discipline is a prerequisite in any form of life. If you want to get to the top in business or in your studies and in your cricket, you need to have the discipline to do the right things and to work very hard all the time. I want to stress to the young players that discipline is absolutely necessary. West Indies cricket will not get to where it's supposed to be on talent alone. We do have the talent to get there but unless we have the necessary discipline, we'll go nowhere.

Q: It seems like a general breakdown of basic manners among the young players...

Yes, it's all intertwined. You cannot separate the different aspects of discipline. If you look at the great players -- look at Sachin Tendulkar or Michael Jordan or any of the great footballs and you'll see how they've developed themselves to get to the top. They're all well-rounded individuals. They've worked harder than everyone else to develop themselves holistically. Brian Lara is another example. He's a very intelligent cricketer, he speaks well and he's very educated. Michael Jordan is a well-rounded person, a student of his game. Steve Waugh broadens his horizons by sampling the cultures of the places that he visits. So, it's a holistic development which makes you a better player.