2004 � A Year to Rally
The South Africa Test series has been completed and the post mortems have started. But, looking back at 2003, in spite of meagre takings, there were a number of positives, including the record-breaking run chase to beat Australia in the fourth test match in Antigua and the identification of young fresh talent in Fidel Edwards, Omari Banks and Dwayne Smith.
It was also the year when our much revered captain, Brian Lara, claimed the record for most Test runs by a West Indian and when we enjoyed series wins against both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. While the team, the administrators and the fans would have loved to see even greater overall success, I think everyone acknowledges the importance of these small steps our team has taken on the road to glory.
2004 will undoubtedly be an eventful year for all of us; what we need to do over and above everything else is to RALLY round our team. If there was ever a time to send out the call it is now!
This will be no easy year for the West Indies cricket team. It holds a jam-packed schedule for both the team and the fans -- over 100 days of international cricket. After the five ODI matches on the current South African tour, our boys return home and go straight into Carib Cup matches.
Almost immediately afterwards, we take on England in our backyard as they tour the Caribbean for a four-match Test series and a seven-match one-day series, starting on 11 March and ending on 5 May.
No rest for the wicked now, come 15 May we will meet Bangladesh for the first of three ODIs. Their tour ends on 8 June, the last day of the second and final Test match. Almost immediately the team will be high-tailing it to England where a two-month tour kicks off on 26 June with a One Day match against New Zealand, as part of the triangular tournament. Our four-match test series against the Poms begins on 22 July and ends on 23 August.
Time to breathe yet? No way! We still need to squeeze in the ICC Champions trophy starting on 8 September and ending on 25 September. The Red Stripe Bowl will be held soon after that and before you know it the team will be back in the land Down Under, playing to regain the Frank Worrell Trophy. That jewel will already be decided, with four matches of that five-Test series completed, before we ring in 2005.
As with any situation in life, we hope that the West Indies will learn from their experiences, further developing the positive aspects and not dwelling too much on the negative. You have to crawl before you can walk and whilst we are still a little shaky on our feet, with dedication and commitment 2004 will see our beloved team striding out to take on the world with confidence. Rally 'round the West Indies, now and forever more!