Does it seem odd to anyone else out there that the West Indies
team, mid-series, are taking a "break" between the second and third
test matches? Why are the players returning home to their
respective territories when it is clear there is much work to be
done? I am at a loss to understand this move - what can possibly be
the reasoning behind it?
In my opinion, it is demonstrative of what we have all come to
expect from the WICB. Being pro-active is a foreign concept and
where foresight, preparation and planning are totally deficient, we
see a complete absence of positive results.
With Ricky Skerritt's surprise resignation, the WICB has been
presented with a golden opportunity to bail water out of the
sinking ship. The new manager must be a strong individual, someone
willing and capable of handling difficult situations and with a
proven track record of being able to deal with the pressure of
managing the West Indies cricket team.
I cannot imagine who could be better than Sir Vivian Richards.
It will take someone with his credibility, his strength, and most
importantly his dedication to and unabashed love for West Indies
cricket to make a difference in this job.
The entire region is once again in mourning at our team's second
loss to England. Sometimes it is difficult for us fans to separate
our emotional solutions from pragmatic ones.
The plain truth is that unlike England who prepared for this
tour for three months, our team returned home from an extensive
tour a few weeks before the series started.
West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt has quit, blaming
himself for the team's on- and off-field shortcomings.
Skerritt said he made the decision to resign immediately after
the first Test in Jamaica and informed the WICB CEO, Roger
Brathwaite, of his decision on Saturday March 20th. An official
letter of resignation was also sent to WICB president Teddy
Griffith on Sunday.
Veteran cricket writer Tony Cozier believes the decision by West
Indies captain Brian Lara to drop himself down the batting order --
behind both Ridley Jacobs and Shiv Chanderpaul -- was a "shameful
shirking of responsibility."
In a column appearing in Caribbean newspapers Tuesday, Cozier
said it was a "cop out" and chided the West Indies captain for
giving the psychological advantage to the English bowlers.
