The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
In the sometimes wonderful drama that is West Indies Cricket, there were several interesting sub-plots emerging when the second Test got underway at Queens Park Oval here on Friday.
It was the first game since the return of the so-called Cable and Wireless ?rebel? players, with all but Brian Lara, temporarily released from their controversial contracts.
Shivnarine's Chanderpaul retention as captain of the West Indies team for the rest of the Digicel series against South Africa and Pakistan was yesterday applauded by a number of former West Indies stars.
Former West Indies wicket-keeper Deryck Murray said that Chanderpaul filled the breach admirably and the fact that the team performed well against all odds meant that it would have been unfair to remove him.
West Indies all-rounder Ryan Hinds has been diagnosed with a "viral illness" and will miss the second Test against South Africa in Trinidad & Tobago. Jamaican batsman Donovan Pagon will take his place.
Hinds' illness comes at the most inopportune time for the 24-year old left-hander, who has struggled to maintain his place in the side. He played a crucial role in the first Test in Guyana, scoring 48 and bowling 27 overs of fill-in left-arm spin.
In most organizations of the modern era, succession planning is seen as an integral part of business operations. Succession planning allows for continuity and training of new leaders for the future.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), in a move viewed by many as a take charge approach, has appointed Shivnarine Chanderpaul captain of the West Indies team for the current series against South Africa and the upcoming tour of Pakistan. Regardless of one?s view of this action by the Board, it can be safe to assume that this will be the situation for the foreseeable future. The success of such a move will be revealed in time.
Long suffering fans of West Indies cricket, at least those who didn't engage in a boycott on behalf of the sidelined players, finally had something to cheer about in the first 2005 Digicel Test at Bourda in Georgetown, Guyana. Displaying a commitment not recently seen, the West Indies team managed to dominate South Africa for four of the five days, and were it not for a few badly missed catches and the loss of about 64 overs due to weather, this match may well have had a different result.