Whenever one thinks of the word disaster, those driven to
hyperbole are prone to apply it to the humdrum disappointments in
life, a dented fender on the new car, a loss by their favorite
sporting team, and for the punters amongst us, any ducats they may
have cared to wager thereof.
However, recent events in Asia and stretching as far as Africa
put disasters into perspective. Cataclysmic would be a more apt
description of the Tsunami that ravaged parts of coastal Asia and
Africa, including the cricket playing nations of India, Sri Lanka
Bangladesh and Kenya. My sympathies go out to them.
West Indies cricket, in 2004, has been in the wars -- on the
field and off the field.
The year began with West Indies being hammered in South Africa
and everybody criticised the team -- the players who were at best
inconsistent (bar Lara), the coach, who seemed too relaxed and laid
back for the Anglos and the South Africans, accustomed to overtly
strenuous effort and military discipline.
An air traffic controllers? strike in Guyana has delayed the
departure of three members of the West Indies touring party for the
VB one-day series in Australia.
The squad, minus the Guyanese and captain Brian Lara (who was
delayed in Trinidad by unfinished personal business), assembled in
Barbados on Wednesday and departed for Australia, via the U.K.
There is money in West Indies cricket. Despite the best efforts
of past and current West Indian players to hide their salaries, the
facts are representing the West Indies in Cricket will earn a
player a competitive salary.
According to information I've seen, the most senior players in
the West Indies Team, including Brian Lara and Shivnarine
Chanderpaul can earn a minimum of US$7,500 per Test with the
captain collection an additional US$600 on top of his match
fee.
Trinidad & Tobago skipper Daren Ganga views the
non-inclusion of players from his winning team in the West Indies
side for the VB series, as a slap in the face.
One of the criteria for selection on the West Indies team is
performing well in the regional tournament. We had players from
T&T who did very well and we won the series, yet none of us are
on the team for the series Down Under," Ganga said.
