A House Divided Cannot Stand

The first Test was a breath of fresh air for West Indian fans as the home team dominated South Africa at Bourda. The return of Lara, Sarwan and Gayle was supposed to make things even better but, alas, it was the same old story with disappointing losses in both the second and third Test matches.

To try to explain away the team?s fine performance in the first test, solely, on the notion that Bourda is a batting paradise, or that South Africa was short on practice, is to discount a splendid all round team effort. To be sure, it has been quite some time since the West Indies team displayed such an admirable sense of professionalism and esprit de corps.

Another explanation ? equally unfounded ? is that, somehow, Brian Lara is bad luck to the team. With 10,000-plus Test runs, the team can surely use more of such ?bad? luck.

Closer to the truth is the belief by many that the West Indies team is a house divided, and that the recent sponsorship row only exacerbated a divisiveness that was evident for many years. A divisiveness, borne of rampant player misconduct, was allowed to fester, unfettered, by a feeble, irresponsible, and incompetent WICB.

It is the failure of the Board to act both decisively and fairly that is mainly responsible for the current state of affairs. For years, some of the region?s most senior and respected players have bemoaned the lack of discipline, and its debilitating effect on the team.

As far back as 1992 Malcolm Marshall, following his premature retirement, commented: ?everything seems to be going down the drain. There is no respect, no manners.? After the 1993-94 tour to New Zealand then coach Rohan Kanhai reported to the WICBC that certain players had no respect for him, and that they used abusive and very foul language in public to him?. Unfortunately, the only action taken by the Board was to replace Kanhai with Andy Roberts as coach for the home series against Australia. Immediately following that series, Andy Roberts publicly complained that there were some players with ?attitude problems.?

Next came the tour to England. On that tour, Lara was accused of a breach of contract for absenting himself from the team, and for not making himself available for the duration of the tour. It was also on that tour that the ?infamous? team meeting was held following the Old Trafford Test. Manager Wes Hall, in his official report, informed us that the meeting was held to discuss the unacceptable and irresponsible conduct of some of the players.

At the meeting, Bishop spoke out on the atrocious conduct of Benjamin, and Lara blamed captain, Ritchie Richardson, for many problems on the team. Richardson responded that he had always enjoyed a good relationship with Lara, and was very surprised to find out that Lara harbored such feelings. He further added that if a majority of the players felt as Lara did, then he would gladly resign as captain. He made it clear, however, that he was not prepared ?to bow to egotistical people with agendas and ambitions?. Upon hearing this, Lara stood up and said, ?I retire?, and walked out of the meeting. On the team?s return to the Caribbean, Lara was fined for his breach of contract, and, subsequently, quit the team, again, two days prior to the tour to Australia.

Lack of decisive action by the Board led to a continuation of such behavior. Carl Hooper twice quit the team, once prior to the World Cup in 1996, and again in 1998. Perhaps, the WICB failed to act because it lacked the moral authority to do so. How can the Board censor the players when it was also guilty of repeatedly failing to act in good faith, or making good on promises made to the players? It was this disingenuity of the WICB that led to the embarrassing standoff between the players and the Board while on their way to South Africa for the inaugural tour. While not seeking to justify the players? actions, one can certainly understand what may have provoked them to take matters into their own hands.

The most damaging fallout, and, perhaps, the one from which the team has still not recovered, is the humiliation, both on and off the field, from the tour to Pakistan in 1997, and the rancour it left in its wake. And, here again, the entire sequence of events began with the Board?s interference. Prior to the tour, it was widely reported that the Board had overruled the selectors? wish to appoint Brian Lara captain. Subsequently, when the team assembled in Trinidad for a five-day coaching seminar, Ambrose, Hooper and Walsh failed to attend but gave no reason, while Lara had a prior golf engagement.

Into the tour, talk emerged of dissension in the ranks with the team split into two groups ? one supporting skipper Walsh, and the other, Brian Lara. It was enough of a concern that manager, Clive Lloyd, was forced to issue a statement that: ?I don't believe we are divided but when a side like West Indies starts losing after all the years we have been on top, difficulties are bound to arise."

West Indies ended the tour without winning a single game, and Clive Lloyd again alluded to the Board?s failure to act when he said: ?The rumours - they are no more than that - have excited uncertainty within the ranks, which isn't good for any side. They should have been scotched at source back at home." Lloyd also lamented Lara?s loss of form (129 runs in six innings). ?Lara's highest score was 37. What we needed from a world-class player like him on some of the best pitches I have seen was a couple of big knocks," Lloyd said. Asked about the possibility of a new captain, Lloyd responded, ?There is talk that we sent Jimmy Adams with the A team to South Africa to groom him for the captaincy. But I don't know because I'm not a selector.? Again, subtly alluding to the manner in which decisions are made in the Caribbean. The recent comments by Michael Findlay have only reaffirmed the long-held suspicions of the Board?s surreptitious interference in selection policy.

Today, many believe the team is still reeling from this legacy of disharmony and discord, and blame should be placed squarely at the feet of the WICB. Perhaps, prior to the start of the fourth Test, the entire Board, past and present, should be have been paraded in the arena, like they did in Roman times, to be insulted, ridiculed, humiliated and disgraced by the fans. If fans have their way, these individuals may never be allowed to show their faces at any cricket forum or playing field.