debut: 7/11/03
4,568 runs
[b]Many of us in the West Indies do not accept that we are lacking players of real ability because we recall the days, not that long ago either, when we produced players like cars off an assembly line. Consider that the following fast bowlers all played first-class cricket during the 1980s: Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Sylvester Clarke, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson, Ian Bishop, and Curtly Ambrose. These are players who, at their best, would challenge for a place in any team of any era. The batters were no slouches either. Here are some names: Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson, Clive Lloyd, Lawrence Rowe, Alvin Kallicharran, Roy Fredericks, and Larry Gomes.
It really matters not one jot who the captain is if the team is poor. The West Indies’ extended abysmal run in Tests has little to do with who is leading the team and almost everything to do with the quality of the players. As it was on every other previous occasion, there will be great expectations and renewed hope when the new captain takes over. But just as it was with Richie Richardson, Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga and Jason Holder, those high expectations will soon come crashing down. It has happened with every change of captaincy over the past two decades or so, and it will happen this time again.[/b]
Jamaica Observer
It really matters not one jot who the captain is if the team is poor. The West Indies’ extended abysmal run in Tests has little to do with who is leading the team and almost everything to do with the quality of the players. As it was on every other previous occasion, there will be great expectations and renewed hope when the new captain takes over. But just as it was with Richie Richardson, Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga and Jason Holder, those high expectations will soon come crashing down. It has happened with every change of captaincy over the past two decades or so, and it will happen this time again.[/b]
Jamaica Observer
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