If Mr. Cameron is wise
Tue, Apr 16, '13
When a campaign is over and the die has been cast, congratulations are not only in order, but well wishes as well. Because who in his or her right might would claim to love something or some institution with passion, and then all of a sudden, does not now want to see it succeed? It would still be interesting though, to learn, if a canvass across the Caribbean were to be taken, if in fact, that Mr. Cameron was the people's choice, and not just the choice of the voting members of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
As Mr. Cameron would have noted, when it appeared on ESPNcricinfo that the former West Indies cricket captain, and former International Cricket Council (ICC) referee and sub-committee member Clive Lloyd, did not gain a second, and thus was excluded from the presidential election process, the comments under the announcement were pregnant with more disappointment than apathy. And expressions of the former came from all corners of the globe. Mr. Cameron would have noted too, than one of those expressing shock and disappointment over Mr. Lloyd's exclusion, was one of his protégés, former West Indies fast bowler and former coach Mr. Andy Roberts.
Mr. Roberts's support should not have been taken lightly, because Mr. Roberts is a hard-nosed customer who gives no quarters or minces any words. Years ago in a Leeward Islands-Guyana encounter, Lloyd playing for his native Guyana, wrote of being subjected to barrage of bounces from Andy. When the former questioned the latter as to why, the gentleman from Antigua answered (quote): "Because you hooked for six sometime ago in a game in Dominica." The fact that he also still blames Lloyd for running him out in World Series Cricket (WSC) when he was close to making what would have been his first hundred, is still stuck in his craw.
The West Indies batting stylist and `rebel' tour captain Lawrence Rowe, who was not selected to tour Australia in 1981-82, after Rowe had made a convincing century against the touring England team at Sabina Park, could also cast aspersions on Lloyd, but he too chose not to. "Hands down, Clive Lloyd is the right man to lead West Indies cricket at this time," Rowe said when canvassed before the election. "When it comes to the welfare of West Indies cricket, I have to put away pettiness," the great ball-timer went on to say.
There must be something to Clive Lloyd's leadership, when two of his not-so-favored sons, sprung to his support.
On the heels of Mr. Cameron's victory, now comes a slew of advice - if not outright cynicism as Vaneisa Baksh in the Trinidad Express column of April 3rd, 2013 expressed. Among them too, is a list of `to-do's' from Caribbean cricket journalists Tony Cozier and Tony Becca, and noted sports psychologist, motivator, and performance consultant, Dr. Rudi Webster. There are nuggets of wisdom in all of these.
Mr. Cameron if he is wise should not take all this tepidness and nervousness within the West Indies cricket, as a negative. And if he took the time to rummage through them all, he will find the advice, not self-serving, but steeped both in the interest of West Indies cricket, and in his. Because again, nobody is wishing that failure visits. Mr. Cameron should recognize that to some of us, West Indies cricket is our door-latch which unlocks us into the outside world, and allows the outside world to see us as well. He should therefore not take these expressions of nervousness, personally, but chisel them into concrete building blocks. The blowtorch of the campaign to have the election postponed is now out, I have some thoughts of my own to posit, first in the interest of West Indies cricket, then in Jamaica's, and then lastly, in our mutual alma-mater Kingston College. Because as one historian pointed out, unlike Wolmer's Boys School, this is the first time a Kingston College alumnus is holding this prestigious West Indies cricket post.
I read Mr. Cameron's profile and saw where he is a businessman, and so, he need not revisit his business books. Instead, he may want to stack his nigh-stand with the works of Arlott, Cardus, the Chappells, Engel, Greenidge, Haigh, CLR James, Keating, Lloyd, Lord Constantine, Manley, Martin-Jenkins, Pilgrim, Roebuck, Selvey, Sir Clyde, Sir Everton, Sir Frank, Sir Garfield, Sir Vivian, Stollmeyer, Swanson and others, who hold Caribbean people dear, and West Indies cricket dearer. These works should be Mr. Cameron's linseed oil in which to immerse his new blade – his agenda for hauling our cricket up. Failing to do so, he can only feign passion. And that commodity will not visit him in the spirit, when he will at some stage need to draw upon it. But, he has more pressing matters to deal with, namely re-orientating West Indies cricket to focus on the business of Test cricket, against steep odds, and against strength-of-cash, and the popularity of T20 cricket. Even though having won two Cricket World Cup tournaments, Test cricket is the arena in which the West Indies have rightfully earned their stripes. And all of a sudden, the West Indies can not now just abandon this format of the game because they are cellar-dwellers. They, if they have any pride, should fight their way up and then out.
Several of the Test-playing nations which now hold higher echelon, have at one stage themselves, been cellar-dwellers. But that's the beauty, character and color of Test cricket – to watch nations climb. Yes, by all means Mr. Cameron can cheer the West Indies's success at the last T20 Championship in Sri Lanka. But by now means, should that success be used as a fig-leaf to cover the imposter, which now passes for West Indies cricket. Those older than Mr. Cameron will not allow themselves to be hoodwinked. And it is here, that Mr. Cameron has an immediate opportunity, to distinguish himself.
It was just reported in the April 5th edition of ESPNcricinfo that the upcoming two-Test Pakistan tour of the Caribbean, is in jeopardy. This is not like a five-Test series being all of a sudden, deemed too long. This is a measly two-Test series at the peril of being squeezed out by all the circus clowns. Mr. Cameron's administration is caught between a rock and a hard place though. Because of the West Indies team's lowly status, sponsors are not fawning over themselves to inject money into the game in the Caribbean. And so West Indies cricket is holding the blade when it comes to sponsors. So therefore, if T20 is the music, the West Indies have to dance. Nevertheless, Mr. Cameron should instruct his foot-soldiers to find a way to make sure this home-series is a go, or, they will be shown a way out.
Thirdly, the West Indies support staff that travels with the men's senior team, needs to be trimmed. When the West Indies last toured Australia for a few One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two T20s I think, I counted eight (8) support staff for the fifteen (15)-man squad. A wide-angle panoramic camera had to be employed for the team photo. That is just ridiculous. More over, when the West Indies lose, as most times they do, and on that short tour they did, there is obviously no accountability. With such a top-heavy staff, fingers can be pointed back and forth like encapsulated electrons under a Bunsen burner. And they were.
Contrast this to 1981/82, when the West Indies toured Australia for the triangular Benson & Hedges World Series Cricket (WSC) tournament between the hosts, Pakistan and themselves, which the West Indies won. They played fourteen (14) of these ODIs between November 21st, 1981 and January 27th, 1982. These interspersed the three-Test series played between November 26th, 1981 and February 3rd, 1982 in which the West Indies also successfully defend the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy. On that extended and arduous tour, the West Indies players were only accompanied by two (2) back-room men- the manager Mr. Steve Comacho, and the physio Mr. Dennis Waight. 
Mr. Clive Lloyd the then on-field captain, pinched hit as bus conductor, coach, commander-in-chief, diplomat, disciplinarian, media liaison, soothsayer, spokesperson, psychologist, and guest ticket distributer. You name it, Mr. Lloyd was it. It is now high time that the WICB administration trim the fat, particularly when the kingdom and their subjects continue to look emaciated. Players instead need to soul-search, remind themselves of their opportunity and responsibility, and lift their game to suit.
The media arm is another matter. Here too the nest is over-crowded and is only dispensing bird poop or drivel. Besides the West Indies media management does not view journalist as their allies, helping to deliver a message. Instead, unless one is in the inner circle, Caribbean journalists are, for the most part, viewed as people whom the West Indies must be leery of, and kept at a distance, because they spill beans and create mischief.
When West Indies were touring England in 2007, and Shrivnarine Chanderpaul was making runs, on the first day of the Old Trafford Test match, I politely requested of the then media manager, an interview the left-handed batsman. I was quite as politely informed that (quote): "Mr. Chanderpaul only does paid interviews." I pointed out that the only thing I was going to pay for while I was in England besides my lodging, was my meals. The goodly media manager was not impressed with my directness and I was citied for (quote): "giving trouble." Since then, not unlike the Peter Principle the goodly gentleman has been promoted.
Similarly, late last year when I felt that ESPNcricinfo was giving non-commissioned Caribbean writers, short shrift, I cried foul and again approached the same goodly gentleman to gently use his weight. Sadly, he could, or was only willing to only offer his (quote): "shared concern." But that was about all the weight he could lift.
These are personal experiences of course. But, if Mr. Cameron is wise, he will treat Caribbean writers as his allies. Because not only can they spread the gospel of West Indies cricket, but just like an Ian Chappell does for his Australia, they can offer constructive criticism as well. Too many times, writers and their points of view have been marginalized and eschewed.
Lastly, as I write, Mr. Cameron is in Georgetown, Guyana to help that country's cricket mend its own fences. He could kill two birds with one stone, by sounding out Mr. Lloyd as to his willingness and his availability to serve the new administration in some advisory capacity or the other. Besides adding value, the gesture would show that Mr. Cameron's administration is donning a new maturity, and that he himself is confident in his own skin. The gesture would also help to soothe the world cricket fraternity, show that the new WICB president is up to speed on his Caribbean cricket history lessons, and knows how to pay homage. And should Mr. Cameron ever have a matter to be tabled before, or a message to be delivered to, the ICC, as he certainly one day will, then there would be no better courier than the soft-spoken Mr. Lloyd.
A message delivered by an acquaintance, will be more easily digested, than one borne by an unknown bearer.
